A quarter of the way through The Apprentice Series 7 and we are yet to see any real front runners. Twitter favourite 'Jedi' Jim has certainly garnered favour as have two winning project managers - Melody and Susan in what has been a strong start from the girls.
Despite the fact the show is pre-recorded, the bookies have Jim and Melody as current leading contenders with Susan just behind. Meanwhile Felicity and Edna have drifted firmly out to the back of the field.
Who is your favourite to win? Vote now in our poll and we'll see just how right you turn out to be...
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
The Apprentice Piece by Piece - Lego Style
Here are all 3 Apprentice episodes so far in all their Lego glory (spoilers included):
The Apprentice Series 7, Episode 3
The Apprentice Series 7, Episode 2
The Apprentice Series 7, Episode 1
The Apprentice Series 7, Episode 3
The Apprentice Series 7, Episode 2
The Apprentice Series 7, Episode 1
Delivering a Sparkling Speech
I'm lucky, certainly in the context of one thing. I enjoy standing up and delivering speeches to groups of people. Old or young, 2 or 200, business or pleasure I love it. I know for many of you reading this you'll have just caught yourself saying 'I knew he was weird', but for me public speaking holds no fears.
That isn't strictly true. I still have fears over fly's being undone, unscheduled swearing and being booed off, but sharing a story with a group of people I don't. In fact totally the opposite, I get a peverse pleasure from putting myself out there. For those of you who do enjoy it, I'm sure you'll agree that there is no better feeling than your first joke or audience interaction gaining a better than anticipated reception. The term 'feel 10 feet tall' was made for such moments.
Let me share with you my secrets for delivering a sparkling speech.
Stay Calm
Something that is regularly talked about by athletes/sportspeople in particular is that 'butterflies' feeling you get in the run up to the off. It is the same for actors and performers of all kinds, indeed it can effect some people to the point of saying hello to the porcelin telephone. I'm here to tell you - that is a great sign and something to look forward to. So many people I've talked to about public speaking see this nervous feeling as something to fear and will often build themselves to a frenzy of panic on the back of this trigger. Look forward to this feeling. It keeps you focused, reminds you of the task in hand and gives you a fantastic burst of energy to deliver to your audience. So use it, enhance it, just don't fear it.
Know your Audience
One speech always stands out in my mind to remind me of this point. It was the one time I didn't know who the audience was. Correction, I was actually fed a curveball by the organisers and instead of speaking to a group of students I was speaking to a group of regional co-ordinators. No problem in the end with a quick edit, but knowing just who you are speaking to is key. It has an impact on frames of reference, language and key points. After all you wouldn't sit down with a group of friends in the pub and speak to them in the same way you'd hold a boardmeeting.
Have a Story
Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin. As human beings we are taught language in the form of stories. We are an intelligent and dreamy bunch, we like to make pictures up in our minds to interpret the words we hear. And it is for these reasons that it is crucial to have a story. Think of whatever you are speaking about as having a beginning, a middle and an end. Bring the story to a conclusion, and if you are really good - make it a Hollywood impact ending.
Make it Personal
Engaging with your audience is vital to delivering a great speech. Most audiences are looking for a reason to like you, they want to hear what you have to say. Talk to them as if you are talking to each one of them individually and be honest. I was taught as a youngster to talk as if you were talking to the back of the room, which has helped my self-amplification tremendously, but it also means I spend most of my time talking to the whole audience (especially the friendly faces). By including personal feelings, challenges or events you are able to show a vunerablility that will help the process of connecting. In my speeches I like to give some personal stories of my challenges and how I've overcome them...obviously as long as they are relevant. I will also offer my contact details so anyone who wants to can contact me.
Know your Material
Quick tip here. The audience is there to hear you not spend 10 mins being read to from a powerpoint presentation. Know your material well enough that you have no need for such things and you'll instantly create a natural style that is all your own making.
