The Donald

NOTE (Aug 3, 2004): I DON'T KNOW DONALD TRUMP. I DON'T FORWARD ANY COMMENTS. I DON'T HAVE HIS EMAIL ADDRESS. Now, back to the regulary scheduled blog...

Alison Overholt and Amanda Murphy write a bit about "The Apprentice." They write about the awful gender bias going on in the early part of the show, and being part of a mostly-woman marketing team, I have to agree. I've never seen the kind of behavior that was highlighted in the first few episodes (thank goodness!).

Okay, I have to admit I'm hooked on this show. Thank goodness for PVRs, so I can watch them all at once. My wife and I actually sat down a few nights ago and watched the last five weeks. I should post a thoughtful response to each of Donald's exit interviews, but absent that, I'll leave you with a recent sidebar from Newsweek, and add my comments.

Donald's 7 Rules of Success

1 You have to be born with enough brainpower. At Microsoft, we have built a culture around hiring brainpower. Every day I wonder how I snuck through, and I aspire to be smarter and more engaged. But every now and then I deal with groups outside of our company, and without sounding like an egocentric jerk, I'm usually left being grateful that I work with such a stellar bunch. There are very few who I think aren't smart. Uninformed, egotistical, competitive, but never stupid.

2 Once you have that, you have to love what you're doing. I've never seen anyone succeed who didn't love what they were doing. Wow. Even for the Donald, this is profound. I've seen people in jobs they're not qualified for really do great things because they're engaged. There is rarely a substitute for passion. It's why you should do everything you can to find a job you're passionate about.

3 You cannot stop. If there is a concrete wall in front of you, you have to go through it. You can never, ever give up or even think in terms of giving up. This, I see too much of. As managers, it's common to set limits because of scope or budget or permission. The most successful people don't do that.

4 Confidence is a very important thing. But confidence isn't something you just develop by saying "I'm going to do this or that." You really have to believe it. Something I've learned in my experience. There are those that have "false" confidence, and calling BS is become an art form here at Microsoft. Really being confident is something I struggle with, because it comes from experience, skill, knowledge, and you have to have some natural talent for your job.

5 I love pitting people against each other. My whole life is based on that. It brings out the best in people and the worst in people. If the worst comes out, you don't want them working for you. Microsoft was built as a competitive meritocracy. Our reviews are competitive. Our hiring is competitive. And we reward winners. We're shifting to being more of a collaborative company, but if you hire scrappy, competitive people, they'll do what it takes to succeed (the effective manager knows how to harness this type of employee).

6 You have to remain cool under fire and let criticism roll off you. Good leaders handle conflict easily and bad ones are eaten up by it. Very, very true. I often remark that the difference between positive and negative criticism comes down to trust. When you know someone is trying to help you with conflict, it can be the most important ingredient to a successful team--it keeps people accountable and collaborative. When people think you're trying to harm them (a danger in too competitive an environment), conflict can quickly shut down productivity.

7 You must work well with others and be loyal to your team. Disloyalty is the worst of all traits. I seldom use the words "You're fired!" in business, unless somebody is really scum and stole from me. Interesting. We too rarely "fire" anyone (our attrition rates, even our "good" attrition rates, are below average). Usually that's a good thing. I think this is more about human nature and reflects the social nature of business. Nobody wants to associate with disloyal people, even if the thing they're being loyal to is a project or a workgroup. That's another reason competitive cultures can be harmful. Being loyal goes beyond kissing up to your boss or toeing the company line. It comes down to relationships and shared experiences and most of all shared goals. If you're really working as a team, and everyone's doing their part, amazing things can happen. And when someone slacks off or sabotages another employee, they might last a little while, but before long, they'll hear from their boss:

"You're fired."

Comments

[KC Lemson]

My husband and I are also huge fans of the show. I love it because it's "finally a reality show I can sink my teeth into" - about business and the real world.

One thing I'll be very interested to see is how they change the game for future seasons (because surely they'll run it again, even if it's not with trump, although that would be a loss - but maybe not with the same end reward). In survivor, every season has been a little bit different as the new crop learns from the previous season (most markedly between the first two seasons).

As I watch each episode every week, I find mistake after mistake that seem so obvious to me - is it just because I'm sitting here on my comfy couch and it's easy to pass judgement, or are these people really *that* stupid? I mean goodness, the men didn't think to *ask their customer what he wanted* before designing an ad campaign (in one of the first episodes, for the airline)?? Blows my mind. I see so many parallels between the themes that come up in that show and what I do on a daily basis.

[Amanda Murphy]

Nice write up John! Wouldn't it be great if MS had an Apprentice show. Steve or Bill could do the "you're fired" piece. I bet the projects wouldn't be as lame either.

[Walter]

Was curious what you think of this John http://apnews.excite.com/article/20040306/D814JA3G1.html

[Paul Greatbatch]

I like the points you raise, John. You said way too smart to be be working for an illegal monopoly whose idea of innovation is Fisher-Price colors.

[steven]

#2 and #7 were at the heart of this past week's episode (the art sale), no?

...and boy are people ever hostile over Anaconda or whatever her name was. Omarosa. Whatever. Bring back Sam!

[john cass]

An excellent posting John. I have only watched one episode of the program. I think the point about conflict is very true. Having the conviction to stand up to conflict can be very difficult sometimes.

