Page 112 - How To Get Rich

His idea was terrific: Have sixteen people compete in a televised
thirteen-week job interview, where the winner gets to become my
apprentice. Whoever won would get a six-figure job at The Trump
Organization for one year—maybe longer, if he or she was worth it.

What appealed to me most was that the premise ofThe Apprentice
would be educational to viewers. People would be able to see how the real
business world works and what it takes to survive in it—or to even have a
chance to survive in it.
I asked Mark what kind of a time commitment he would need from
me.
Mark’s words, which I will never forget and will always remind him

of, were: Donald, believe me, the most time we would need is three hours
a week.
I can affectionately say that I was a real schmuck for believing that
line.
The first few episodes took about thirty hours each. But it turned out I
didn’t mind. As time went by, I started to realize that this show could be

really big, and I wanted to devote the kind of time to it that Mark needed
me to give.
When we pitched the project to the top networks for bids, everyone
wanted it. They loved the concept. We chose NBC, which also broadcasts
my Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants, so it was a
quick and easy deal. Neither side had to be convinced of anything, and
from the very first meeting, the relationship has been a strong one. Bob

Wright, the chairman of NBC, and Jeff Zucker, president of NBC
Entertainment, are the best in the business. They worked hard to promote
the show and were rewarded with rave reviews and the best ratings of any
new show of the season. I know this sounds like typical showbiz hype, but
it’s all true.

Once I got used to the time commitment, working on the show came
naturally, because, in effect, what I do onThe Apprentice is what I do in
life: I hire people. I fire people. I make things work.
One of my favorite aspects of the show are the dramatic entrances and
exits I get to make—from limousines and planes, or into the boardroom.
It’s good to be the CEO, and it’s even better to be the CEO on national TV.
It was also great to enlist the services of special guest stars such as George