Customer Reviews

Carolyn 101: Business Lessons from The Apprentice's Straight Shooter

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

...and why shouldn't she be? The 35-year old corporate executive not only holds a dream job; she's also acquired skyrocketing fame because of her involvement with the TV show, "The Apprentice." Millions of us watch the program each week in order to see Donald Trump issue those classic final words to an unsuccessful candidate. But it's Carolyn that the fans, especially women, are now seeking out for business advice. Hence the need for this book.

Each chapter begins with the text of an actual e-mail sent to Carolyn: one from a fan, asking a basic business question. Her expansive answers draw on her personal experiences and the business sense she has gleaned throughout the course of her career. Through these stories, we learn of her transformation from Avon-selling teen to high school volleyball captain; from waitress to Manhattan restaurant manager; and from country club director of sales and marketing, to general manager of Trump National Golf Club, and finally to her current position as an EVP and COO in the Trump Organization. Along the way, Ms. Kepcher addresses such topics as employee-boss relationships, management styles, job searches, qualities of a good manager, qualities of a good employee, qualities of a good company, team-forging, and women's and family issues in the workplace. The chapters are sprinkled with Carolyn 101 maxims -- 68 of them! Each one could be printed and posted as a desk-side reminder for motivation. Examples are:

"You're the one in charge of your learning curve."
"Be the real thing, because all the highfalutin' pictures in the world won't hide it if you aren't."
"In the absence of trust, even the most generous act seems questionable."
"It is appropriate to go above your boss's head when he or she is managing you to fail."
"Never forget that today's mailroom clerk could be tomorrow's manager."
"The biggest office isn't always the best."
"A bad apple with a bad attitude can compromise the team."
"The best team is the team that continues to perform even when the manager is absent."
"Succeeding at difficult tasks is what will make you great."

And the resounding cry repeated throughout the text is the Trump credo: "If one of us succeeds, we all succeed. If one of us fails, we all fail." This stuff may sound trite to an MBA graduate, but it obviously works.

This book came to me at an appropriate time. Six months ago I resigned from a management position (under a "toxic boss," I've figured out, thanks to this book), and next week I will begin working in a new job with another organization. Ms. Kepcher's words were self-affirming and inspirational to me, coming as they did after tedious months of answering ads, mailing letters and resumes, and going to interviews. I now recognize my management style, and I now know what kind of environment I want to foster for my new fellow employees. I highly recommend "Carolyn 101" to anyone becoming a manager for the first time. I recommend it to anyone who's currently "between jobs." It'll help them work through the inevitable "could have, would have, should have" introspections. I recommend it to folks who have had at least two different bosses and/or employers, because readers who have had a variety of work experiences will better relate to the situations described here. And yes, the book will be helpful to recent college grads looking to enter the business world. But they should keep the volume in a safe place, because they're sure to want to come back to it again once they have some of their own comparisons to make.

Though "Carolyn 101" was obviously published quickly in order to capitalize on the TV show success, it is not a fluff piece with a short shelf-life. It is well-written and thought-provoking. And I suspect it will not be the last time we'll benefit from Carolyn Kepcher's insights and advice in print.

This book is really two books in one: A real world primer for new managers and an inside look at the bits of the Trump Organization and the show "The Apprentice." As a primer, the book is an excellent guide for new business grads, and junior executives. Carolyn candidly discusses her career experiences before joining the Trump Organization, describes how she got the job, reveals the hurdles she's faced, and offers some invaluable advice for others starting down the executive path. Although the advice is basic, I certainly see her principals lacking in the "Apprentice" candidates, and many junior executives. As an inside look into the Trump organization, the content is a very light and rather sanitized. You'll hear Mr. Trump is the best boss in the world, and the Trump Organization is the best in the world, but you won't find much detail about other managers, what makes the organization tick, or an insight into the overall culture, beyond what has already been written by Mr. Trump himself. There are a few "nuggets" of behind the scenes insight, but nothing compelling. Overall, the author(s) and editor achieved a fair balance between creating a management book and a pop culture curiosity: However, the book could have used more depth and feels as it was "rushed" into print. If this edition is successful, perhaps Mrs. Kepcher will write a more comprehensive follow up that focuses more on career management and less on "The Apprentice."

I greatly enjoyed reading this book! I learned a lot about how to operate as a young professional in business, both as an employee and as a future employer. Carolyn is smart, straightforward, and insightful regarding how to succeed in the workplace, especially as a woman. Also, I appreciated the insights into the show The Apprentice, and definitely think the candidates from both seasons could have benefited from reading this book! Highly recommended.

Like many people in the US, while watching the Apprentice, I became intrigued by Mr. Trump's associate Carolyn. She often asked the questions that I was screaming at the television during the boardroom scenes; maybe she heard me. Anyway, her no nonsense, to-the-point business sense, and the fact that she not only worked for, but had excelled while working for Mr. Trump, compelled me to read this book. It delivers.

The book is a clever weave of backstory and business know-how. Using her personal story, Carolyn, Ms. Kepcher, demonstrates how basic principles of good management and hard work helped her succeed. Though you may have read these ideas before, they will still sound fresh and insightful as you see how Carolyn applied them to her own life. I especially enjoyed her strategic manuvering that kept a really bad boss from destroying her. Instead, Mr. Trump gave her the job and fired the boss.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys The Apprentice, and especially new workers. The first half of the book is definitely the best and it highlights the methods and discipline that helped Carolyn rise so rapidly at such a young age. No, it was not because she was a woman and used sex appeal; it was because she has the best work ethic I have ever seen. Her comments about how the women of The Apprentice abuse their sexuality for power and success was very well done. In addition, her thoughts on being a working mom were priceless. She sharply backhands social critics who believe a woman's place is solely in the home. For Carolyn, a woman's place is exactly where the woman wants to be and no where else.

