I should win because
"This show seemed like it was made for me, like everything I've done prepared me for this moment." -as told to Entertainment Weekly
Elizabeth, 31, has more than 30 Fortune 500 companies and over 40 multi-million dollar brands relying on her to help them develop creative ideas to build their businesses. Elizabeth currently owns and runs Pulse40, a successful consulting firm where she pioneered a unique interviewing process. With products ranging from laundry detergent to movies, you might recognize much of her work on TV today.
Elizabeth graduated with a 4.0 from The University of Michigan Business School where she was recognized as an Angell Scholar, received the Branstorm Prize, and was ranked in the top 1% of the nation for academic excellence and leadership. Elizabeth's professional foundation began when she was hired by Procter & Gamble Brand Management, and very quickly became a highly successful Brand Manager.
Fun facts most people don't know about Elizabeth are: she's a published poet, state champion basketball player, avid Salsa dancer, motivational speaker, and an award-winning short film director.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
TV Guide Online: OK, just how stunned were you when Donald Trump fired you without the final boardroom finger-point-athon?
Elizabeth: It was a shocker. But I made history, and that's how I like to do things! (Laughs) I gotta go big!
TVGO: My wife has been in the ad biz for 15 years, and she says the NYPD recruitment ad you came up with was frightening. Like, Stacie J. frightening.
Elizabeth: Yes. It was bad. (Laughs) That's why I didn't want to put my name on it from the beginning. When I delegated the creative to Raj and Chris and Jen, I said, "Come back to me with three ideas," and they came up with one, and they just would not move from that idea. It was more a strategy for getting me out of the game than it was for getting the task right.
TVGO: After you and Kevin brainstormed your own campaign at 2 a.m., you tried to sell it to the rest of the team but retreated, leading Ivana to drop the 2004 F-bomb on you: She said you "flip-flop"!
Elizabeth: When Kevin and I came up with our idea, I was so excited, but in the editing room I saw we didn't have the footage to make our idea come to life. So there was no decision to make; there was no flip-flop. It simply wasn't an option to do that campaign. I didn't get to tell Kevin that before the boardroom, so he had a misunderstanding of the situation.
Elizabeth searches for the right words to save herself in the boardroom.
Jennifer Massey lied, along with Raj Bhakta and others to kick Elizabeth off Apex.
TVGO: Your bio touts you as an "avid salsa dancer," so be up front with me: Did salsa dancing figure into your and Kevin's idea?
Elizabeth: Unfortunately, no. But salsa dancing is my favorite thing to do on the dance floor. I love it.
TVGO: "Flip-flop" pop quiz: You're at a wedding reception and the waiter asks, "Beef or fish?" Which do you choose? Quick!
Elizabeth: Fish.
TVGO: Hmm, are you sure? Everyone else at your table seems really excited about the beef...
Elizabeth: I am absolutely sure.
TVGO: Do you regret crying during the restaurant task? It seemed the equivalent of throwing chum into a shark tank.
Elizabeth: No. In the real world, I have never cried in a professional environment, and I never will — I know that about myself. I kept asking to [go find people to eat at our restaurant] and was told, "No." In my mind, when you're frustrated, there are two ways to go: You either yell at people and be rude, or you take it in. I ended up taking it in, which is the lesser of the two evils.
TVGO: You brought Stacie J. into the boardroom after the Crest toothpaste task, where she ended up getting fired for being, well, frightening. Do you stand by your decision?
Elizabeth: Oh, absolutely. I am so glad you asked about that. I took Stacie J. into the boardroom specifically for business reasons. She did a lot of things wrong on that task, and I told her that after the fact. I never intended to bring up anything that happened in the first episode, but when Maria did, Trump asked me and I told the truth, because that's what I do. In hindsight, I didn't know that she'd get fired over it. I didn't want her to be perceived as crazy.
TVGO: On the heels of Stacy R., you're the second self-described "motivational speaker" to be sent packing. Coincidence, or conspiracy? Perhaps y'all can talk the talk but not walk the...
Elizabeth: (Laughs) Conspiracy! I definitely talk the talk and walk the walk.
TVGO: Who are you surprised is still around? It's curious that Raj has made it this far, if only because it obviously got back to The Donald that Captain Bow-Tie was all over the Trump Models.
Elizabeth: Raj knows he has escaped a few now. People who have not led tasks, I don't think should be around. I stepped up to the plate and I think everybody should.
