LAS likes Tom's background but the biscuit task was an invention task and Tom failed to invent what was a good enough biscuit. Tom's a nice chap and he's still in the process but he's never really shone or shown sufficient pluck and courage during the whole process to merit him winning.
Roughly how old are forum users who do and don't rate Tom?
2 of 3
Originally Posted by podgicus:
“I'm 23 and I love him.
I think all throughout the process he's been making astute observations, but the nature of the programme and the majority of the candidates has meant that he has been constantly overshadowed by the 'big' personalities with the loudest voices. He's also been a team player, rather than going all out to big himself up, which is very credible.
I think he'd be a good leader, with a team of the right people. The problem with TA is that you're not having to lead a team of people who have been employed for a role, you're having to lead a team of people who want to do the leading, and as a result don't like being told what to do.
I think a lot of people would much rather work under Tom than, say, Melody.”
“I'm 23 and I love him.
I think all throughout the process he's been making astute observations, but the nature of the programme and the majority of the candidates has meant that he has been constantly overshadowed by the 'big' personalities with the loudest voices. He's also been a team player, rather than going all out to big himself up, which is very credible.
I think he'd be a good leader, with a team of the right people. The problem with TA is that you're not having to lead a team of people who have been employed for a role, you're having to lead a team of people who want to do the leading, and as a result don't like being told what to do.
I think a lot of people would much rather work under Tom than, say, Melody.”
Brilliant post!
There is a massive difference in leading a team of people who you have employed, who accept you as their boss and, if you like, are paid to listen to what you say. AFAICR, Tom has treated all the other candidates respectfully and professionally, and we have no reason to believe that his would treat his employees any differently. I certainly would have no problem working for someone like Tom, whereas I could never work for someone like Melody or Susie.
Originally Posted by HollyC:
“Brilliant post!
There is a massive difference in leading a team of people who you have employed, who accept you as their boss and, if you like, are paid to listen to what you say. AFAICR, Tom has treated all the other candidates respectfully and professionally, and we have no reason to believe that his would treat his employees any differently. I certainly would have no problem working for someone like Tom, whereas I could never work for someone like Melody or Susie.”
“Brilliant post!
There is a massive difference in leading a team of people who you have employed, who accept you as their boss and, if you like, are paid to listen to what you say. AFAICR, Tom has treated all the other candidates respectfully and professionally, and we have no reason to believe that his would treat his employees any differently. I certainly would have no problem working for someone like Tom, whereas I could never work for someone like Melody or Susie.”
This. In terms of starting and running a business, Tom is by far the most qualified. I find it laughable people label him as bumbling and incapable yet he is the only one out of any of them who has created a product from concept, been abroad to source manufacturing, brought it to market and sold it. He is familiar with all aspects of starting and running a business and having a firm grasp on the numbers as well.
Show me a fool that can do all of this
In the grand schemes of things, leading a team of single-minded wannabes who desperately want to win a competition isn't a necessity to be a good businessman and that his only failing.
I'm 22 and am rooting for Tom.
I'm 20 and I LOVE Tom! I know he won't win at all, but at least it's refreshing to see a really nice candidate for a change.
Originally Posted by BBWorldWideFan:
“Your being a bit bias really.
Obviosuly you like Tom and are possbily older
”
“Your being a bit bias really.
Obviosuly you like Tom and are possbily older
”
I wouldn't call testing a theory being biased. I wanted to know if my theory held water and it appears that, so far, it's a bit touch and go. I'm not asking anyone to agree with me, just want to know their thoughts.
Originally Posted by Tvchild_2011:
“I find it laughable people label him as bumbling and incapable yet he is the only one out of any of them who has created a product from concept, been abroad to source manufacturing, brought it to market and sold it. He is familiar with all aspects of starting and running a business and having a firm grasp on the numbers as well. ”
“I find it laughable people label him as bumbling and incapable yet he is the only one out of any of them who has created a product from concept, been abroad to source manufacturing, brought it to market and sold it. He is familiar with all aspects of starting and running a business and having a firm grasp on the numbers as well. ”
As a matter of interest, what is Tom's business P&L?
I've always had the impression inventors don't make outstanding business people; a downside for Tom. However, LS is used to dealing in business with inventors, notably Sir Clive Sinclair when Amstrad bought the computer side of Sinclair's company. So, LS might be rating Tom as a possible budding Sir Clive and might come up with an idea/product one of his other companies might be able to produce/market and steal a march on his competitors.
Going into partnership with Tom might be a disaster ultimately or equally, it could turn out to be a stroke of genius pairing their skills together as a team. Age 59 for what difference it makes.
Going into partnership with Tom might be a disaster ultimately or equally, it could turn out to be a stroke of genius pairing their skills together as a team. Age 59 for what difference it makes.
Originally Posted by OnaOakey:
“15 and behind him all the way! He doesn't suit the process at all, but I think in terms of the prize on offer he's one of the more credible candidates.”
“15 and behind him all the way! He doesn't suit the process at all, but I think in terms of the prize on offer he's one of the more credible candidates.”
But that's the thing. The prize makes the whole process completely redundant. Tom has been absolutely dire as a candidate, but if he's got a good business proposition (which I'm assuming he does) he has a very good chance of winning. I really don't know what was wrong with the old formula, as every task that's been done can easily be applied to previous series. I will always watch The Apprentice but only for the boardroom, which will never get old.
