Is it worth it?

This week saw the first live show of X-Factor hit our screens and as per usual it has been headline news all week in the tabloids with over eleven million people watching over the weekend. One of the headline stories have been twin act John and Edward who have encountered the wrath of the tabloid press and the general public.

The twins have been highlighted throughout the audition process for their over the top personalities, their attitude and their antics which included singing over others or signing other peoples lines at bootcamp and then giving one of the worst auditions at the Judges house section and still getting picked.

Without knowing them the press has brandished them as vile creatures and the general public have got on the bandwagon by starting up Facebook groups which are about wanting them kicked off, voted off etc. It was to the amazement of many that they managed to survive the first round of the live shows as they were the favourites to go out. The scorn against the pair has got that bad now that the judges and presenters are having to try and counterbalance it with being nice to them at any chance.

Yes they aren’t the most talented act on X-Factor but I think they know this and this is why they have done what they have and acted in the way they have to get where they are. Instead of being credited for how they have managed to get themselves in to the top 12 they are being despised because of it. To get in to the top twelve if you aren’t the most talented on the show must be harder than if you are the most talented.

However in light of the reaction to the pair they now must be thinking was it worth it? Yes they have got themselves their fifteen minutes of fame but I think they are going to find it hard when they come out of X-Factor to either be taken seriously or to get work. Sometimes we can get so shortsighted in our goals and will to succeed that we forget to look at the bigger picture.

I think there is something to admire in John and Edward’s determination to get where they are but it is a great case to look at for long term success. If you are going to put a lot of hard work in you need to make sure it is going to be worth it and if you are going to use a high risk strategy you have to be very careful and be prepared to accept the risks.

Adam Sibley
Founder of the Talented Young People organisation
www.talentedyoungpeople.com
"Envisage it, Believe it, Achieve it!"
”Shaking up the Youth of Today”

http://www.talentedyoungpeople.blogspot.com

The Apprentice

Tonight (13/07) sees the finale in the UK of the third series of the popular Apprentice series in which sixteen hopefuls have battled it out in what is called the job interview from hell to gain the six figure contract and the job of being Sir Alan Sugar's apprentice.

We are down to the final two, one being a Cambridge educated Internet entrepreneur Simon Ambrose and the other Pharmaceuticals Sale Manager Kristina Grimes. Both of who have given up their lives and careers in the hope that they would be the last one standing and achieve this life changing opportunity.

The show is designed to bring out the ruthless streak in all the contestants as they are put in to direct conflict with the others in order to save themselves and their own chance of winning in this game of survival. The contestants are picked for the show based on how entertaining they are going to be on TV as at the end of the day this is what it is an entertainment TV programme which needs to bring in ratings. There would be no show and nobody watching if everyone got on happily with each other.

Now say what you will about the show as I know it has its critics who do have very just and correct points about the show but in many ways I am all for it. If to work for Sir Alan Sugar or to work in international business is your dream then going on the show is a very achievable way of making it happen. Many of the contestants have sacrificed high paying jobs and great careers for the opportunity which shows their dedication. It's one thing going on a TV programme if you are in a job you hate or aren't currently in work but to give up something you have been working towards your whole life for this opportunity shows great strength of character to do.

Regardless of who wins or loses most of the candidates will have learnt invaluable skills through the programme and be more equipped to deal with stressful situations, teamwork and being able to go out of their comfort zone. Not many situations in their life will test them to the limits that the Apprentice has and sometimes in order to achieve great things we need to be tested to see how much we want something or how good we really are.

Going on this programme the contestants have sacrificed their own privacy with some candidates now being the subject of attention for many tabloids and magazines but for the contestants to be willing to do this in order to achieve their dreams shows great courage. For all of the contestants that have been eliminated now is the time for the real graft as they use the Apprentice experience and exposure to forge careers for themselves and that's what is so great about a programme like this as it can open up so many opportunities to people that they wouldn't have had if they hadn't gone on the show. Hopefully now the contestants can use the spark of being on the Apprentice and now use that power to go on and achieve even greater things.

To get you in the mood for the Apprentice final we have an interview with Apprentice series 2 star Jo Cameron about her time on the show and what the programme has done for her. So to find out her views and what she has been up to since the programme go to:

http://www.talentedyoungpeople.com/experts/index.php?page=article&id=29

Adam Sibley
Founder of the Talented Young People organisation
www.talentedyoungpeople.com
"Envisage it, Believe it, Achieve it!"

http://www.talentedyoungpeople.blogspot.com/