TVGO: As owner of the consulting firm Pulse40, you claim to have pioneered "a unique interviewing process." Surely it cannot compare to what I have hit you with here.
Elizabeth: Well, yours is unique in a different way. (Laughs) Mine is more about psychological interviewing, so I get deep. I make people sort of realize things, which always ends up being an insightful interview to watch.
TVGO: That's all I've got. And if you don't mind me saying so, even over the phone your breath was Crest Vanilla Minty fresh.
Elizabeth: Oh, thank you!
The afternoon working session at the Deutsch studio with a blonde employee attending.
(flashes a photo of a cop with text overlay: “Fighting Crime on New York’s Front Line”
Elizabeth: I love that
Kevin standing next to Deutsch employee: So it’s bad or is it intrusive?
Deutsch Employee: Do you want it in white? Black and white?
Kevin: I think it’s horrible. I really do. I opposed it.
Elizabeth to the camera afterward: I do think it’s really clear. All five of my team want to do military and I was on the other side I do not want to do a military campaign.
(Apex members looking at the print layouts on the studio table with the Deutsch Employee attending )
Elizabeth: So ultimately, I took what I was given and I tried to do my best to make it less military, to soften it and move forward.
Raj whispering: We don’t have time for this.
Elizabeth listening to Raj in silence.
Raj appearing excited: It has to do with a general theme
Raj now screaming: This is not part of any specific idea that we were trying to do. Just go with the theme. It’s not!
Carolyn: I think the team thinks Elizabeth is indecisive.
Jen M: You were talking about a hodge-pot of stuff.
(Kevin next to Jen M and watching)
Carolyn: Her inability to take over leadership role has led to animosity and some disorganization in the team.
Jen M: I got to go back and look at the internet and can’t do it here.
Raj: Hold on, hold on. Hold on.
Kevin: We got to wait.
Raj: No, we got to….
Elizabeth: Guys, guys…. We can’t, we can’t just go dispersed.
Raj: Hold it, hold it.
Raj leads, Ivana follows, then Chris, and then Kevin.
Kevin: I’m going with them (pointing towards the Apex team leaving)
(Elizabeth sat back down looking behind her back for support finding no one stayed, and her face looked disappointed at Apex members for leaving her)
(Elizabeth quietly returns back to work by herself and did not cry )
The Boardroom Bandits will eventually make outlaws of The Apprentices.She was part of the mob mentality against Stacie Jones in week #3. Now it's Elizabeth Jarosz's turn in week #8. Stacie J predicted, they will each devour themselves.
I really don't know why they ganged up on me at the boardroom. The only thing I can think of is that you know I was an easy target.
I obviously was on a different page than the whole rest of the team on this task. I didn't believe in the idea and I really wanted to make it something more than what it was.
I am a person who stands by my conviction. I could not have led a team using a campaign that I knew was absolutely wrong. Everybody would of said: Gosh, I don't know why we lost.
I must say how they ganged up on me was vicious and I don't think that it was called for. And I think they said some things that were untrue.
"I obviously was on a different page than the whole rest of the team on this task. I didn't believe in the idea and I really wanted to make it something more than what it was."
Hmmmmmm... THEN GO WITH A DIFFERENT IDEA YOU MORON.
Hmmmmmm... THEN GO WITH A DIFFERENT IDEA YOU MORON.
-HECK!
Perhaps my posts for the last few days are lacking clarity. I know that I have to keep learning to write better each day. What is it I'm writing that's unclear you like to know more about?
Hmmmmmmm..... writing about the idea describing the moron.
Elizabeth did in fact pitched three NYPD Campaign ideas over the two days: (Just Click Below #1 thru #4)
Both Deutsch and Donald rated Apex's presentation of #4 Campaign as too much force and lost. Elizabeth who was the only one in the group that had the business acumen in marketing and advertising with Fortune 500 Companies tried to get the Apex group to de-emphasize the HEAVY military idea.
And for some reason Ken, you can't grasp the idea that she was the leader and ultimately had the last say in the matter.
The reason she was fired on the spot was she let the team dictate what direction they would go in, then said it was a bad idea when it blew up in their faces... after the fact!
Even a slightly less inept person would say, "no, we are in fact going to do it this way." She let more dominant personalities walk all over her. Along the way she kept trying to go back to the drawing board and go in different directions, but you can't keep flip-flooping when you're under a freakin' deadline.
This chick was unsure, second-guessed herself, and couldn't commit to a decision. Period. Are these qualities that Trump would want in a person who may potentially run one of his companies? No way.