Get a Great Ending
Every great story has a great ending. I've spoken to many public speakers and for many of them the key to their speeches is to leave the audience on a high. For many of us who've sat through a 10/20 min speech it is often the end we will remember first (hopefully for the right reasons and not because it was finally over!). So make this memorable. You don't have to suddenly perform a triple pike with tuck and roll, but equally the final 'thank you for listening' should indeed be a natural end or even not required. Building your story to this final climax means the audience know they've come to the end and can (without fear of premature applause) reward you for your efforts.
And finally I'll leave you with my two best tips for delivering a sparkling speech everytime.
One - practice. The more you talk in front of groups of people, the more comfortable you will feel with it - there is no better way to deliver than by putting in the practice time.
And finally my last tip, believe in yourself. You have that sparkling mouth and the wit and story to share with the world so go and do it - I believe you can.
That isn't strictly true. I still have fears over fly's being undone, unscheduled swearing and being booed off, but sharing a story with a group of people I don't. In fact totally the opposite, I get a peverse pleasure from putting myself out there. For those of you who do enjoy it, I'm sure you'll agree that there is no better feeling than your first joke or audience interaction gaining a better than anticipated reception. The term 'feel 10 feet tall' was made for such moments.
Let me share with you my secrets for delivering a sparkling speech.
Stay Calm
Something that is regularly talked about by athletes/sportspeople in particular is that 'butterflies' feeling you get in the run up to the off. It is the same for actors and performers of all kinds, indeed it can effect some people to the point of saying hello to the porcelin telephone. I'm here to tell you - that is a great sign and something to look forward to. So many people I've talked to about public speaking see this nervous feeling as something to fear and will often build themselves to a frenzy of panic on the back of this trigger. Look forward to this feeling. It keeps you focused, reminds you of the task in hand and gives you a fantastic burst of energy to deliver to your audience. So use it, enhance it, just don't fear it.
Know your Audience
One speech always stands out in my mind to remind me of this point. It was the one time I didn't know who the audience was. Correction, I was actually fed a curveball by the organisers and instead of speaking to a group of students I was speaking to a group of regional co-ordinators. No problem in the end with a quick edit, but knowing just who you are speaking to is key. It has an impact on frames of reference, language and key points. After all you wouldn't sit down with a group of friends in the pub and speak to them in the same way you'd hold a boardmeeting.
Have a Story
Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin. As human beings we are taught language in the form of stories. We are an intelligent and dreamy bunch, we like to make pictures up in our minds to interpret the words we hear. And it is for these reasons that it is crucial to have a story. Think of whatever you are speaking about as having a beginning, a middle and an end. Bring the story to a conclusion, and if you are really good - make it a Hollywood impact ending.
Make it Personal
Engaging with your audience is vital to delivering a great speech. Most audiences are looking for a reason to like you, they want to hear what you have to say. Talk to them as if you are talking to each one of them individually and be honest. I was taught as a youngster to talk as if you were talking to the back of the room, which has helped my self-amplification tremendously, but it also means I spend most of my time talking to the whole audience (especially the friendly faces). By including personal feelings, challenges or events you are able to show a vunerablility that will help the process of connecting. In my speeches I like to give some personal stories of my challenges and how I've overcome them...obviously as long as they are relevant. I will also offer my contact details so anyone who wants to can contact me.
Know your Material
Quick tip here. The audience is there to hear you not spend 10 mins being read to from a powerpoint presentation. Know your material well enough that you have no need for such things and you'll instantly create a natural style that is all your own making.
Get a Great Ending
Every great story has a great ending. I've spoken to many public speakers and for many of them the key to their speeches is to leave the audience on a high. For many of us who've sat through a 10/20 min speech it is often the end we will remember first (hopefully for the right reasons and not because it was finally over!). So make this memorable. You don't have to suddenly perform a triple pike with tuck and roll, but equally the final 'thank you for listening' should indeed be a natural end or even not required. Building your story to this final climax means the audience know they've come to the end and can (without fear of premature applause) reward you for your efforts.
And finally I'll leave you with my two best tips for delivering a sparkling speech everytime.
One - practice. The more you talk in front of groups of people, the more comfortable you will feel with it - there is no better way to deliver than by putting in the practice time.
