The Apprentice Finale has been on my mind...
I don't know about you, but I was extremely disappointed with the way that Randal Pinkett ended his stint as a candidate for Donald Trump's "apprentice." After so many weeks of espousing his core values about work and life, and leaving the impression that his integrity was beyond reproach, Randal, when given the opportunity to make his mark as a true champion of "diversity" and the "will to meaning," decided to regress towards the mean and apparently reveal his true colors.
If you didn't see any of the fourth season of the "Apprentice," especially the show's finale on Thursday, this posting may not mean much to you. This said, the "lessons learned" are no less important in a dialogue about meaning in life and at work. You see, the final two candidates were both identified by "The Donald" himself as being stars and even though Randal was selected as the "winner" of the competition, it was clear that both candidates were more than well qualified to work for the Trump organization. Indeed, Trump even opened up the possibility that both candidates would be hired to work on separate projects--itself an innovation for such a "reality" TV program.
What was most disheartening is the fact that Randal who, prior to the final announcement, had touted his main competitor, colleague, and "friend," Rebecca Jarvis, as a deserving winner, turned his back on her when given the chance to make "history" and, among other things, set a new standard for business collaboration between the genders. In short, Randal chose "power" over "meaning" and sacrificed the respect of so many viewers who had supported him up to that point.
And since neither Donald Trump nor his business associates chose to raise the issue of Randal's "moral compass," in my opinion, only Rebecca ended the show with dignity and respect. Indeed, had the tables been turned, I wonder what Rebecca would have done. The "will to meaning" is about the authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals. I'd be interested to know if you think that Randal realized his will to meaning. And what about Rebecca, what are you thoughts (and feelings) about how she handled this situation? Really, what you YOU think?!
All the best...
Alex
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Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Visit the Viktor Frankl COLLECTION at the Global Dialogue Center
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