Commentary

• Know Your Product.

  • Every salesperson should know that ignorance is not bliss.  Striving to outsell the other team during rival gallery shows, Nick overrode his teammates' objections and chose to showcase the work of the accessible artist Andrei.  By his own admission, Nick was no canvas connoisseur, so on what did he base his decision?  He knew he'd be able to sell Andrei's work because he understood it. 
    In contrast, Kwame's Protege team overrode their own qualms about Meghan's esoteric and disturbing artwork when they learned about the high price tags and established fan base that came with it.  But when it came time to sell, Protege was a comedy of errors.  No one was qualified to answer questions about Meghan's work.  No one really even liked it.  Troy and Heidi tried to pretend they were knowledgeable about art, and both wound up embarrassing themselves in front of customers who actually did.  "I messed up on some pictures," Heidi admitted after calamitously misidentifying a fireplace cover.  "But hell, that looked like a toilet seat if ever I saw one."  The evening's single success happened when Omarosa was smart enough to call Meghan over to explain the work herself.  When someone who knew the product got involved, the team finally made a sale.

• Know Your Staff's Strengths and Weaknesses. 

  • Kwame sent Heidi and Omarosa out unsupervised to work with the artist while he and Troy handled invitations.  It's natural that Kwame would prefer his friend Troy's company, but given that Heidi was by now calling Omarosa "an absolute lunatic" and Omarosa was insisting that Heidi "clean up her act and shut her mouth," trouble was all but guaranteed.  Kwame's decision to turn a blind eye to his teammates' weaknesses helped set Heidi and Omarosa at each other's throats.

• Address Personal Conflicts Before They Spill Over. 

  • Omarosa has been the queen havoc-wrecker so far this season.  This glib cut-throat is always looking out for Number One and wasn't afraid to dish it out as well.  She had a knack for finding other people's buttons and pushing them . . . hard.  She toyed with the volatile Ereka, brought Katrina to the brink of tears, and paid Heidi what Trump called "the worst compliment I've ever heard" when under the pretense of singing Heidi's praise she managed to question her professionalism and class.  Even Amy--who got along best with her--called Omarosa a "scheming, conniving wench."  Omarosa made it clear she hadn't signed on to make friends.  She seemed to believe that if she undercut the people around her she'd be the only one left standing.  She was wrong.  Her burned bridges came back to haunt her when Trump wearied of hearing about yet another squabble--this one with Heidi over how much time to take for lunch.  Ironically, Omarosa had just turned in her strongest performance so far, and was the only member of her team who had sold any art.  It didn't matter.  Omarosa had proved that she wasn't a team player.

• Don't Fear Talent. 

  • The strongest leaders don't hesitate to surround themselves with the best possible people.  Nick's success was due in no small part to his understanding of this concept. The copier salesman didn't shy away from rival talents--or egos--and could without irony declare himself a kindred spirit with Trump. "I have assembled a phenomenal team," Nick boasted in the Flea Market challenge, and he had:  Amy, Bill, Katrina, and Ereka.  Given the chance by Trump to select teammates like a grade-school captain in gym class, Nick bested Kristi pick for pick.  During this episode, Nick once again proved his mettle by nabbing Amy back from Protege when The Donald offered him the pick of the litter.  Being brave enough to stand with the brightest stars proved that Nick was one of them.

• Watch Your Mouth. 

  • It was difficult to imagine Heidi at home on the other side of the boardroom table after this episode.  Heidi showed an affinity for colorful expletives, and teammates who rubbed her the wrong way were sure to hear a few.  When Omarosa forced her to stop for lunch, Heidi turned bluer than Lenny Bruce.  Her salty tongue let others know she was a tough customer, but it also raised questions about her suitability for the top job.  Granted, Omarosa could probably draw a few unprintables from anybody.  But Donald Trump wants executives who keep their cool; you don't hear Carolyn or George dropping profanity every time the going gets tough.  Heidi should have learned to mind her manners--even when she was off the clock.

• Know When to Shut Up. 

  • This loss could have been the end of the line for Kwame.  Protege had taken a royal beating, and the team's weakest member, Omarosa, had worked harder and smarter than ever before. The buck seemed likely to stop with the project manager.  But in the boardroom, Kwame sat back and let Heidi and Omarosa slug it out until Trump wanted nothing more than for the bickering and excuse-making to end.  He cut Omarosa loose, and Kwame got his second chance.

Lessons Learned