Sadly I had to miss session/lecture 4, so I didn't have the chance to see the episode of 'The Apprentice'. And I don't know what was treated in class, but here's my take on Donald Trump. I found this quote on the internet about "the apprentice" (and that probably is Trump's perspective): Wordlessly, it conveys the sense that wealth is good, achievement is good, ambition matters, success is attainable--that enjoying life on this earth is good. It is a concretization of "The American Dream." [http://capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3634]. Trump owns hotels and casino's, Miss Universe, Trump Golf and a real estate company. After turning real estate into goldmines, he got rich, then lost a lot of money, but recuperated and became one of the wealthiest men alive. His company and point of view is all about success, but Trump is a very much loved person as well. He uses his name as if it's a brand, even having towers named after him in Seoul. Trump is a culture for the rich and the famous; beauty pageants, casino's, golf courses and housing. As Trump puts it, his universive is ever-expanding, it's all about wanting more. That would relate to the 'American Way', or perhaps the American Dream of getting everything you desire. The 'European Way' may be a little less concerned about always wanting more and more and the future, instead being grateful for what you have achieved and more concerned with the present.
The assigned post for me to respond to:
Title: The Donald goes Big Time
Donald Trump's businesses can be put in what Europeans would call 'typical American businesses' They all tend to be 'big shot' investments. Trump owns several pieces of real estate in NY City, hotels, casino's en also half of the USA beaty pageants election. In having all these businesses, Trump is spreading the word of 'anyone can be a winner' you just have to go for it (like he did?) He and his employees serve for the patrons (as he calls his casino visitors) like a family that provides for its guests.
In the episode of The Apprentice, Trump said he could not fire someone, however, he was clear to state that time is money and winning is everything. This is also how the culture of his business approach works: marketing is what matters most. As seen in the episode where the teams had to sell riksjah rides, the one who chose to put advertisements on the cars won. Marketing strategies brings you all the way. In Europe it seems, a product cannot be sold with just a good a marketing strategy. Here, it's what the people want. In the US, people will buy whatever is 'sold' the most.
On his website ( http://www.trump.com/corporate/index.html), Trump makes it clear that the profit of his company is the only thing that matters (but not in so many words) He writes about spells of severe weather (in which, if I am correct, people actually died) and the Iraqi war (which does not need any further explanation) as just a pebble in his shoe that withheld him from making the necessary dollars. Perhaps it is this type of business culture that has brought him all the golden "T"s across the country and provided him with an All American Businessman of the Century award (of which, if this award would have actually existed, he would have ownded at least half of the shares ;) As far as ethics is concerned, just saying "I can't fire anyone" doesn't really ring any goodwill bells with me.
Donald Trump's businesses can be put in what Europeans would call 'typical American businesses' They all tend to be 'big shot' investments. Trump owns several pieces of real estate in NY City, hotels, casino's en also half of the USA beaty pageants election. In having all these businesses, Trump is spreading the word of 'anyone can be a winner' you just have to go for it (like he did?) He and his employees serve for the patrons (as he calls his casino visitors) like a family that provides for its guests.
In the episode of The Apprentice, Trump said he could not fire someone, however, he was clear to state that time is money and winning is everything. This is also how the culture of his business approach works: marketing is what matters most. As seen in the episode where the teams had to sell riksjah rides, the one who chose to put advertisements on the cars won. Marketing strategies brings you all the way. In Europe it seems, a product cannot be sold with just a good a marketing strategy. Here, it's what the people want. In the US, people will buy whatever is 'sold' the most.
On his website ( http://www.trump.com/corporate/index.html), Trump makes it clear that the profit of his company is the only thing that matters (but not in so many words) He writes about spells of severe weather (in which, if I am correct, people actually died) and the Iraqi war (which does not need any further explanation) as just a pebble in his shoe that withheld him from making the necessary dollars. Perhaps it is this type of business culture that has brought him all the golden "T"s across the country and provided him with an All American Businessman of the Century award (of which, if this award would have actually existed, he would have ownded at least half of the shares ;) As far as ethics is concerned, just saying "I can't fire anyone" doesn't really ring any goodwill bells with me.
It's interesting to read what was shown in the episode of the apprentice. It emphasizes what I just learned about Donald Trump and his businesses. I think it's true what you say about the relation to advertising that Americans have and that Europeans have. It looks like Americans are more susceptible to it than we Europeans are. TVshows seem to be structured around commercials and a show like 'the apprentice' is nothing more than advertising Trump. And from what I've read it's a gameshow that has high ratings and even went into a second season. So there it is, Trump got more... and more... and more :)