And finally my last tip, believe in yourself. You have that sparkling mouth and the wit and story to share with the world so go and do it - I believe you can.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
What can Digital Marketing learn from Direct Marketing (DM)?
For many marketers, digital marketing has quite rightly become their number one priority.
The flexibility, cost savings and relative ease of use makes it a marketing channel that is perfect for many. Quite rightly too, but what is sometimes forgotten in the use of this marketing panacea is sometimes focused too much on the technology and not enough on the best way to use it.
And in this respect digital really can learn lessons from DM.
One clear lesson is one that DM practitioners have been using for years. The well worn DM path of Test, Learn and Refine is one that fits perfectly with the benefits that digital bring. And it is a reason why many of the best digital marketers have a DM background.
Secondly, the essence of any great marketing strategy is a perfect mix of marketing channels all working in conjunction to best meet the business objectives. Digital campaigns work best when they are combined with other marketing routes. Making sure, as you would with a DM campaign, that all branding is in line and reflects the key messages you are trying to make.
Thirdly, any great DM campaign follows the Test, Learn and Refine process, but also any DM must be AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action). The beauty of digital is that it can speed up this process as feedback can be instantaneous. However, as it is so easy to do, it often becomes forgotten. Test, Learn and Refine can bring excellent results to any marketing campaign.
Creating something interesting, great design, persuasive copy and call to action are key to any effective marketing piece. Be that digital or DM, the trick is to ensure that some of those fundamental lessons that arrived before the digital era are followed through. Digital marketing is essential for all businesses. It takes customer and supplier interaction to a new level.
However, the fundamentals of great integrated marketing campaigns should not be ignored.
The flexibility, cost savings and relative ease of use makes it a marketing channel that is perfect for many. Quite rightly too, but what is sometimes forgotten in the use of this marketing panacea is sometimes focused too much on the technology and not enough on the best way to use it.
And in this respect digital really can learn lessons from DM.
One clear lesson is one that DM practitioners have been using for years. The well worn DM path of Test, Learn and Refine is one that fits perfectly with the benefits that digital bring. And it is a reason why many of the best digital marketers have a DM background.
Secondly, the essence of any great marketing strategy is a perfect mix of marketing channels all working in conjunction to best meet the business objectives. Digital campaigns work best when they are combined with other marketing routes. Making sure, as you would with a DM campaign, that all branding is in line and reflects the key messages you are trying to make.
Thirdly, any great DM campaign follows the Test, Learn and Refine process, but also any DM must be AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action). The beauty of digital is that it can speed up this process as feedback can be instantaneous. However, as it is so easy to do, it often becomes forgotten. Test, Learn and Refine can bring excellent results to any marketing campaign.
Creating something interesting, great design, persuasive copy and call to action are key to any effective marketing piece. Be that digital or DM, the trick is to ensure that some of those fundamental lessons that arrived before the digital era are followed through. Digital marketing is essential for all businesses. It takes customer and supplier interaction to a new level.
However, the fundamentals of great integrated marketing campaigns should not be ignored.
Networking doesn’t have to be a Nightmare
My last two major marketing tasks couldn’t be more of a contrast; old fashioned sweets and insolvency practitioners.
It’s two ends of a very interesting scale, particularly when out at networking events. In engaging networking terms it seriously is feast or famine. One of these subjects is guaranteed to ensure you find conversations ending very quickly with nervous glances over to the coffee table (or ‘excuse table’ for many of us), whilst the other means fending off questions fired in with machine gun-like regularity (have a guess which one is which – answers on a postcard).
Neither in their own way make networking an easy ride, especially when you are trying to maintain a golden rule of the art, be interested and interesting. I love meeting new people and yet the daunting environment of a networking event still gives me jitters. This feeling isn’t helped by the contrasting challenges presented by the two subjects, either getting the nervous silence (is he going to make me insolvent) or feeling like your subject is dominating the conversation. Believe me, as strange as it sounds having the subject constantly returning to your passion isn’t as great as it sounds when you are loving finding out about others.
It is a challenge that is often replicated by clients across many industries we speak to, in areas that they see as un-interesting, unsexy and therefore un-marketable. However as we always say, nothing is un-marketable.
