Success Secrets from Bill Rancic, First “Apprentice” Winner
Julie Bitely
| 3 min read
Do you have what it takes to be successful in business and in life?
Bill Rancic wasn’t sure he had what it would take to win a job as Donald Trump’s right-hand person on the first season of NBC’s “The Apprentice”, but his mom had a feeling. Rancic was in Grand Rapids last week as the keynote speaker for the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
Along with sharing his secrets to success, Rancic outlined traits he’s observed in successful and not-so-successful people, along with why he thinks the state of Michigan is a winner.
He told the crowd that as a child, he developed a pancake breakfast racket that earned him some big spending money. He’d invite the neighborhood ladies over to his grandmother’s house for a homemade morning meal when he’d stay over on the weekends. They couldn’t resist his charm and slipped him five dollar bills under their plates before leaving. When his mom found his stash of cash, she quickly put an end to the “fleecing” of these sweet, elderly women.
He’s no longer a pint-sized breakfast mogul, but Rancic said his early entrepreneurial ways were all about seeing an opportunity and seizing it, a trait he’s observed in many successful people, including Trump. He said Michigan’s tourism industry is also recognizing the opportunity that out-of-state and international travelers represent to the state’s economy and are working to capitalize on the potential for growth that exists.
“That’s what the state of Michigan is doing right now,” he said.
Rancic outlined what he believed were the top three reasons he took home the big prize on “The Apprentice”, despite being told by producer Mark Burnett that he was the last contestant chosen for the show.
- He did the work. Rancic said actions speak louder than words. His willingness to roll up his sleeves and do the heavy lifting, instead of seeking accolades, helped him come out on top.
- He was agile and able to adjust to difference scenarios and personalities every week. “The state of Michigan knows how important that is,” he said.
- He took risks. Rancic said fear of trying something new is often what separates successful people from unsuccessful people. He was able to manage risk and convert it into success. Those who never try? “In my opinion, that’s the biggest failure of all,” he said.
Rancic said his observations of other successful people have revealed common traits they all share. Among them, the ability to make decisions was top on his list. He said successful people don’t suffer from “analysis paralysis” and definitely don’t over think every decision they make. They also tend to be creative in how they market their product or services, and they don’t give up.
“You guys don’t quit,” Rancic said of the state of Michigan. “You fight,” he said.
Alternately, Rancic has worked with failing business owners on the A&E show, “We Mean Business”. He said he’s observed that people who tend to be unsuccessful are reactive rather than proactive, they surround themselves with negative people, and they simply don’t live up to their potential.
What common personality traits have you observed in the successful people you know? Do you agree with Rancic or not? Tell us in the comments!
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Photo credit: Julie Bitely