And I'm 19
.
Originally Posted by Wahian:
“I've always had the impression inventors don't make outstanding business people; a downside for Tom. However, LS is used to dealing in business with inventors, notably Sir Clive Sinclair when Amstrad bought the computer side of Sinclair's company. So, LS might be rating Tom as a possible budding Sir Clive and might come up with an idea/product one of his other companies might be able to produce/market and steal a march on his competitors.
Going into partnership with Tom might be a disaster ultimately or equally, it could turn out to be a stroke of genius pairing their skills together as a team. Age 59 for what difference it makes.”
“I've always had the impression inventors don't make outstanding business people; a downside for Tom. However, LS is used to dealing in business with inventors, notably Sir Clive Sinclair when Amstrad bought the computer side of Sinclair's company. So, LS might be rating Tom as a possible budding Sir Clive and might come up with an idea/product one of his other companies might be able to produce/market and steal a march on his competitors.
Going into partnership with Tom might be a disaster ultimately or equally, it could turn out to be a stroke of genius pairing their skills together as a team. Age 59 for what difference it makes.”
I see what you're saying and generally I think you're right. I don't think that this is the case with Tom though - I think he has shown quite good business sense (one example is with the beauty task, where at the beginning he told everyone to concentrate on selling the massages because had the highest margin)
Originally Posted by soulmate61:
“As a matter of interest, what is Tom's business P&L?”
“As a matter of interest, what is Tom's business P&L?”
His consulting business I think is yet to make a profit. I think however, this isn't his ideal business model and has only done it as it's difficult to pursue developing inventions without investment. I think out of all the candidates, Tom has the biggest idea which will involve creating something from scratch.
Originally Posted by capekdeh:
“33 years old, and I don't respect him because he doesn't have balls.”
“33 years old, and I don't respect him because he doesn't have balls.”
I'm sure he has, unless you have evidence to the contrary
I'm 32 and though my favourite contestants by a long way were Leon, Natasha and Melody, and I thought Leon and Natasha were shafted in the weeks they went out, I find Tom impossible to dislike among a final four made up of him, an arrogant and multi-faced BS-er, a smug talk-yourself-upperer and a bimbo with a sob story who happened to start a beauty business as if that required being a genius.
Originally Posted by PythonFang:
“But that's the thing. The prize makes the whole process completely redundant. Tom has been absolutely dire as a candidate, but if he's got a good business proposition (which I'm assuming he does) he has a very good chance of winning. I really don't know what was wrong with the old formula, as every task that's been done can easily be applied to previous series. I will always watch The Apprentice but only for the boardroom, which will never get old.
And I'm 19.”
“But that's the thing. The prize makes the whole process completely redundant. Tom has been absolutely dire as a candidate, but if he's got a good business proposition (which I'm assuming he does) he has a very good chance of winning. I really don't know what was wrong with the old formula, as every task that's been done can easily be applied to previous series. I will always watch The Apprentice but only for the boardroom, which will never get old.
And I'm 19
.”
In some senses I completely agree with you! I wouldn't say Tom's been dire, but I couldn't deny he was a poor project manager even if the majority the blame for the task wasn't with Melody (in my opinion). However, considering for example that we've heard LS specifically say he's not looking for a salesperson, why have there been so many selling tasks? There's been a lot of focus on things like selling and pitching, which are important, but much less emphasis put on forward planning and calculating profit margins, which are far more so for an entrepreneur.
I can see how it makes sense for LS to change the prize though. None of the previous contestants worked for him for very long I don't think, whereas with a share in a new business he'll make money out of the winner for a much longer time period. Not only that, but the new business is likely to end up turning over more than twice as much as a single employee would bring in.
I'm 47 and don't rate Tom.
He's got a lot of admirable qualities and seems one of the nicest candidates ever. But Lordalun is expecting his winner to head up a business - I just don't see that Tom had the cojones to do that, nor do I think he has the focus.
Some FMs have posted that it is a partnership with Lordalun so Toms lack of backbone doesn't matter - but his Lordship has made it very clear that he won't be hand holding - I doubt he'll be doing much for the partnership other than stumping up the cash.
He's got a lot of admirable qualities and seems one of the nicest candidates ever. But Lordalun is expecting his winner to head up a business - I just don't see that Tom had the cojones to do that, nor do I think he has the focus.
Some FMs have posted that it is a partnership with Lordalun so Toms lack of backbone doesn't matter - but his Lordship has made it very clear that he won't be hand holding - I doubt he'll be doing much for the partnership other than stumping up the cash.
i love tom first of all because without is specs i find him very handsome and secondly he's a very nice personality - seems quite traditional and charming. i would do anythin for tom so long as it's legal
i'm 43
i'm 43
26 and like Tom's quirky, nutty professor side, but not his dribbly 'yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir' grovelling in the boardroom.
If this was the same as previous years Tom shouldn't win as he is clearly not the best suited candidate for the type of job that previous winners have been given.
This year as a partnership is the prize, he might be the best candidate on the basis that he may possibly invent something that becomes a massive cash spinner.
The others would be better in other areas, probably.
This year as a partnership is the prize, he might be the best candidate on the basis that he may possibly invent something that becomes a massive cash spinner.
The others would be better in other areas, probably.
2 of 3
