So last night, bumbling but friendly inventor Tom Pellereau, who from now on I shall call Caractacus Potts (after the rather nice but boffin father in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), won The Apprentice and in doing so made something of a mockery of actually bothering with the weeks and weeks of tasks... Despite ten weeks of competition in which he had only been on the winning side three times and had spent more time being called nice but useless by Uncle Alan, he walked away with the top prize of £250k investment in his business. He might rue the … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, The Final
July 18, 2011 By 8 Comments
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 11
July 13, 2011 By 6 Comments
So it was week 11 and Jim was first up to answer the ringing phone which was put down on him when he asked if there was any dress code for the forthcoming task. I mean, seriously, if that’s how Lord Sugar’s PA treats you before you even start working for with him, I'd be checking out the small print. Tonight’s task was to set up, brand, briefly run and then get assessed on a new fast food shop with the potential to become a chain. Another convoluted task with not enough time to get things done. Was this task about creativity? Was it … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 8
June 22, 2011 By 7 Comments
Week 8 of The Sales Apprentice and it’s time for our two teams to head over La Manche to sell some wacky British products to the unsuspecting French. With only 8 Apprentices left, tonight’s task saw Suzy leading Jim, Helen and Zoe facing off against Tom “leading” Leon, Melody and Natasha. It also did a lot to clarify my thoughts about the candidates and I’m sure by now you must have your favourites too. First task of the night was to pick two products to sell. After some deliberation and some bizarre questions from Suzy (“Do the … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 6
June 8, 2011 By 13 Comments
Week 6 and 10 remain still trying to win The Sales Apprentice and a “50/50 partnership with the nation’s toughest investor”… well the most belligerent and bellicose anyway. This week’s task was in junk removal with the objective being to collect, dispose of responsibly and make money from junk. After a quick reshuffle the team’s elected their team leaders: Zoe for team Venture and Helen, who had just been "shuffled", for team Logic. In this task there were two ways to make money: 1) charging to collect waste and 2) selling on … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 4
May 25, 2011 By 7 Comments
It’s week 4 of The Apprentice and so far only boys have been fired. Will another chap go this week or is it time for a girl to be ousted? With just 15 minutes to get up, out of bed and ready for action the teams are asked to meet at The British Museum. Standing near the statue of Aphrodite Lord Alan set them the task of creating their own beauty treatment service and making profit. In one of the most profitable industries this shouldn’t be difficult but as we know, our Apprentices have a God-given gift of making even the glaringly simple … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 3
May 18, 2011 By 3 Comments
Welcome back to The Sales Apprentice! It’s week 3 and we’re two boys down. The girls think that the weakest boys have gone and they will have the weakest link this week but I’m not so sure… Tonight’s task was to find 10 items for the Savoy Hotel which was just finishing a 3 year, £200 million refurbishment. The team which could find the 10 items in one day and spend the least money would be the winner. Simples. Or so you might think… Lord Alan positioned this task as one of organization, of negotiation and of buying skills … [Read more...]
Captain Ed Goes Down With The Ship… A Guest Post From Last Year’s 1st Out Apprentice Dan Harris
May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As you know, I don't do many guest posts on my blog but I thought you might like this one from Dan Harris. "Dan Harris? Dan Harris?" Ok, I'll let you out of your misery... Dan Harris was the first Apprentice to get removed from last year's Apprentice so what better person to let us in on his thoughts, feelings, empathy and memories? So for you Apprentice fans... The pontificating is over as the action starts for the new series of the apprentice. The memories of my own apprentice experience came flooding back as I watched. From the off I … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2011: Sales Training & Business Development Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week I
May 10, 2011 By 2 Comments
This year I have decided to cover The Apprentice a little differently. Partly I thought that it was time for a change but also with a large percentage of my newsletter list based around the world I decided that it was also necessary. In my weekly newsletter I may or may not pick up a theme from The Apprentice, like I did this week, but I am moving the Apprentice review and tips into a video format and you can either watch this here on the blog or on Youtube Sales Training Channel.I think this will end up being more fun for those who care and … [Read more...]
Stand Up & Yell, “I Am Proud To Be A Sales Professional.”
May 10, 2011 By 3 Comments
I was watching The Apprentice last night and as Sir Alan Sugar fired Edward the boy’s team leader he told him never to be ashamed of what he is best at doing. This was great advice and it reminded me of the many sales and business people I have met over the years who are ashamed or embarrassed of selling. If you are ashamed or embarrassed of being a sales professional is it hardly surprising when you’re not very successful at it? Who’d want to do something whole-heartedly and well that they were ashamed of? Selling is a noble … [Read more...]
The Sales Apprentice 2010: Sales Training Tips From The Hit TV Show, Week 12, The Final
December 19, 2010 By 3 Comments
Welcome to the final of The Sales Apprentice and welcome to... Chris VS Stella. Actually, let me rephrase that, I have asked about 500 sales and business people over the last few days who should win the Apprentice this year and the vast majority think Stella so I am not sure that there is so much “VS” going on here. This really should be a one-way, walk in the park, a rout of Biblical proportions, a hammering that only Tiger Woods in his prime could have handed out... But, as a friend said to me, after Lord Sir Mr Alan Sugar fired Liz a few … [Read more...]
