In my book Welcome to the Big Leagues, I wrote that corporate America accepts all types. Well, it appears that NBC's hit television show Celebrity Apprentice does too. I must admit that I was looking forward to watching this season's series premiere on Sunday. As one who appreciates all that it takes to successfully drive projects to a close, it's refreshing for me to see celebrities, or those who excel in areas other than business, assume the arduous and often thankless role of project manager.
I've been a fan of Donald Trump's program for the past several years now and even make a reference to it in my book ... when project management leads to finger-pointing and how it doesn't take much for colleagues to throw each other under the bus. Episode after episode, the Celebrity Apprentice proves to present the epitome of such shortsightedness and backstabbing. While many loyal fans of the show find this sort of betrayal most amusing, I take no pleasure in it. Perhaps it strikes a little too close to home for me, as I have watched such types destroy businesses, politics, sports teams and just about everything else they get their hands on.
Having watched only the first couple of episodes of this seventh season, there is already much to be further examined and discussed with business world newbies ... as learning what not to do in business can sometimes be equally as important as learning what to do.
For the purpose of this blog post, I will direct our scope around the two distinct personality types of Geraldo Rivera and Terrell Owens. They have provided us with prime examples of the workplace realities that exist within corporate America; which just so happens to be tightly correlated to some of the examples depicted in my book, Welcome to the Big Leagues.
Arrogance is ignorance.
Almost 30 years ago, while in my glorious teen years, I had the displeasure of meeting Geraldo Rivera. Back then, I was a little more naive about the world and the types of people in it, but I still remember being very unimpressed by the encounter. I won't go into the details but let's just say that Geraldo's ego was far greater than the size of his body, and if he were alive in the early 1800's the world today would know the Geraldo Complex as opposed to the Napoleon ...
When I reflect back on the past three decades of my life, I am tremendously proud of the personal growth, development, and overall man that I have worked hard to become. Unfortunately, it appears as though Rivera focused all of his effort these past 30 years on professional growth, as he hasn't bettered himself one bit.
In a previous blog post I state that "life takes more than it gives, but when people do all of humanity suffers". I'm not saying that Geraldo Rivera isn't a decent humanitarian. After all, he is playing the game of Celebrity Apprentice for charity, right? However, I have little respect for the person behind the mustache and here's why ... (click on image)
Geraldo has the most professional experience of any contestant on the show, and the tape doesn't roll for more than five minutes without him telling us so. This all-about-me attitude represents all that is wrong in the world today and I pity those who have to work for such people. Rather than operate as a team player and use his experience to coach others, Rivera's megalomania not only ostracizes him from the pack, it positions him as a disruptive and nonproductive force. Rivera cannot accept constructive criticism or process rejection from anyone he deems as less in rank, but has no problem kissing up to Trump by calling him Boss.
In addition, Geraldo proves he couldn't be more delusional by claiming teammates are worse off for not adhering to his every spoken syllable. When others don't listen they're obviously plotting against him; which is why Geraldo's quick to wear the hat of a victim. This is a very common personality trait among dictators and tyrants who fail to ever consider how the problem could possibly be from within.
Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. - Jack Welch
On a more positive note, I cannot give a bigger accolade to the performance and attitude of Terrell Owens this season. Even though he lost his first task as project manager, he did so while embracing the true heart of a humble champion; which is a 180 degree turn from the football player we knew on the field. In fact, while in the boardroom, Terrell explained to Trump that he wish he had experienced this show years ago, as it would have made him a better football player and teammate. Terrell Owens has adopted a pure apprentice mentality by focusing on learning all that he can while bettering himself as a person during the process.
I genuinely wrote the Welcome to the Big Leagues book and created The Corporate Rookie website to help new graduates and entrants to the business world achieve what Terrell Owens is accomplishing now as an apprentice ... focusing on skill development and striving for full potential, despite any stagnation or negative influences within the environment. I'd seriously like to see Terrell sustain his positive mindset and accomplish everything he sets out to do while on the show and in all future endeavors. More importantly, I hope today's youth are inspired by Terrell's actions and work in a similar fashion to never stop learning and always put their best foot forward.
If you have read my work, you may remember my early request of corporate rookies, when I asked them to imagine their future-self, approximately 30 years from now, and to picture their retirement party or last day on the job. I encourage them to consider the following question ... Will you be remembered as a bitter old hack who was out solely for self gain, or a great leader who helped many to achieve success and prevail against the challenges in career and life?
Like I said corporate America accepts all types ... winners, losers, sinners and saints. It is up to each of us to control the type of person, colleague, or business leader we wish to be; which is why I recommend being cognitively aware of the mistakes and regrets of others, and not letting decades pass before wishing you knew then what you know now.
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