In the beginning, Elizabeth did state she didn't like the military angle. Therefore, as the PM, right then she should have TOLD the team they were going with a different idea. But wait... she didn't have an idea of her own. At some point you have to make the big decision and put your foot down. That's what good leaders do. Sure, she tried some damage control at midnight, but the team smacked down her idea the next morning and she folded like a deck of cards. Pathetic.
I don't know why it's so difficult for you to see that.
I still feel that Elizabeth getting fired was her own fault.
She could have easily have done what Andy did, and by that I mean tell the team that "This is how we are gonna so it...Im the PM and Im calling the shots" (Maybe not in that way..but along those lines).
She was deserving of getting fired. She didnt like the idea...she let them dictate it, and they lost....she had no leadership qualities whatsoever. I think we saw that in her first loss as PM.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Mystic, read below to answer your opening question. It's partially her fault, but her working environment obstructed her work. That's the point I getting at. I in no way say Elizabeth is free from ANY fault. I think she was slightly wrong by not standing up and taking action against Chris and Raj for starting and continuing that hostile environment at the workplace. If I was there, I kick both of them out of the meeting, period.
Then Kevin would NEVER had the opportunity to be corrupted and going down the "Coup" path. Ivana would have fallen in line and even if Jennifer Massey refused to pull her weight, that would be enough for Elizabeth to have completed her project and won. And then at the boardroom, Elizabeth would have an insurance policy to go against (Chris and Raj) even if Mosaic had surprisingly pulled a victory over her project.
Elizabeth was doomed from the first hour, as Kevin didn't say in week #8.
quote:
HECK said this in post
And for some reason Ken, you can't grasp the idea that she was the leader and ultimately had the last say in the matter.
That I agree as to project leader's responsibility. What I differ is Apex's team strategem against the project leader with their "The Coup" in sabotaging Elizabeth's earnest effort to lead them to a win. Seems like no one wanted to win, despite their false appearance wanting to win. And none seemed to be able to pick that up in week #8 episode. Kevin said and confirmed about "The Coup" (but it was known too late) but people can't factor that into grasping that idea that ultimately distinguished the errors in their ways.
The reason she was fired on the spot was she let the team dictate what direction they would go in, then said it was a bad idea when it blew up in their faces... after the fact!
That's what happens when a "Goodie-two-shoe" leader uses too much of the consensus decision approach. It's a recipe for disaster time and time again. Elizabeth would have WON the Advertising Campaign hands down had she had worked with a bunch of more cooperative and creative group of personalities (even if it was the former Apex females.) No one out of the ten remaining Apprentices had her strong advertising skill sets. But that wasn't the case. She was working upstreams from the beginning right after Trump's reshuffled mergers with three dominant men personalities.
Even a slightly less inept person would say, no, we are in fact going to do it this way. She let more dominant personalities walk all over her. Along the way she kept trying to go back to the drawing board and go in different directions, but you can't keep flip-flooping when you're under a freakin' deadline.
If you go back and follow the sequence and what happened, Elizabeth was obstructed each time she wanted to lead. The only way she could have gotten this done was to FIRED her staff and conducted the advertising campaign all by herself. The fact that she assumed the role of the PM and her staff abandoned their roles and responsibilities railroaded her project to failure. What she didn't do was to tell Trump at the boardroom that NONE of them did their job assigned to them and they were all incompetent. Elizabeth knew that business inside out and could have done it all. Her failure - she didn't and relied on delegation for which the coup took over and succeeded.
This chick was unsure, second-guessed herself, and couldn't commit to a decision. Period. Are these qualities that Trump would want in a person who may potentially run one of his companies? No way.
Again, none of Trump's companies have this kind of "coup" ongoing either, except on The Apprentice TV shows. That's the difference.
In the beginning, Elizabeth did state she didn't like the military angle. Therefore, as the PM, right then she should have TOLD the team they were going with a different idea. But wait... she didn't have an idea of her own. At some point you have to make the big decision and put your foot down. That's what good leaders do. Sure, she tried some damage control at midnight, but the team smacked down her idea the next morning and she folded like a deck of cards. Pathetic. I don't know why it's so difficult for you to see that. -HECK!
