And Alex has been approached by a big modelling agency – who could have predicted that, eh?

A short note/reminder about the prog on BBC1 tonight at 10.20pm – "Why I Fired Them". Guess it will be on BBCi-player for later viewing, too.

Golly – do hope we learn something meaningful.

I really enjoyed your article on the sales tips/techniques to be learned after the car selling task.

The interviews instalment – that's my absolute fave rave.

Their insights I find intriguing – and I wonder how I would deal with such lines of questioning had I been the one sitting there.

Haven't watched the Apprentice Weakest Link special yet – could be very revealing.

In this week's Radio Times there's a v v amusing interview with Nick and Margaret. Nick: "Lucinda, who I thought was a Daffy Duck from another planet, has suddenly become shrewd and political." And later ….. "I think we should move away from the spangly thong line of questioning."

From what I've seen of the trailer of the final it looks as though Lee is going to be allowed to make a huge dog's dinner of yet another presentation ….

And I bet Claire will let him.

Thanks also for the link to Andy Smith – I've signed up for his newsletter.

Here's to a productive week ahead! Thanks again for all the mega useful tips.

With kind regards

Jennifer

I would like to put in a word for some of their achievements.

When you consider some of the design/production/sales tasks where these clearly inexperienced youngsters, in a matter of hours, do enough to generate several thousand pounds of revenue from a number of discerning customers – rightful praise is due.

I know of many business owners who only dream about generating this kind of success so quickly. Some of them go for weeks or months without doing anything of the sort. Others close their business after a year or so without tasting victory.

How about introducing an in-house “Apprentice” game – “With our current products/services, our task is to generate as many as possible in 7 days”?

The sense of urgency would work wonders, I have no doubt!

Big mistake, Lucinda, thinking aloud in front of your competitors! But really, who wants a backstabbing little weasel, who will go telling tales to the boss whenever the opportunity presents itself, in their organisation?