I was surprised to see him crumble today. I defintely did not see that coming.
He is a good salesman, particularly face to face one on one where he can charm people and engage. But I agree that there is a big leap between that and leadership and strategic skills. That is yet to be seen but it will depend on his business plan. If he knows his thing, he can be good.
Will be nice to see him deal with the interviews. Clash of alpha males Ricky vs Mak r:D
I was surprised to see him crumble today. I defintely did not see that coming.
He is a good salesman, particularly face to face one on one where he can charm people and engage. But I agree that there is a big leap between that and leadership and strategic skills. That is yet to be seen but it will depend on his business plan. If he knows his thing, he can be good.
Will be nice to see him deal with the interviews. Clash of alpha males Ricky vs Mak r:D
From what little we heard, I have reservations about his business plan - it's a very competitive space - and in particular his profit projections. £1m in year 1? Very, very, VERY unlikely.
Agree about his leadership/strategic skills. I think he's actually OK as a people manager (less so as a teammate), but I've yet to see any real vision or creativity from him.
I was impressed by the way he held his hands up in the boardroom and admitted he'd cocked up. No way Daniel or James, for instance, would ever have done that.
I was surprised to see him crumble today. I defintely did not see that coming.
I bet he would pay very good money to have had that pulled. I had been thinking he was an arrogant tit, but he looked terrified, and then terrified all over again in the board room. I don't think I have ever seen a man sweat so much while just sitting in a temperate room.
I wouldn't work with him or for him neither would I have him in my management team.
If you couldn't see the pressure on him today you must be blind and deaf
He's an ridiculously optimistic desperate ego maniac and he will most likely end up a felon.
He already behaves like a felon, all his dealings show this.
I bet he would pay very good money to have had that pulled. I had been thinking he was an arrogant tit, but he looked terrified, and then terrified all over again in the board room. I don't think I have ever seen a man sweat so much while just sitting in a temperate room.
Did you see how panicked he was when Lord Sugar asked Sanjay why Mark had never been brought back to the boardroom? Sanjay was probably about to say because he's very good at manipulating people and then Mark jumped in and said "Why are you piping up?" and Sanjay never got to finish answering the question. Don't like the guy at all and didn't feel sorry for him when he crumbled during his pitch
From what little we heard, I have reservations about his business plan - it's a very competitive space - and in particular his profit projections. £1m in year 1? Very, very, VERY unlikely.
t.
I also have my reservations on his business plan. It may be one of these cases in which we have a credible candidate but a uninspiring business plan, as it was the case of Helen, Nick, and this year with Mark.
I think it is just natural that they all stick to what they know best, where their expertise is, but you would expect a little bit more creativity and innovation in their business plans. It almost feels that they think that just setting up a business similar to the one that they already work for would be enough because they will have great backing, PR, contacts... etc.
You have to at least show that you have spotted a gap in the market, a niche, that you have come up with some distinctiveness or competitve advantage. But just throwing yourself in a really compettiive sector doing the same as others are already doing is a bit... flat.
If candidates were under scrutinity in the Dragon's Den they would have not lasted more than five minutes.
I also have my reservations on his business plan. It may be one of these cases in which we have a credible candidate but a uninspiring business plan, as it was the case of Helen, Nick, and this year with Mark.
I think it is just natural that they all stick to what they know best, where their expertise is, but you would expect a little bit more creativity and innovation in their business plans. It almost feels that they think that just setting up a business similar to the one that they already work for would be enough because they will have great backing, PR, contacts... etc.
You have to at least show that you have spotted a gap in the market, a niche, that you have come up with some distinctiveness or competitve advantage. But just throwing yourself in a really compettiive sector doing the same as others are already doing is a bit... flat.
If candidates were under scrutinity in the Dragon's Den they would have not lasted more than five minutes.
And Jim Eastwood and so many other interviewees ...
Stick to what they know best? I agree. In fact when someone comes up with an idea that seems to be well outside their zone - Roisin and ready meals, for instance? - that flags up a possible credibility issue for me.