The key to anything like this is approaching it as you would if you were face to face with your customer. If you were to have a conversation with them what would you say? What would you want that person to take away from the 1 min conversation that you had?
For me it always boils down to a few key things. I want people to know something about me and I want to know something about them. I’d like to understand how I can help them, and I’d like to give them an idea of how I could do that.
These are the things I always keep in mind when I’m meeting new people at networking events. And they can be applied as easily to your general marketing. Take the time to understand your customers, learn things about them, help them, make their lives easier in some way and you’ll find that marketing becomes that little bit easier.
It’s two ends of a very interesting scale, particularly when out at networking events. In engaging networking terms it seriously is feast or famine. One of these subjects is guaranteed to ensure you find conversations ending very quickly with nervous glances over to the coffee table (or ‘excuse table’ for many of us), whilst the other means fending off questions fired in with machine gun-like regularity (have a guess which one is which – answers on a postcard).
Neither in their own way make networking an easy ride, especially when you are trying to maintain a golden rule of the art, be interested and interesting. I love meeting new people and yet the daunting environment of a networking event still gives me jitters. This feeling isn’t helped by the contrasting challenges presented by the two subjects, either getting the nervous silence (is he going to make me insolvent) or feeling like your subject is dominating the conversation. Believe me, as strange as it sounds having the subject constantly returning to your passion isn’t as great as it sounds when you are loving finding out about others.
It is a challenge that is often replicated by clients across many industries we speak to, in areas that they see as un-interesting, unsexy and therefore un-marketable. However as we always say, nothing is un-marketable.
The key to anything like this is approaching it as you would if you were face to face with your customer. If you were to have a conversation with them what would you say? What would you want that person to take away from the 1 min conversation that you had?
For me it always boils down to a few key things. I want people to know something about me and I want to know something about them. I’d like to understand how I can help them, and I’d like to give them an idea of how I could do that.
These are the things I always keep in mind when I’m meeting new people at networking events. And they can be applied as easily to your general marketing. Take the time to understand your customers, learn things about them, help them, make their lives easier in some way and you’ll find that marketing becomes that little bit easier.
Friday, 20 May 2011
What a Cloche! The Apprentice Series 7 Episode 3
Whilst wistfully imagining an outstanding spin-off show featuring Nick Hewer named 'The King and Eye (brows)', thoughts drifted towards Episode 3s lessons. Still, the thought of Lord Sugar’s erstwhile informer shopping for top hats with the King of Tonga proved understandably distracting.
Series 7 finally found it's rhythm in this episode with the perennial buying task that has previously brought us kosher chicken, 18th century magazines that are actually London cabbie revision guides and so many more classic Apprentice moments. Yet, each and every series the candidates make the same basic errors time and again. Thankfully it was an episode that also widened the candidate base and gave us a flavour of many more of this year’s intake.
The discount buying task always makes good TV, and you get the feeling that of all the tasks that are devised on The Apprentice, Lord Sugars hand was perhaps most firmly behind this one. As critics will point out, a strong and lasting business could not be built on the kind of rash (and particularly desperate) negotiating and often rudeness that punctuates this episode. However, one thing this episode does highlight is those candidates who think on their feet, are prepared to just get on with it and can negotiate. Three key attributes that Lord Sugar holds dear. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the top performers in this task over the last few series have either won the main prize or been close to it.
That’s why this episode may give us our first real hint at the potential winners. Lord Sugar will undoubtedly play a ‘silent partner’ brief within any business setup on the back of this series, and perhaps for the first time we got an idea of just what kind of person he thinks he needs to work with.
On paper, Gavin, a young man who successfully set up and runs opticians was a real contender. Yet in the heat of this task he crumbled. Ok he had the more difficult team, but he was trumped the cool, calm and impressive Susan Ma. She certainly understood that time and quick and decisive decisions were key to this task. Fair enough, some of those decisions, such as which parts of London to do the cheapest shopping, were equally poor. Frankly anyone who has been subjected to those long, often fractious family monopoly games could’ve pointed her away from Mayfair for a Lord Sugar shopping trip.