In the beginning, she came up with a theme, but the team was supposed to put the pieces together. The team wanted more strength. She didn't. The team refused to cooperate. She didn't fire them. She decided to make some revisions, several versions. The team said they won't do it. By that time, they didn't have enough time to re-do other photos and retake more shots back at the field training site. In the real world, she as the PM would have been able to scrap the old and redo another ad campaign. Elizabeth came back after talking to Deutsch that morning and told Apex Team at the noon conference that Deutsch didn't think the military campaing was all that nice. She wanted to make changes but the team refused. Kevin would NOT carrry out his role in making the revisions. The cancer grew and infected his mind. The rest of the Apex pack deserted her at the Deutsch Studio.
I don't disagree with your observations about Elizabeth, and I do see the point you have made.
I must agree with the majority here that based on the task that was required from her, Elizabeth failed as a project leader and did deserve to be fired.
What I disagree with was Trump not allowing her to bring the two people she chose into the boardroom. This is not fair, regardless of what Trump thought of her ability at the time. She should have been able to try to defend herself and bring things to light if needed. She deserved that much,, despite her shortcomings.
True, Elizabeth did not have the backing of her team. They seemed more willing to get rid of her than to work together as a team ("let her hang herself..."
They had her idea (the softer take on Raj's military/NYPD campaign...AFTER he brought it up), and they had Raj's idea. They CHOSE not to work with Elizabeth's idea of downplaying the militaristic angle etc. They all backed Raj's idea and didn't want to come up with a better one or even to ALTER it. and NO ONE ELSE had any visions for the project at the time.
When Kevin finally decided to help Elizabeth(which would have been to his advantage as well if it was successful..) and soften or alter Raj's strong military idea, Elizabeth realized she did not have the proper resources or the support to put that in motion. The team did not want to divert from the original idea and she caved in. By caving in she annoyed Kevin, and they team considered her indecisive and a weak leader.
Elizabeth should have prepared for the worst knowing what her team thought of her prior to the task. She could have handled it differently and stood up to them, and if they walked out on her--do her OWN project and later explain the mutiny in the boardroom if they team lost.
She CHOSE to appease them and by doing that she made herself look indecisive, pitiful, sad and ultimately paid the price.
I don't think Elizabeth is dumb, I just think the team "played" on her personality. Unfortunately, this is a casualty of the working environment sometimes. Good honest people get left behind, and ruthless, manipulative people get ahead. I have to admire her for not stooping to the level of some of her team mates ( you know who ...) and sticking it out for so long.
So yeah, in terms of winning this "job interview" Elizabeth failed to meet the standards....and was justly "fired" . She was just not playing the same game as Trump and the candidates.
You see, The Donald avoided that by not giving Elizabeth the second round of opportunity to rationalize her failed project.
quote:
lickety_split said this in post
I must agree with the majority here that based on the task that was required from her, Elizabeth failed as a project leader and did deserve to be fired...True, Elizabeth did not have the backing of her team. They seemed more willing to get rid of her than to work together as a team let her hang herself...
That's okay, I hardly think nor run with the pack. It's not that Elizabeth could have done better, but that ALL the rest of Apex did WORST... and collectively, they carried out a "coupe" against the elected leader. One thing we Americans believe, we respect and support our leaders... but at the same time can air our differences. But at the end of the day, we go with our leader's decision. If we lose, then we kick his/her @ss off the company or country.
They had her idea (the softer take on Raj's military/NYPD campaign...AFTER he brought it up), and they had Raj's idea. They CHOSE not to work with Elizabeth's idea of downplaying the militaristic angle etc. They all backed Raj's idea and didn't want to come up with a better one or even to ALTER it. and NO ONE ELSE had any visions for the project at the time.
So comparatively, that makes Elizabeth more correct than wrong, no? Such is not the routine, but some bizarre mob mentality called collusion. You can blame someone for not doing something right on their own actions, but not necessarily the same accountability if a group is working against you behind one's back. If they're going to go at it, go fairly.
When Kevin finally decided to help Elizabeth(which would have been to his advantage as well if it was successful..) and soften or alter Raj's strong military idea, Elizabeth realized she did not have the proper resources or the support to put that in motion . The team did not want to divert from the original idea and she caved in. By caving in she annoyed Kevin, and they team considered her indecisive and a weak leader.
If that is the case, then hold people accountable for what they can do, not what they can't do.
Elizabeth should have prepared for the worst knowing what her team thought of her prior to the task. She could have handled it differently and stood up to them, and if they walked out on her--do her OWN project and later explain the mutiny in the boardroom if they team lost.
She didn't see it coming and by that time, it was too late and beyond her control.