That's why I suspect Mark's idea is basically just him doing what he's been doing - selling online advertising - but branching out on his own to do it from an online platform rather than a bricks and mortar business. It makes sense in terms of leveraging his own expertise, and as we've seen on a few tasks now he doesn't seem to be that hot when it comes to creativity of any kind. He's a great implementer, but he doesn't seem to be a great creator.
Lasting 5 minutes on Dragons' Den - that long? One of the key weaknesses in so many business plans we've seen over the past few years has been the numbers. The Dragons would have many of them for breakfast. It's one of the things that made Leah stand out last year. Well considered numbers, and she had her exit strategy planned too.
He's a sneak, and doesn't excel through his own ability, rather he gets in the ear of others to manipulate situations so that the only outcome will make him look good.
See the hot tub sales, it wasn't him that sold 7 hot tubs as much as it was a man was there to buy 7 hot tubs. If Mark was there or not, those hot tubs would have been sold. He didn't just say "oh do you want 7 of them, go on take 7" and the guy agreed, it wasn't even on his radar, but he'd manipulated his way into the situation to get the praise for something that he didn't really have any direct impact in.
He's more like a Big Brother contestant than a good business man.
He doesn't strike me as someone you want to work alongside. Not trustworthy enough. Too quick to pass the buck and take the credit.
I worked with someone like that. When he first joined he did say that he'd shaft anyone if it got him further in his career. We all just thought "yeah, right".
How wrong we were. Joe destroyed the good working relationship the boss had with my mate through poisonous whisperings in the boss's ear. It wasn't as if he even wanted Alistair's position or anything like that. He just saw their working relationship as a threat to be removed to allow his to grow. 10 months into Joe's appointment, my mate resigned.
He also nearly got me fired. At the time I was working with him, and he deliberately tried to make me look incompetent by changing the parameters of my job so that it was practically impossible to do fully (parts of it had to be dropped) and then he would complain to the boss. All to make himself look good.
What saved me was he went on holiday for three weeks and those who filled in, including a man who the boss respected a great deal, told him that what was being asked of me was just not feasible. I literally could not be in two separate places at the same time.
A couple of weeks after he returned he moved to a new, better paid job. By that time I was on pills for depression. I really pitied the poor sods in the new place he went to work at., all the fun & games they had to look forward to.
He's a sneak, and doesn't excel through his own ability, rather he gets in the ear of others to manipulate situations so that the only outcome will make him look good.
See the hot tub sales, it wasn't him that sold 7 hot tubs as much as it was a man was there to buy 7 hot tubs. If Mark was there or not, those hot tubs would have been sold. He didn't just say "oh do you want 7 of them, go on take 7" and the guy agreed, it wasn't even on his radar, but he'd manipulated his way into the situation to get the praise for something that he didn't really have any direct impact in.
He's more like a Big Brother contestant than a good business man.
This. He's the least credible, not just of those remaining but many who left before him...and I reckon he knows it too, hence the sweats. On his own and without anyone to round on or attempt to humiliate, (e.g. Daniel) he is nothing...as the interviews will prove. #Can't wait.
He certainly looked ill to me, too. I don't think he is as manipulative as people imply. I think he has the highest skills out of the candidates and in my view he just puts his view of situations very clearly and accurately. Others can then look inferior as he is so obviously better. I did think it was wrong that he was allowed to diss Sanjay's plan though.
I agree - but equally we only see a small fraction of what they see on task and back in the house. I think the fact that he seems to be well liked by everyone else other than Daniel is quite telling. And as Sugar has noted, Daniel could start an argument in a room on his own.
Yes, I think more people need to read between the lines!
Yes, I think more people need to read between the lines!
True. And then some people need to read less between the lines (such as those who see conspiracies everywhere). Of course, the problem is that it's not always obvious where the lines are!:D
Is there evidence of his leadership and business skills?
I haven't seen any. In fact, as far as leadership goes, he seems to actively avoid it, preferring to back seat drive as it enables him to duck responsibility if it goes pear-shaped. It's difficult to really judge the business skills of anyone on TA, as the tasks are really all around buying and selling, but Mark hasn't shown much creative thinking when there has been an opportunity to do so.
