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    The Great Gordino Newsletter - Issue 324 - Mon 18th Jul 2005
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    Archive Issues online at - gordonbryan.com/archive

    Hi There,

    I hope you are ok.

    Tiger Woods won The Open yesterday.
    It's his 10th win in one of golf's 'major' tournaments, and he is
    well on the way to the record of 18, currently held by Jack
    Nicklaus.
    Nicklaus retired at the event.
    It was held at St. Andrew's in Scotland, the home of golf, and on
    Friday when Nicklaus finished, it was one of the great sporting
    moments, a chance to reflect on decades at the top by one man
    who can best be summed up with one word - respect.
    He had, still has, respect for others and respect for himself, and
    much of the world could do a lot worse than follow that example.

    Here in the UK, the BBC has started showing the 2nd series of
    The Apprentice with Donald Trump.
    It prompted some points for me to make, both about the show
    itself, and the contestants.

    I loved the first series, and was a bit concerned when I saw
    trailers for a British version, with Sir Alan Sugar.
    True, Sir Alan has worked his way to a £700 million fortune, but
    he doesn't strike me as the same as 'The Trump', and whereas
    in the US show, the contestants are housed in Trump Tower, in
    the UK show they just got a house by the river, because there
    isn't a 'Sugar Tower.'

    Although it followed the same pattern as the US show, to the
    letter, it was different.
    Sir Alan isn't afraid of using, er, earthy language, and doesn't
    show the same outward sense of self importance that Trump
    does.

    The show here was hugely successful, and this 2nd series of the
    Trump version is called 'The Apprentice USA' here.

    That's a big deal, because it is unusual for us to copy a US show
    and have it overtake the US version in success terms.

    So, a successful business model from a show about successful
    business models - I like it!

    In the show itself, this time the focus seems to be on how the
    indivuduals would work in a team environment, and not on how
    they fare on each particular task.
    For example, one man who had earnt an exemption from being
    fired, decided to waive it.
    Donald Trump fired him immediately, saying although the man
    was a good candidate, such an impulsive move was not
    something he could have in his business.

    The next week, one girl was rounded on by her colleagues as
    being unstable in her behaviour.
    Again, veering away from the particular task that week, Donald
    fired her because it concerned him that the whole team felt
    uncomfortable with her, again something he didn't want in his
    business.
    It looks good for the rest of the series, if we focus on the
    personal attributes Trump likes to see.

    Three weeks ago, I was drumming at a jam night, and I used
    my own kit.
    Usually I borrow other people's kits, but this time I was playing
    my own red sparkle kit for the first time in 20 years!
    I loved it, and once I scan in the pictures, I'll let you see them.

    The next week, the band drummer was a left hander.
    She has a reputation of being a great local drummer, which she
    is, and it always attracts attention to see a left handed girl giving
    it plenty on the kit.

    When I got up to play, she offered to swap the drums round to
    the right handed position, but I told her 'I couldn't be arsed',
    thinking I would only be doing a couple of songs.

    As it turned out , I did a good 6 songs, and really struggled with
    having to play the kit the wrong way round.

    It would have only taken a minute at most, but my short term
    laziness had led to longer term difficulty.

    A lesson learnt?
    I should say so, and last week when I played, and tonight as
    well, the kit will get turned around if I play!

    Ok, that's it for today -
    Remember the respect of, and for, Jack Nicklaus.
    Remember that sometimes it takes certain personality traits to
    fit in.
    Remember that following a successful model can lead to your
    own success.
    And above all, remember to turn the drums round if you follow a
    left-hander.

    'Til Next Time,
    Health and Happiness,
    Gordon
    email me at gordon@gordonbryan.com - you'll have to copy and paste
    thanks to the idiot online spammers!



    
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