Still thanks to Jedi Jim getting an extra £10 off an already impressive negotiation, Susan pulled in the win. She was perhaps the most impressive PM so far with a well organised team. Even if their locations and negotiations were far from it. It goes to show just how important it is to understand the challenge, get organised and get on with it. Gavin’s biggest failing was ‘dithering’ which lead to his team being badly organised and unable to complete the task in time. He was very nearly saved by his teams selection of leads and negotiating skills in what was after all only an £8 victory.
Most of the time as leaders we don’t have the answers. But the best leaders are able to organise their teams effectively, assign roles and give people responsibility and accountability. In so doing, especially when decisions need to be made under pressure, the outcome often takes care of itself.
In the meantime I’m wondering just who else Nick Hewer goes shopping with...
Star of the Week: Jedi Jim as always, but a nod this time to Ellie Reed who was impressive.
Got Lucky: Natasha Scribbins - what she was doing phoning a competitor only she knows...
Heading for a Fall: Natasha Scribbins - ...and her negotiations of the sign when she absolutely had £20 to spend before settling on £80 and then claiming she could’ve got better, and she already has an enemy in Zoe...in fact it isn’t looking good for her.
For Twitter updates on The Apprentice don't forget to follow me @simonbrooke
Series 7 finally found it's rhythm in this episode with the perennial buying task that has previously brought us kosher chicken, 18th century magazines that are actually London cabbie revision guides and so many more classic Apprentice moments. Yet, each and every series the candidates make the same basic errors time and again. Thankfully it was an episode that also widened the candidate base and gave us a flavour of many more of this year’s intake.
The discount buying task always makes good TV, and you get the feeling that of all the tasks that are devised on The Apprentice, Lord Sugars hand was perhaps most firmly behind this one. As critics will point out, a strong and lasting business could not be built on the kind of rash (and particularly desperate) negotiating and often rudeness that punctuates this episode. However, one thing this episode does highlight is those candidates who think on their feet, are prepared to just get on with it and can negotiate. Three key attributes that Lord Sugar holds dear. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the top performers in this task over the last few series have either won the main prize or been close to it.
That’s why this episode may give us our first real hint at the potential winners. Lord Sugar will undoubtedly play a ‘silent partner’ brief within any business setup on the back of this series, and perhaps for the first time we got an idea of just what kind of person he thinks he needs to work with.
On paper, Gavin, a young man who successfully set up and runs opticians was a real contender. Yet in the heat of this task he crumbled. Ok he had the more difficult team, but he was trumped the cool, calm and impressive Susan Ma. She certainly understood that time and quick and decisive decisions were key to this task. Fair enough, some of those decisions, such as which parts of London to do the cheapest shopping, were equally poor. Frankly anyone who has been subjected to those long, often fractious family monopoly games could’ve pointed her away from Mayfair for a Lord Sugar shopping trip.
Still thanks to Jedi Jim getting an extra £10 off an already impressive negotiation, Susan pulled in the win. She was perhaps the most impressive PM so far with a well organised team. Even if their locations and negotiations were far from it. It goes to show just how important it is to understand the challenge, get organised and get on with it. Gavin’s biggest failing was ‘dithering’ which lead to his team being badly organised and unable to complete the task in time. He was very nearly saved by his teams selection of leads and negotiating skills in what was after all only an £8 victory.
Most of the time as leaders we don’t have the answers. But the best leaders are able to organise their teams effectively, assign roles and give people responsibility and accountability. In so doing, especially when decisions need to be made under pressure, the outcome often takes care of itself.
In the meantime I’m wondering just who else Nick Hewer goes shopping with...
Star of the Week: Jedi Jim as always, but a nod this time to Ellie Reed who was impressive.
Got Lucky: Natasha Scribbins - what she was doing phoning a competitor only she knows...
Heading for a Fall: Natasha Scribbins - ...and her negotiations of the sign when she absolutely had £20 to spend before settling on £80 and then claiming she could’ve got better, and she already has an enemy in Zoe...in fact it isn’t looking good for her.