What he has shown, in abundance, is an ability and desire to pick holes in others.
This. He's the least credible, not just of those remaining but many who left before him...and I reckon he knows it too, hence the sweats. On his own and without anyone to round on or attempt to humiliate, (e.g. Daniel) he is nothing...as the interviews will prove. #Can't wait.
Unproven. They may only have had the tubs because Katie corrected Daniel's pitch for them, so it beat James' . They could have won on Katie's sales, we don't know what Daniel would have done, and we don't know if the man wanting 7 would have bought off anyone, or no one, else.
He's a sneak, and doesn't excel through his own ability, rather he gets in the ear of others to manipulate situations so that the only outcome will make him look good.
See the hot tub sales, it wasn't him that sold 7 hot tubs as much as it was a man was there to buy 7 hot tubs. If Mark was there or not, those hot tubs would have been sold. He didn't just say "oh do you want 7 of them, go on take 7" and the guy agreed, it wasn't even on his radar, but he'd manipulated his way into the situation to get the praise for something that he didn't really have any direct impact in.
He's more like a Big Brother contestant than a good business man.
I guess that it's true that you don't buy 7 hot tubs on a whim. I'd hazard a guess that if somebody bought several hotubs then they'd specifically gone out to buy several hotubs.
I guess that it's true that you don't buy 7 hot tubs on a whim. I'd hazard a guess that if somebody bought several hotubs then they'd specifically gone out to buy several hotubs.
I said this on the thread at the time. A holiday park owner wants to buy 7 hot tubs, so instead of finding a hot tub manufacturer (to maybe get a discount), or go to a specialist supplier. He goes off to a agricultural show, because as we all know, that's the place to get them!! So either he had prior knowledge that the dealer would be there, maybe rang them and was told we're at so and so show, or a friend knew he was looking, had seen them there and mentioned it to him.
So he goes to the stand, and instead of heading to an obvious salesman, he approaches a guy with a camera team around him. So either he was pushed that way by production staff or he thought "ooh free publicity". Either way bet the actual salesmen on the stand were happy loosing 7 sales, unless of course they still got the commission if there was any? It all smacked of a fix, if I'm honest.
Comments
Don't hold back!
He is a good salesman, particularly face to face one on one where he can charm people and engage. But I agree that there is a big leap between that and leadership and strategic skills. That is yet to be seen but it will depend on his business plan. If he knows his thing, he can be good.
Will be nice to see him deal with the interviews. Clash of alpha males Ricky vs Mak r:D
Agree about his leadership/strategic skills. I think he's actually OK as a people manager (less so as a teammate), but I've yet to see any real vision or creativity from him.
I was impressed by the way he held his hands up in the boardroom and admitted he'd cocked up. No way Daniel or James, for instance, would ever have done that.
I bet he would pay very good money to have had that pulled.
He already behaves like a felon, all his dealings show this.
Whether or not he had a sore throat, he just corpsed big time.
As for his business plan, well lets see how the interviews go when the experts will let rip.
Did you see how panicked he was when Lord Sugar asked Sanjay why Mark had never been brought back to the boardroom? Sanjay was probably about to say because he's very good at manipulating people and then Mark jumped in and said "Why are you piping up?" and Sanjay never got to finish answering the question. Don't like the guy at all and didn't feel sorry for him when he crumbled during his pitch
I also have my reservations on his business plan. It may be one of these cases in which we have a credible candidate but a uninspiring business plan, as it was the case of Helen, Nick, and this year with Mark.
I think it is just natural that they all stick to what they know best, where their expertise is, but you would expect a little bit more creativity and innovation in their business plans. It almost feels that they think that just setting up a business similar to the one that they already work for would be enough because they will have great backing, PR, contacts... etc.
You have to at least show that you have spotted a gap in the market, a niche, that you have come up with some distinctiveness or competitve advantage. But just throwing yourself in a really compettiive sector doing the same as others are already doing is a bit... flat.
