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THE SPRINT TO SHOW TIME
The sting of Primarius' disastrous failure during the previous task lingered
around the loft like an unwelcome guest.
Martha Stewart proclaimed the defeat as the worst seen so far and
relentlessly downsized the corporation's workforce from five to three in a
shocking double dismissal. Suddenly outmanned by their rivals, Primarius'
ranks were replenished by the arrival of
Dawna, Matchstick's most successful project manager. The reserved and
focused candidate abruptly found her destiny tied to three of the most
cantankerous and explosive candidates in the loft:
Bethenny,
Howie, and
Jim.
The corporations' next task was to sell outdoor products during a live ten
minute segment on QVC. During the sprint to show time, one candidate strove
to take control of the task away from the project manager, another candidate
neglected to prepare adequately for an important role, and in a potentially
disastrous last-minute maneuver, a project manager put one of the loft's
most unpredictable candidates on camera - live, across America.
After all the orders were tallied, the revenue proved Matchstick the
winners, and Primarius was left to wallow in their losing streak. Facing a
quartet of squabbling candidates, Martha exercised her judicial authority
and sent the least passionate member of the bunch packing.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The candidates met Martha Stewart and her trusted associates in MSLO's ninth
floor showroom. After a quick candidate shuffle, the corporations were
equally populated: Dawna joining Bethenny, Howie, and Jim on Primarius and
Amanda,
Leslie,
Marcela, and
Ryan remaining with Matchstick. The corporations' next task was to sell
an outdoor product on QVC, the leading home shopping network.
Outside, two buses were standing by to transport the candidates to QVC's
massive Westchester, Connecticut facilities. After selecting a product and
creating a pitch, the corporations would have ten minutes to hawk their
outdoor merchandise to millions of consumers live on the QVC network. The
corporation to amass the most revenue in ten minutes would be declared
victorious. The other corporation would face Martha in the conference room,
where someone would be sent home.
LIVE AND ON THE AIR
Inside QVC's massive warehouse, Matchstick selected a teak box that
automatically retracted and stored a garden hose. Ryan, marking his second
turn as project manager, quickly divided the labor between his candidates.
Marcela took over set design, Leslie became the on-air expert, Amanda was in
charge of demonstrating the product, and Ryan would produce the broadcast
from the control room. However, it was clear that Amanda wanted to be in
charge. She dominated discussions and jockeyed for a bigger on-air role.
After a restrained but sharp debate, Ryan declined to acquiesce to the
pressure and Amanda remained in product demonstration.
As the only candidate yet to take the role of project manager, Bethenny was
in charge of Primarius. After some deliberation, the corporation picked a
portable cordless inflator. After everyone agreed on Howie and Dawna as the
on-air hosts, Bethenny began to wonder if Dawna had enough camera-friendly
charisma. The project manager's frantic doubts and second guesses put extra
stress on Dawna. The corporation held a late night rehearsal, and
surprisingly, it was Howie who bombed. Despite having all day to prepare and
practice, Howie stuttered, choked, and even forgot the name of the product.
With the clock ticking, Bethenny had no choice but to replace Howie with
Jim. However, no one was entirely comfortable putting the most volatile
candidate on live television - not even Jim himself.
Before long it was showtime for the candidates. Instead of going for a hard
sell, Matchstick endeavored to establish a connection with the consumer.
When Leslie was on screen interacting with a QVC host, sales of the Hydro
Teak Box Hose Retractor jumped. Ryan, monitoring call volume and frequency,
produced the broadcast to focus on Leslie as much as possible. During
Primarius' broadcast, Jim proved that he could tone down his personality
when the task demanded. The audience responded to his camera-friendly
chemistry with Dawna, and sales of the Bonaire Cordless Air Inflator were
steady - until Jim began to wander in and out of camera shots. Howie's job
was to coach the on-air candidates over earpieces from the control room, but
his inability to figure out QVC's system prevented him from instructing Jim
properly.
A MILE IN MARTHA'S SHOES
Back in the conference room, Martha Stewart asked Bethenny how she enjoyed
her first excursion as project manager. The rookie leader was confident that
her corporation did everything necessary to win, but only the final dollar
amount could say for sure.
Alexis proceeded to read Primarius' results. The corporation sold an
impressive 266 Bonaire Cordless Air Inflators, at $44.78 each, for a grand
total of $11,911.48.
Charles reported that Matchstick sold 143 Hydro Teak Box Hose Retractors
for $99.97. Their volume was lower, but the high price drove their total
take to $14,295.71. Once again, Matchstick emerged victorious, while
Primarius racked up another loss.
Matchstick's reward was an extravagant jaunt to one of Martha's gorgeous
abodes. First, the candidates were treated to a scenic helicopter ride from
Manhattan to the East Hamptons. Then a limousine whisked them away to
Martha's Lily Pond residence, where they met Kevin Sharkey. As the
decorating editor at Martha Stewart Living, Kevin was well qualified to
highlight the subtler touches of the beautiful home. The entryway sported a
stuffed tarpon fish - a magnificent species whose stunning hues inspired the
colors of the house. In the dining room, Kevin explained how the Venetian
glass chandelier influenced the color of the ceiling. Painted ceilings, he
revealed, was a Martha Stewart trademark. The candidates oohed and aahed at
all the masterful details as they browsed the house. "Martha is letting us
walk in her shoes," Leslie marveled.
MARTHA DEMANDS PASSION
In the conference room, Martha Stewart rebuked Bethenny for failing to
secure a victory on her first outing as project manager. Dawna alleged that
Bethenny's fretful leadership style had an anxious effect on the corporation
and a counterproductive effect on the task. When Howie blamed their failure
on their product choice, Martha countered that it was Primarius' unfocused
and disorganized on-air sales pitch that doomed them. Jim defended his
performance by explaining how he came to be co-host at the last minute,
which touched off a contentious debate over the circumstances of Howie's
departure from the role.
Martha cut through the heated debate and forced Bethenny to pick one
candidate to go back to the loft. The project manager spared Dawna, and
while Martha consulted with her trusted associates in private, the imperiled
candidates lamented the fact that Dawna managed to escape scot-free. Back in
the conference room, Bethenny dodged direct questions about her leadership
to criticize Dawna's inability to adjust to the faster pace of Primarius.
Charles, somewhat befuddled at the turn in conversation, abruptly stopped
Bethenny and chided her for wasting time discussing an absent candidate.
Moving on, the debate returned to Howie's lax preparation. Bethenny claimed
he had more than ample time to arrange himself. "This is getting us
nowhere," Martha quietly scolded. She reproached Howie for not taking
advantage of a golden opportunity to let his sales skills shine. Bethenny
lacked leadership ability, Martha said. But while the project manager had
admirable determination, Howie flat out lacked passion - a vital requirement
for working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. "I just don't get what you
would do in our kind of company," Martha confessed, and shook his hand.
Howie's time had come, and it was his turn to leave the loft.
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