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June 7, 2006 | permalink
Presented by Trump University

Episode Summary: Donald J. Trump hired Sean to be his new Apprentice in this season's final episode, telecast live from the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Before the winning Apprentice was hired, however, both teams had to complete tasks they started last week. Gold Rush, led by Lee, was organizing a celebrity hockey game to benefit the Leary Firefighters Foundation. Synergy, led by Sean, was producing a rock concert by Barenaked Ladies to benefit the World Wildlife Fund.

Both teams made mistakes as they planned their events. At Gold Rush, Lee was planning to put ice skates on Jaime Pressly, their celebrity auctioneer, without knowing whether she could skate. And Synergy didn't remember to create signs for Pontiac, the event sponsor.

As the events began, Gold Rush hit still more snags. It was difficult for Jaime Pressly to acknowledge auction bids from the audience members, who were seated on the other side of the rink's Plexiglas.

In contrast, Synergy's event went without a hitch. Mr. Trump's onstage arrival in a gleaming new Pontiac was a class act, and the auction and rock concert that followed went flawlessly.

In the boardroom (actually a conference table on the stage of the Orpheum Theater this week), Mr. Trump acknowledged that both Sean and Lee were outstanding young men. Nevertheless, he decisively picked Sean as his winning Apprentice.

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This episode taught vital lessons about winning in business and life. Let's take a closer look.

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When Andrea returned quickly from her doctor's visit, she did not even want to discuss her medical problems. She just wanted to get back to work. Her determination was a major factor in her team's success - and in hers as well.

Success Lesson

Roll up your sleeves. Demonstrate a strong work ethic like Andrea's.

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When Sean picked teammates with a proven ability to organize complex tasks, he assured his team's success. In contrast, Lee chose less experienced teammates who only wanted him to win.

Success Lesson

Loyalty is not enough. When you absolutely have to win, surround yourself with people with applicable experience.

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When an executive from Pontiac balked at the concept of having a man in a Panda suit appear at the event, Sean abruptly scrapped the idea.

Success Lesson

Don't cling to ideas that aren't working. To get to the top, you need to generate dozens of ideas on the spot, not cling to concepts that aren't going anywhere.

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By waiting on the helipad for Mr. Trump to arrive for the event, Sean showcased his attention to detail. In contrast, Lee was nowhere in sight when Mr. Trump arrived for Gold Rush's event.

Success Lesson

Appearances count - a lot. When you are under pressure and need to drop a detail, make it one that people won't notice.

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When Lenny carelessly provided all the celebrity hockey players with medium-sized jerseys, he was acting irresponsibly. How could he be sure they would fit?

Success Lesson

The devil is in the details. Lee should have been watching closely, not delegating a crucial responsibility to lackadaisical Lenny.

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What can we learn from this season? Sean and Lee are both excellent leaders. But in the end, Sean's greater maturity made him this season's Apprentice. Remember, maturity is not a question of age. It comes from a winning attitude, enlightened leadership, attention to detail and the other traits we saw in Sean throughout this season.