[joy]

ahhh Bill Gate on the MS Apprentice...what a great idea Amanda hehe

[Nikhil]

I have always wondered since "the apprentice" began - How can Donald Trump fire
someone who he hasn't even hired yet. Shouldn't he be saying "you are eliminated" instead?

[julie]

What's more ridiculous...Trump's Louis Quinze decor and arrogance and hair or the embarrassing demeanor of his subjects? How much do they get paid to be abused and humiliated? It looks like Mel Brooks, except it's not funny. Has South Park done a critique yet? They would point out what floats.

[gail hiebert]

HiJohn, love your site and information shared by others. Am not connected to MS but to real estate investments. Enjoyed comments and the seven rules of success according to Trmp. Know what? Most of us don't have the necessary equipment to be an asshole 24 hours a day, even when the other end is charming and witty? What do you think? GH

[Peter N. Grecco]

Donald................The hair! The hair! The hair!!!!!!!

[tony]

I NEED TO CONTACT DONALD TRUMP ON A
PERSONAL/HUMANITARIAN ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HOW DO I REACH OUT TO HIM OR HIS PERSONAL OFFICE?
THIS CONCERNS A PERSONAL PLEA FROM AN DISADVANTAGED
DISABLED MAN. PLEASE. THANK YOU.

[Joe]

To Mr. Trump,

I would like to know what do you think about multi-level systems?

When they say any one can make it.

Because in The Art Of The Deal you made an interresting comment about

evangelical gurus that promise anyone can make it.

Thank you in advance Mr. Trump.

[Arkanis]

is he gay?

[connie storck]

I need to be able to contact donald trump because I need to ask his assistance in helping trade mark the term "Jesus Freaks" because I have a driving need to develope this organization as a ground roots spiritual experiance aimed at helping the children of the world to heal their pain so they will all have a better chance of turning out to be healthy adults. Any assistance anyone can give me with this is appreciated but I cannot afford the fee's that will be incured trying to trademark the term and a design to be used on t-shirts and other items to be given away free to children to raise their spiritual awarness that they are our future and they truely hold the key to man kinds future
Peace
connie sue storck
dayton
ohio
Certifiable Jesus Freak

[Deborah Jackson]

I am a simple person, and a single parent. I am very giving and true to my family and friends. I have a dream. I have been away from my family for sometime now, due to the fact I gave up everything I had to take care of my father. He is now gone and I am alone. I am in Indiana, my children and grandchildren are in florida.I want to go home. We are not by any means wealthy in the monetary sense, we all live from paycheck to paycheck, but our faith is strong as is our love for each other. My dream, I call "The Shire". It's a place where we can all live together on the same property in seperate homes, but close enough to walk over and kiss and hug my children and grandchildren goodnight. To always be close enough to them to help them and take care of them. I dream of "The Shire" every night. Do you make dreams come true for those that are not as fortunate you? The Shire is my dream, to live there with my family with what time we have left here in this world. I would be forever grateful. Sincerely Deborah

[Elizabeth Price]

Mr. Trump,

My name is Elizabeth Price. I have always admired you as businessman.
I have an idea that could make you millions of dollars. If you are
interested, my e-mail address is [email protected].

[Samantha Johns]

Mr. Trump,

I was wondering if there was an address that I could send a letter to you. I am 23 yrs old and am extremely interested in learning more about what you do.. I have been in real estate my whole life. My father is a developer and quite a stellar business man, my brother is a superintendent for a construction company. I was an agent at the age of 18. Didn't care for residential, but am ready to further my career and hoping i could get some advice from you.

I read you whole book, "how to get rich" in just two days. It was exactly what i was looking for to get me started on the right track. I am extremely dedicated and will do whatever it takes to take me where i want to be. Since you were part of my inspiration, you help would be greatly appreciated...

Write back if possible so i can send a letter...

Sincerely,

Samantha Johns

[Sean Cubillos]

Dear Mr. Trump:
How are you doing? As a competitive high school student of seventeen, I am always on the lookout for new opportunities to serve my community. My home state of Florida is filled with vast opportunities for contributions and recognition. There is nothing I would do that I would not enjoy. Florida has not dissapointed me yet, for I have found sufficient opportunities to exhibit my scientific and deal-making potentials. However, there is still the need to have the company of recognizable leaders. And there is much I would enjoy doing with the support of leaders like yourself. I have goals in mind that I cannot yet meet on my own, even for as much as I have accomplished myself. But in earnest, I think of my community as a surviving one, one that must be acted upon, with honest acts of mutual benefit. The days of my youth are few, but in the meantime, there is much I intend to learn about the greatest leaders of our day, including yourself, and how you have managed at my age.--With Regards, Sean Neil Cubillos
P.S: Please mail me back, I would be honored to have learned so much more from your output.

[Lynn]

Dear Mr. Trump,
My name is Lynn. I am 25 years old. I have 2 young children. I have been battling Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for over 2 years now. The prognosis is unknown, pending treatment. I have been having a very hard time trying to make ends meet. I still work atleast 25 hours a week. I am attending college to obtain a degree in criminal jusice and forensics. I am unable to recieve any assistance despite my hardache. I have heard about you're genorous donations to the needy in the past, and I am asking you for your help in any way possible. Not much. Just anything that could help me get by through these hard times. When I go in for kemotheropy, I will be unable to work and I fear fot the well-being of my 5 year old and 9 month old chldren. I would not ask unless I was desperate, and I am. If there is anything that you can do to help, please contact me.