Trollheart

Oops!
Surely one of the biggest errors, and one that was sure to set the seal on the failure of this task, was Mark's decision not to go back and purchase more stock, and to quit selling so early? With a mere fifteen Euro in the difference, even another half-hour's selling could have taken them over the line and won them the task. But Mark “didn't want to take the risk”. When he said “It's too late to go back now” I thought it must be about 3pm, but no: 1.30! Plenty of time. How could he even think of downing tools so early, when it was clearly evident that no matter how well or badly they did, anyone staying the full period of time stood a far better chance of winning. How often have tasks been potentially won in the last ten minutes? But quit early and you give yourself no chance, as indeed Mark's team did, and it's odd also that nobody challenged his decision. Not a good sign for the boys for the future.

The trek up Grafton and Capel Street in search of hairdressers who would buy their fruit was another place the boys slipped up. It should have been obvious, from the reaction they got at the second one, that the rest would see their deal as not worth what they believed it was worth. Let's not forget (as Dynamo obviously did) the first deal was sweetened by the addition of the champagne; without that, it's very doubtful indeed that they would have got the hundred Euro that was agreed. They were, literally, not comparing apples with apples (sorry, sorry)!

Take me to your leader
Dynamo: though he threw his weight around a lot and in fairness worked his arse off, Mark didn't seem to have a proper, clear strategy. He let the subteam wander off where they would, no instructions and no guidance --- to say nothing of nobody being in charge --- and he didn't even ensure the fruit was priced before they started selling it. When it came time to accept responsibility for the loss, he refused to and basically sulked, and then brought in one of the people who had made the largest single sale of the day, without any real explanation. Pretty poor leader altogether.

Phoenix: Joanna had much more of a handle on what was going on. Being older, and already running her own business, she knew the basics of what had to be done. She delegated well, praised good ideas and encouraged her team, and had enough business savvy and basic common sense to see that the Moore Street pitch was not working, and decide to move. Even then, she chose a spot that would attract some interest and attention, though she did I believe screw up with the assignment of the Garda station. Overall though, a far better leader who led her team to victory.

May the best team win?
For all the reasons above and more, yes. Phoenix were the better team. The boys sort of stumbled around in the darkness, trying to find a strategy that worked, while Joanna had her team organised and pumped, knew who was doing what, and came in very slightly ahead of her rivals, but in this contest a few Euro can make the difference, as indeed it did here.

Sight adjustment?
From everything he was saying, from his body language and the way Bill interrogated and blamed Mark for the failure of the task, to say nothing of the way the PM received that criticism, almost as if he resented it (“Who does he think he is, talking to me like that?” etc) I felt certain that Mark was about to walk. I was really surprised when Bill took a sharp left turn, almost at the last minute. I understand David was weak and nearly invisible, but he was not I believe responsible for the failure of this task. That blame lay squarely on the shoulders of a timid PM who did not want to take a risk and couldn't wait to get off the streets and back to the Boardroom, even though there were yet almost three hours left in the task. I know often the boss will not fire the PM on the first task, as they see it as a gutsy move for someone to stand up, but I really feel there was no excuse here and Mark should have been fired. Even his attitude led me to believe he was going, and I think he expected it himself.

Adjustment needed: 80%

The one that got away?
Obviously, from what I said above and before, Mark was very lucky to retain his place and get through to the next round. He's living on borrowed time already and he is going to have to really get his head in the game, to use his own phrase to David, if he wishes to remain.

Weeding out the weaklings
Just from the standpoint of how much, if at all, I heard from them on this first task I have questions about Derek, Avril, Orla (both of them), Stuart, Brenda and Shane. Of course it is only the first task, so we'll see if they step up, but haven't been impressed by any of these so far.

The front runners
Joanna obviously, as she won and made a good PM, but also Ronan, who negotiated the deal with the hairdresser (even if the rest of their similar deals failed badly) impressed me with his attitude and his ability to make deals. Nobody else really.

Famous last words?
David: “I don't come across as someone who shouts the odds, but then, sometimes it's the quiet ones you have to watch!”

You're fired!
Name: David Neary
Age: 25
Occupation: Assistant Brand Manager

Not a whole lot I can tell you about this guy. He gave the impression of being very uncomfortable selling, not knowing prices and having to get other team members to confirm them. The fact that he's “only” an “assistant” doesn't, or didn't, speak well to his qualities as a leader: if you're a true candidate for the Apprentice one would assume you would be the top man or woman; nobody wants to deal with a right-hand-man (or woman). David also displayed something of an attitude of distaste towards the louder, more outgoing members of his team, especially Mark (shall we start calling him Lucky Mark? Let's start calling him Lucky Mark) who reciprocated; he could see David was a quiet, ineffectual man who would add little if anything to the team. He even remarked upon David's quietness before they arrived at the pitch, knowing that this would be a task in which loud, brash, confident patter would be required to sell on Moore Street, and he saw none of those qualities in the man sitting in the front of the car.

Whether the candidates actually give up their jobs or just say they do I don't know, but if they actually do jack it in then they're idiots, as there's a thirteen-to-one chance of their gamble not paying off. Who's going to bet on those odds? If David is one who decided to take the gamble, for real, then on the basis of his performance --- or lack of it --- here, I don't think they'll exactly be lining up to offer him a new position!

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018