For Twitter updates on The Apprentice don't forget to follow me @simonbrooke
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
The Gloves are Off! Apprentice Series 7 Episode 2
Not since 1977 when John Williams' iconic Imperial March burst into life and the be-gloved villain of George Lucas' creation marched into view has there been a scarier appearance of gloves on screen. I talk of course of Edna's presentation to a room full of bemused and distinctly unimpressed looking technology enthusiasts during the App task.
In true Richard Hillman glove style, the addition of said accessories seemed to be leading to a car-crashing-into-the-ship-canal ending for the girls. Yet in a twist of Corrie proportions we gasped open mouthed (it was nearly 10pm on a school night) as victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat and the girls team lead by Edna secured an improbable victory.
Even the most ardent supporters of the girls’ team could not have predicted the final result having seen the team lurch from one disappointment to another throughout the task. However thanks to this unlikely win we were treated to piece of Jedi magic as Jim avoided the final three by calling on the great Obi-Wan to point out to team leader Leon that he ‘wasn’t the candidate he was looking for’.
It was a piece of brilliance though possibly unnecessary as Jim certainly wasn’t going, but genius all the same and left Leon (yes he did appear on an episode of Dragons Den) looking weak and firmly in Lord Sugars’ tractor beam.
But what did we learn from the second task? Understanding the brief certainly, after all the girls victory was sealed purely on the basis that their app had a more global reach than the boys.
However I would argue that luck more than anything played a bigger role in the win than any well executed strategy. As with any venture, planning is essential but a fair wind is a massive help. There are those that look upon luck in business as a fallacy - there is no such thing as luck. But I prefer to see luck for what it is, something we can try and turn in our favour as much as possible, and it is a concept that we should embrace. See luck as something that can be worked towards and it’s possible to envisage seeing yourself getting luckier.
Luck can be broken down into four parts, and it’s amazing how the luckiest people seem to have these things in place. It goes as follows:
L - Location, getting yourself out there and speaking to as many people as possible, mentioning your aims, your goals and your challenges and where you're looking for help. Or being in as many places as possible, one of them may just be the right one.
U - Understanding, know your chosen field as well as you can, who are the players, where are the opportunities
C - Contacts, speak to people, network, draw up a list of the people you would really like to speak to and mention them to everyone you know...you've played the Kevin Bacon game right??
K - Knowledge, know your subject, be an expert, you don't need to be working in an industry for years to know about it, do your research.
Ok it’s not a perfect system but to bring it back to the App task the girls won the task by perhaps understanding the key part of the market and producing a intro to it that played well with the global market. Whereas the boys team through the design of their App failed to understand that they were (for such a short task) cutting off the largest market through not understanding the field correctly.
Of course it could just be that the sight of those gloves scared most of the world into downloading the girls app on the understanding that there may be a new Death Star lurking behind the moon so they best hurry.
Star of the Week: Jim Eastwood – He made me say that with a whoosh of his Jedi powers
Got Lucky: Edna Agbarha – Two lucky episodes on the trot for Edna who almost lost the girls the task with a strange presentation that failed to mention the product at all.
Heading for a Fall: Glenn Ward – Lord Sugar is already questioning his potential and he appears to be winding a few others up
For Twitter updates on The Apprentice and other things don't forget to follow me @simonbrooke
In true Richard Hillman glove style, the addition of said accessories seemed to be leading to a car-crashing-into-the-ship-canal ending for the girls. Yet in a twist of Corrie proportions we gasped open mouthed (it was nearly 10pm on a school night) as victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat and the girls team lead by Edna secured an improbable victory.
Even the most ardent supporters of the girls’ team could not have predicted the final result having seen the team lurch from one disappointment to another throughout the task. However thanks to this unlikely win we were treated to piece of Jedi magic as Jim avoided the final three by calling on the great Obi-Wan to point out to team leader Leon that he ‘wasn’t the candidate he was looking for’.
It was a piece of brilliance though possibly unnecessary as Jim certainly wasn’t going, but genius all the same and left Leon (yes he did appear on an episode of Dragons Den) looking weak and firmly in Lord Sugars’ tractor beam.