This would also be a great gift for a recent graduate.

First off, this book is definitely written for the recent college grad who has just embarked on her career and is determined to become a corporate superstar.

The book is mainly based around "Carolyn 101" tips, which are short lessons about business. These tips are illustrated by Carolyn's own history. You could say that this is almost like a thouhgtful and analytical retrospective of Carolyn's career, with her commenting and extracting major lessons from important events. A true "learn from my experience" book. It's very practical.

That said, it is still a highly entertaining, fast read that provides a few twists and turns. And, it doesn't focus extensively on gender in the workplace; the tips and stories really are universal in application.

This would be a great gift for any recent or soon-to-be college graduate of any gender.

To be honest, I am impressed.

The book starts from an email to Carolyn, judging her current senior executive position in Trump Organization was due to a related or personal connection to Donlad Trump. As a matter of fact, ten years ago, Carolyn, just like the contestants in The Apprentice, fought all her ways to a dream job, from restaurant waitress, hotel manager, director of sales and marketing, to today's Executive Vice President and COO in Trump Organization.

In this book, Carolyn uses her rich work experience to walk you through different topics with excellent tips, like becoming Trump's apprentice, dealing with different types of boss, being a good manager and employee, asking for promotion and raise, managing work and personal life, etc. In addition, she addresses some "Do's" and "Don'ts" for resumes and cover letters writing, as well as job interviews. I personally find them greatly helpful and very different from those typical reference books about "Job Hunting" or "Ace Your Interview". Carolyn gives you the precise advices in her book.

In addition, you will also see a lot of Carolyn 101's hints & tips inserts through out the entire book. She explains those tips & hints along with her day-to-day work experiences. Couples of my favorites are:
- "A good employee is the master of his or her domain."
- "Promoting yourself is the best way to get promoted."
- "Asking for a raise of more than a small percentage of your base salary is a major step, to be contemplated only if you truly believe your new position requires either significantly more work or that much more responsibility than your present position."
- "Never forget that today's mailroom clerk could be tomorrow's manager."

Knowing how to become a good employee, you may think this is a common sense to everyone. Unlike other books just showing you a list of rules of thumb to be a good employee, Carolyn uses her daily job scenarios to depict each of the rules in details of the reasoning, so that readers won't just memorize and follow the rules but with rationales to support them. In her book, Carolyn clearly defines the seven GOOD EMPLOYEE rules as below:
1. If one player wins, we all win; if one player loses, we all lose.
2. Everybody on our team has to appreciate everyone else's job.
3. You've got to want to be there.
4. Be in the know.
5. Bring me a solution, not a problem.
6. When in doubt, make a deciion and stand by it.
7. Become an expert in your field

The most profound topic I found in the book is about getting promotion and raise. I have read couple books that show you different negotiation tactics to get promotion or raise. None of them is as honest and helpful as Carolyn's book. Her advices are truthful and undoubtfully practical. Overall, it's not a micky mouse book, I do really think it's an excellent book that should be read by everyone. I give it a true FIVE STARS.

(Reviewed by Otto Yuen, 4-Dec-2004)

I wish Carolyn had addressed her snarky tone with Apprentice candidates. From another manager, it's an abuse of power. I don't agree with Carolyn's advocacy of outsourced parenthood. What's the point? But I was pleasantly surprised by the content of her book. It was likely written by her, given the errors in grammar and content organization. But it is very open about office politics, a topic rarely discussed so openly and personally. And her advice on how individuals need to position themselves relative to employers to promote success is spot on.

The title to this book is very succinct in explaining its content. Carolyn Kepcher's account of her rise to the top includes very basic business tips for anyone who's embarking on their careers, climbing the corporate ladder, or new to their executive role. The beginning of Carolyn 101 was great; Carolyn gives insight into what it took for her to achieve her career goals as a young woman and carry on her executive duties after having two children. She discusses tips for how to ace an interview, ask for raises & promotions, becoming a good manager and the importance of a team enviornment. All of this was wonderful but the book starts its decline as Carolyn finishes the book by talking about experiences from the Apprentice & I believve the last few chapters used the Apprentice as a crutch to make the book longer. Overall though, it's a good read.

The book arrived yesterday afternoon. I started reading it after dinner and finished it before I left for work this morning. It is a real page turner.

I'm not a business person, so I didn't read it for the advise, I'm just a fan of the show and wanted to know more about Carolyn. What surprised me is how much I learned about relationships. Thanks Carolyn for a great book on treating people with respect while earning it from others.

Also kudos to Stephen Fenichell for doing a great job in assisting Carolyn tell her story.

The book "Carolyn 101", as its author tells us right away, is about how she got to the point in business she is currently at. And the book certainly delivers.

Ms. Kepcher captures a high altitude view of what has thus far been her life in a succinct book that flows easily and with adequate suspense to want to know more. It's a page-turner filled with shells of wisdom undoubtedly collected from the intellectual shores of many valuable people, such as her parents, friends, and colleagues, including an ocean of resource named Donald Trump.

Always working in a team has been the general theme of Ms. Kepcher's life, and excelling in such an environment. Be it waiting at a restaurant or playing volleyball, it's all about working with people, communicating with them, and keeping your cool during difficult times. It is easy to relate to all of Ms. Kepcher's stories because many of us live through them.

Everything Donald Trump has had to offer her is matched only by all she has delivered and delivering. With her book we at least get some taste of Trump's joy in crumbs of words.