If candidates were under scrutinity in the Dragon's Den they would have not lasted more than five minutes.
Stick to what they know best? I agree. In fact when someone comes up with an idea that seems to be well outside their zone - Roisin and ready meals, for instance? - that flags up a possible credibility issue for me.
That's why I suspect Mark's idea is basically just him doing what he's been doing - selling online advertising - but branching out on his own to do it from an online platform rather than a bricks and mortar business. It makes sense in terms of leveraging his own expertise, and as we've seen on a few tasks now he doesn't seem to be that hot when it comes to creativity of any kind. He's a great implementer, but he doesn't seem to be a great creator.
Lasting 5 minutes on Dragons' Den - that long? One of the key weaknesses in so many business plans we've seen over the past few years has been the numbers. The Dragons would have many of them for breakfast. It's one of the things that made Leah stand out last year. Well considered numbers, and she had her exit strategy planned too.
He behaves like a felon and all his dealing show this? I mean come on now, seriously?
Do people just make this stuff up as they go along?
See the hot tub sales, it wasn't him that sold 7 hot tubs as much as it was a man was there to buy 7 hot tubs. If Mark was there or not, those hot tubs would have been sold. He didn't just say "oh do you want 7 of them, go on take 7" and the guy agreed, it wasn't even on his radar, but he'd manipulated his way into the situation to get the praise for something that he didn't really have any direct impact in.
He's more like a Big Brother contestant than a good business man.
I worked with someone like that. When he first joined he did say that he'd shaft anyone if it got him further in his career. We all just thought "yeah, right".
How wrong we were. Joe destroyed the good working relationship the boss had with my mate through poisonous whisperings in the boss's ear. It wasn't as if he even wanted Alistair's position or anything like that. He just saw their working relationship as a threat to be removed to allow his to grow. 10 months into Joe's appointment, my mate resigned.
He also nearly got me fired. At the time I was working with him, and he deliberately tried to make me look incompetent by changing the parameters of my job so that it was practically impossible to do fully (parts of it had to be dropped) and then he would complain to the boss. All to make himself look good.
What saved me was he went on holiday for three weeks and those who filled in, including a man who the boss respected a great deal, told him that what was being asked of me was just not feasible. I literally could not be in two separate places at the same time.
A couple of weeks after he returned he moved to a new, better paid job. By that time I was on pills for depression. I really pitied the poor sods in the new place he went to work at., all the fun & games they had to look forward to.
Putting his name forward for the hot tubs despite knowing it would cause disputes - turned out a stroke of genius.
Yes, I think more people need to read between the lines!
I haven't seen any. In fact, as far as leadership goes, he seems to actively avoid it, preferring to back seat drive as it enables him to duck responsibility if it goes pear-shaped. It's difficult to really judge the business skills of anyone on TA, as the tasks are really all around buying and selling, but Mark hasn't shown much creative thinking when there has been an opportunity to do so.
What he has shown, in abundance, is an ability and desire to pick holes in others.
Unproven. They may only have had the tubs because Katie corrected Daniel's pitch for them, so it beat James' . They could have won on Katie's sales, we don't know what Daniel would have done, and we don't know if the man wanting 7 would have bought off anyone, or no one, else.
I guess that it's true that you don't buy 7 hot tubs on a whim. I'd hazard a guess that if somebody bought several hotubs then they'd specifically gone out to buy several hotubs.
I said this on the thread at the time. A holiday park owner wants to buy 7 hot tubs, so instead of finding a hot tub manufacturer (to maybe get a discount), or go to a specialist supplier. He goes off to a agricultural show, because as we all know, that's the place to get them!! So either he had prior knowledge that the dealer would be there, maybe rang them and was told we're at so and so show, or a friend knew he was looking, had seen them there and mentioned it to him.
So he goes to the stand, and instead of heading to an obvious salesman, he approaches a guy with a camera team around him. So either he was pushed that way by production staff or he thought "ooh free publicity". Either way bet the actual salesmen on the stand were happy loosing 7 sales, unless of course they still got the commission if there was any? It all smacked of a fix, if I'm honest.