Unfortunately, this is a casualty of the working environment sometimes. Good honest people get left behind, and ruthless, manipulative people get ahead. I have to admire her for not stooping to the level of some of her team mates ( you know who ...) and sticking it out for so long.
Okay, so she's a little wrong and the others were way way more wrong. That's how I see it.
The reason she got fired is because she didn't manage to overcome the obstacles the team presented as a whole. She is on the Apprentice to win the trust and respect of her teammates and subsequently Donald. If she cannot get by those obstacles...she will fail. She failed because she CHOSE to have the team undermine her in this project. As a boss, leader or whatever YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS. She was fired and it was because she didn't represent her self in a good light in the boardroom. She might have had a chance if she took the two inside with her BUT from my point of view, she didn't have SUFFICIENT or ADEQUATE means to blame it ENTIRELY on her team members...particularly Raj or whomever.
Raj had a defense planned from the beginning and he admitted it was his idea. This leaves Elizabeth accepting blame because she WENT with the idea she didn't really believe in. As a leader that was a mistake.
Now, at the beginning I did I say I agree with you with the events leading up to the boardroom and that she wasn't given the opportunity to try to defend her actions. I actually agreed with you on those issues but Elizabeth was fired because Donald felt she had let the members dictate to her and that is why he fired her. She actually ADMITTED it. In this GAME ....admitting DEFEAT is NOT the ANSWER. So YEAH, she's FIRED for the right reason! Good person, but she failed to meet the requirements they were looking for. I think DT would have fired her even IF she chose two people because she ALLOWED them to hamper her project.
Remember, this is a "reality-based television show" that relies on RATINGS....and HIGHLY edited for television. So all my opinions are based on what I see on the show.
Ken, I see where we differ- basically, you are subscribing to the notion that Elizabeth failed as a leader because of her team. What I see is that the team failed because of the leader.
Of course the team wanted to win, but when it was bleak, the team did discuss 'firing' her as PM. At that point, it was too late. They were under the gun and their presentation was crap. It's not like they were trying to oust her in the first 5 minutes. Once they were lead down a losing path by their flip-flopping leader, they discussed staging a 'coup'. In hindsight, they should have.
You mentioned she was 'obstructed' by the team. No, she just didn't have the balls to stand behind an idea. Also, you stated that the team 'abandoned their roles and responsibilities'. How is that? They weren't given viable roles and responsibilities in the first place. That's one of the places she went wrong. And the team was incompetent'? Then Elizabeth was worse than that. Hell, at least Raj had an idea. It sucked, but it was something.
And I love this: "Again, none of Trump's companies have this kind of "coup" ongoing either, except on The Apprentice TV shows. That's the difference." I take it you've never been exposed to the corporate world. This is like playtime compared to the cutthroat mentality out there.
The team refused to cooperate? Again, in the beginning, the team made a choice on a direction to go, the PM had nothing. So, without an alternative, instead of sitting with their thumbs up their A's, went in that direction. Like a weak leader, Elizabeth went along despite complaining about it. She could have salvaged the project when she decided to change the direction of the idea, with a team member's back mind you, who stayed up late with her. Then she presented it to the group, without the member who worked with her, and they didn't like it. So she tanked it. Elizabeth said she 'pitched' it to the group. No, no. When you're the leader you can pitch, but ultimately it's your choice and you don't need their ok. If she would have made a firm decision, the team would have followed, guaranteed.
I've said all I can on this matter. It's the leader that failed the team. Think about it.
09-17-2004 08:06 AM
Elizabeth searches for the right words to save herself in the boardroom.
Elizabeth: I love that 
I think it’s horrible. I really do. I opposed it. 
We don’t have time for this. 
This is not part of any specific idea that we were trying to do. Just go with the theme. It’s not! 
You were talking about a hodge-pot of stuff. 
I got to go back and look at the internet and can’t do it here. 
Guys, guys…. We can’t, we can’t just go dispersed. 
Hold it, hold it.
I’m going with them (pointing towards the Apex team leaving) 
I really don't know why they ganged up on me at the boardroom. The only thing I can think of is that you know I was an easy target. 
Hmmmmmmm..... writing about the idea describing the moron. 
You see, The Donald avoided that by not giving Elizabeth the second round of opportunity to rationalize her failed project. 
Such is not the routine, but some bizarre mob mentality called collusion. You can blame someone for not doing something right on their own actions, but not necessarily the same accountability if a group is working against you behind one's back. If they're going to go at it, go fairly. 
