Our Yard... landscaping from start to finish!

Recent Pictures!!!

www.flickr.com

Live Video From The Fabulous Wireless Webcam!!!

Click here to enlarge.

Live Video From The Second Fabulous Wireless Webcam!!!

Click here to enlarge.

Friday, February 13, 2004
8:27 AM

Everything I Ever Needed To Know I Learned From Watching The Apprentice

I know that most of my readers are not the reality TV junkies that we are. In fact, I'm not sure if any of you are even watching The Apprentice (you really should be, it is hi-larious!). In order to avoid losing my precious audience, I'll spare you any sort of play-by-play summary of last night's show. Instead, I will try to distill the show thus far down to some basic concepts for survival that we can all use in daily life.

1. If Donald Trump Is Speaking To You, Don't Interrupt.
I know this one will really come in handy for each and every one of you given how often you run into The Donald. But I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't give you this tip just in case.

This tip stems for watching a whole series of Apprentices interrupt Trump in the final meetings during which an Apprentice is always fired. Usually they interrupt him as he is telling them something they did wrong or he didn't like. So what's the thinking there? "Yes, Trump is criticizing me (perhaps in a constructive way) so the best response is to cut him off, talk over him, and irritate him even more." Yeah, that's the way not to get fired.

In actuality, "Don't Interrupt" is a good rule, applicable to life in general, even without Trump's presence. Given that I'm a prime offender in the interrupting department (but am constantly working on it), I'll try to take my own advice. But at least I know enough not to interrupt my boss, husband, parents, cats, etc. when they are pissed.

2. When Talking to Isaac Mizrahi, Make Sure You Can Pronounce His Name
Again, I'm sure this will come in handy for my trusty readers. Next time you are at fashion week rubbing elbows with the fashion trend-setters of the world, you are all set!

Why a reminder of this rule? Last night the Apprentices were trying to convince designer Isaac Mizrahi to donate something to a charity auction. But one of the main people talking to him couldn't freakin' pronounce his name!!! In fact, it was a problem that she realized from the outset and had plenty of opportunity to work on, but when push came to shove, she said something like "Mr. Mizari." No happy face from Isaac.

This really is just a matter of common sense and is useful in everyday life as well. If you don't know someone's name or if you do know and just don't know how to pronounce it, either DON'T USE IT or fake it somehow in a credible manner. Emphasis on "credible".

There is a corollary to this rule. If you are around people with any sort of regularity, I have a tip: LEARN THEIR NAMES! If you don't know people's names just out of laziness then you are in big trouble. We had an associate who worked here for about 6 months who didn't manage to learn anyones' names. He called everyone the same thing. Whenever you saw him it was "Hey, you." Seriously. Every time. Day after day. Month after month. And you could see the wheels in his brain spinning and spinning (albeit slowly - sort of like a hamster in a wheel) as he tried to come up with a name. The first couple of times it was understandable because we do have a big office and he was new. But 4-5 months down the road when you have been around these people, gone to lunch with them, worked with them, you had better know their names. Anyone care to guess what happened to him?? (The inability to learn names was the least of his problems.)

3. Don't Call Regis Philbin "Phil"
Sorry, this is really the same as the prior rule, but I think Regis deserves his own section. Poor Phil - oops - I mean Regis. I also think that it was questionable when one of the Apprentices called him "Reej." Time for another corollary, unless a person is an actual friend of yours and you know they go by a nickname, don't use a nickname. Especially one that sounds lame.

4. Don't Act Like You Like People That You Really Despise
(aka - Stand Up For Yourself)
Seems pretty self-evident doesn't it? But, again and again, these silly Apprentices fail to be honest about how they really feel! Last night, one of the people was downright rude (Trump pointed this out to her several times in a very harsh manner). He then asked the target of the rudeness if the target liked Ms. Quintessential Rudeness. The target actually said yes!!! Whaaaat? And this answer cost her her place on the show. Trump got rid of the target because she was too "nice".

Unfortunately, one message from Trump's choice is that it is better to be a b*#ch than to be nice, and I strongly disagree. But in reality (no pun intended) I think his message was more that you need to stand up for yourself and if you don't, you won't make it in the world (which is generally true).

So there you have it. A few tips to help you get by better in every day life and to get along with your fellow man/woman. Go forth with the foregoing tips and report back about the huge different they have made in your life.

P.S. If you do happen to run into Isaac Mizrahi, just sound it out phonetically. Duh!

0 comment(s) so far!

Click Here to Read or Post a Comment