Page 113 - How To Get Rich

Steinbrenner and Donny Deutsch, the best advertising man in the business,
as well as Regis, of course.
When we announced the show to the media in one of the most
publicized job listings in recent memory, the reaction was instant and

huge. In the first week, we received over 86,000 website hits. Over 70,000
applications were downloaded—the first one from Hamburg, Germany.
The tally reached 215,000 before we finally stopped counting. This might
have been the biggest job application in history.
Fortunately, Mark and his team knew what they were doing. After
reviewing the twelve-page applications and videotapes required of
prospective contestants, ten casting directors and five assistant casting

directors studide the materials further, narrowing the field to those
deemed strong possibilities.
The Apprenticeauditions in August 2003. I’m greeting these brave
people in front of Trump Tower.
Their screening process was comprehensive and thorough. In the spirit
of fairness, open calls were held in ten major U.S. cities. Tens of thousands

of people showed up. In New York City, at Trump Tower, those thousands
stood in the pouring rain for hours just to get a few moments of
consideration. Obviously, most of them didn’t make it, but they’ve got
what it takes to succeed because they’ve got the guts to go for it.
Seeing their enthusiasm really revved me up for the show. It also
bowled me over. I thought to myself,All these people want to work for
me? It was incredibly flattering. Then again, I doubt those people knew

what they might have been getting themselves into. I heard through the
grapevine at my office, on one particularly rough day, that the name
forThe Apprentice competitors who didn’t win spots on the show was The
Lucky Fifteen.
There were some amusing moments before we began taping. Mark

Burnett brought his adoring father, Archibald, to visit one day. After
meeting me, he said, You’re much more handsome in person than I would
have thought. Maybe you don’t photograph so well. Good luck with the
show. Mark quickly interjected that his father was from Scotland and
tended to be on the blunt side. I think he’s terrific.
Mark is a lot of fun to be around—the British equivalent of a Green
Beret. He has no fear and tremendous positive energy, which ismy idea of
a great leader. We’re both big Neil Young fans, so one night, I took him to