But what did we learn from the second task? Understanding the brief certainly, after all the girls victory was sealed purely on the basis that their app had a more global reach than the boys.
However I would argue that luck more than anything played a bigger role in the win than any well executed strategy. As with any venture, planning is essential but a fair wind is a massive help. There are those that look upon luck in business as a fallacy - there is no such thing as luck. But I prefer to see luck for what it is, something we can try and turn in our favour as much as possible, and it is a concept that we should embrace. See luck as something that can be worked towards and it’s possible to envisage seeing yourself getting luckier.
Luck can be broken down into four parts, and it’s amazing how the luckiest people seem to have these things in place. It goes as follows:
L - Location, getting yourself out there and speaking to as many people as possible, mentioning your aims, your goals and your challenges and where you're looking for help. Or being in as many places as possible, one of them may just be the right one.
U - Understanding, know your chosen field as well as you can, who are the players, where are the opportunities
C - Contacts, speak to people, network, draw up a list of the people you would really like to speak to and mention them to everyone you know...you've played the Kevin Bacon game right??
K - Knowledge, know your subject, be an expert, you don't need to be working in an industry for years to know about it, do your research.
Ok it’s not a perfect system but to bring it back to the App task the girls won the task by perhaps understanding the key part of the market and producing a intro to it that played well with the global market. Whereas the boys team through the design of their App failed to understand that they were (for such a short task) cutting off the largest market through not understanding the field correctly.
Of course it could just be that the sight of those gloves scared most of the world into downloading the girls app on the understanding that there may be a new Death Star lurking behind the moon so they best hurry.
Star of the Week: Jim Eastwood – He made me say that with a whoosh of his Jedi powers
Got Lucky: Edna Agbarha – Two lucky episodes on the trot for Edna who almost lost the girls the task with a strange presentation that failed to mention the product at all.
Heading for a Fall: Glenn Ward – Lord Sugar is already questioning his potential and he appears to be winding a few others up
For Twitter updates on The Apprentice and other things don't forget to follow me @simonbrooke
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
I Love Me: Lessons from Apprentice Series Seven Episode One
You know the score, Prokofiev's 'Dance of the Knights' starts up, Mark Halliley's distinctive tones kick in and we're off. Series Seven of the Apprentice smashed its way back onto our screens with a new set of candidates.
Just how they settle in will become clearer over the coming weeks, but in many ways this was one of the tamer starts to an Apprentice series for some time (in Apprentice terms anyway).
Wherever the Apprentice Candidate Farm is located, it's clear that the ‘I’m Number One’ chemical is being increased by each series, along with Jeremy Clarkson levels of ‘Tact’ in their feed. It generally makes for fabulous TV viewing, and whilst it was clear some of the contestants were on the slow-release capsules in Episode One, you got a distinct impression that we are (TV) hours away from more of those chemical kicking in.
For those of you turned off by previous series, this series is distinctive for one key reason. Gone is the £100k per year job with Lord Sugar and in its place the chance to go into business with the main man, who will also invest £250k into the venture. A fantastic start for a new business of the winner’s choice.
Although it’s not yet clear how this will change the dynamic of the programme, it does ask a fundamentally different question of the candidates and Lord Sugar. Indeed Lord Sugar will have to ask himself, not if he can employ this person, but can he go into a partnership with them.
The lessons from Episode One were many, varied and fundamental to any business. We had mistakes on devising costs, sale prices, stock and production. But what struck me was a lesson that was certainly hammered home on the ‘You’re Fired’ sister show.
Edward Hunter proved that outside of the basic fundamentals of running a business the one thing each and every entrepreneur (young or old) should do is understand themselves. By that I’m not talking some deep and comprehensive analysis of what you are, it’s more basic than that.
Though almost every entrepreneur I’ve ever met has to be a jack of all trades within their business, often through necessity, there comes a time when each will have to ask the question – What are my strengths? It’s a question I have asked and had help understanding with my friends at Alchemy. Within each of us, entrepreneur or not, we have an honest understanding of what we are good at, and not so good at. Many of the most successful entrepreneurs understand this, and will build teams and businesses in such a way that the business benefits from the strengths that they have, whilst utilising the different strengths of others.
Edward, in his attempt to show he wasn’t an accountant from the mould (as he put it), deliberately set aside a key strength namely his accountancy skills, and instead took the boys team on seemingly disorganised squeeze and sell. He set aside the very skills that were a basic requirement of the task in place of what he perceived to be high-energy leading and selling. Even before the bizarre exchanges with Lord Sugar in the boardroom, Edward set aside one of his biggest strengths and from that moment on he was very much Edward Hunt-ed.
Getting the fundamental business processes correct in any business is essential. But so is understanding the strengths we have as individuals and finding partners, employees or colleagues to help us create a team with the required strengths and skills to really go for the big prize.
Perhaps this year’s candidates really can listen to themselves for once...’I love me’ – just find out what ‘me’ can bring to the table.
Star of the Week: Jim Eastwood - hilarious argument diffusing skills aside a solid performance
Got Lucky: Edna Agbarha - Looked uncomfortable with the task and almost cost the girls the win with production problems
Heading for a Fall: Melody Hossaini - Great performance but the toast to herself may not be appreciated by others
Just how they settle in will become clearer over the coming weeks, but in many ways this was one of the tamer starts to an Apprentice series for some time (in Apprentice terms anyway).
Wherever the Apprentice Candidate Farm is located, it's clear that the ‘I’m Number One’ chemical is being increased by each series, along with Jeremy Clarkson levels of ‘Tact’ in their feed. It generally makes for fabulous TV viewing, and whilst it was clear some of the contestants were on the slow-release capsules in Episode One, you got a distinct impression that we are (TV) hours away from more of those chemical kicking in.
For those of you turned off by previous series, this series is distinctive for one key reason. Gone is the £100k per year job with Lord Sugar and in its place the chance to go into business with the main man, who will also invest £250k into the venture. A fantastic start for a new business of the winner’s choice.
Although it’s not yet clear how this will change the dynamic of the programme, it does ask a fundamentally different question of the candidates and Lord Sugar. Indeed Lord Sugar will have to ask himself, not if he can employ this person, but can he go into a partnership with them.
The lessons from Episode One were many, varied and fundamental to any business. We had mistakes on devising costs, sale prices, stock and production. But what struck me was a lesson that was certainly hammered home on the ‘You’re Fired’ sister show.
Edward Hunter proved that outside of the basic fundamentals of running a business the one thing each and every entrepreneur (young or old) should do is understand themselves. By that I’m not talking some deep and comprehensive analysis of what you are, it’s more basic than that.
Though almost every entrepreneur I’ve ever met has to be a jack of all trades within their business, often through necessity, there comes a time when each will have to ask the question – What are my strengths? It’s a question I have asked and had help understanding with my friends at Alchemy. Within each of us, entrepreneur or not, we have an honest understanding of what we are good at, and not so good at. Many of the most successful entrepreneurs understand this, and will build teams and businesses in such a way that the business benefits from the strengths that they have, whilst utilising the different strengths of others.
Edward, in his attempt to show he wasn’t an accountant from the mould (as he put it), deliberately set aside a key strength namely his accountancy skills, and instead took the boys team on seemingly disorganised squeeze and sell. He set aside the very skills that were a basic requirement of the task in place of what he perceived to be high-energy leading and selling. Even before the bizarre exchanges with Lord Sugar in the boardroom, Edward set aside one of his biggest strengths and from that moment on he was very much Edward Hunt-ed.
Getting the fundamental business processes correct in any business is essential. But so is understanding the strengths we have as individuals and finding partners, employees or colleagues to help us create a team with the required strengths and skills to really go for the big prize.
Perhaps this year’s candidates really can listen to themselves for once...’I love me’ – just find out what ‘me’ can bring to the table.
Star of the Week: Jim Eastwood - hilarious argument diffusing skills aside a solid performance
Got Lucky: Edna Agbarha - Looked uncomfortable with the task and almost cost the girls the win with production problems
Heading for a Fall: Melody Hossaini - Great performance but the toast to herself may not be appreciated by others
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