THE APPRENTICE’S most successful winner has told how he failed multiple times in its boardroom.
Ricky Martin, 38, from Essex, was crowned the winner of the eighth series in 2012, taking home a mammoth £250,000 investment.
Since leaving the show he’s forged a £15million-a-year business empire with his company Hyper Recruitment Solution.
Now he’s told Sun Online how being on the losing team was the secret to his success.
He said: “On The Apprentice you don’t get as much exposure when you win.
“You get told well done and then have to leave the boardroom. Being on the losing team was good because you got more face time with Lord Sugar.”
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Ricky famously compared himself to the demi-God Thor and claimed he could “teach an old dog new tricks” – referring to Lord Sugar.
On the show I learnt you make mistakes but learn from them and move on
Ricky Martin
The former wrestler almost got fired by Lord Sugar after failing to impress a health club chain with his keep fit class idea.
Although he was able to survive another episode, being at the bottom meant bosses remembered his name.
He added: “You had more interactions with Lord Sugar. There was someone in my series who had never been in the bottom three.
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“Everyone thought she was a shoe in to win, but I said the problem is he doesn’t know your name.
“Actually he’s looking to invest in someone, it’s you as a character.”
He said Lord Sugar was brutal when it came to exposing contestants’ mistakes.
But that the experience made him the successful businessman he is today.
The self-made millionaire said: “On the show I learnt you make mistakes but learn from them and move on. He wants to see how resilient we can be.”
He also admitted the thing that lead him to the top was being just himself.
He explained: “The only advice I can give is you’ve got to be yourself and not play to a character.”
The 2012 winner walked-off with £250,000 from Lord Sugar to invest in his science recruitment firm Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS).
After receiving the whopping investment, he moved to Essex and “threw himself into the business”.
WINNING BIG
The self-made millionaire is now a proud board member on several small start-ups.
He explained: “It’s the most successful business born as one of the winners of the apprentice. I just think how can we do more.
“We’re a profitable company. But I’m also running a growth business. We reinvest significantly into the workforce. We’ve got multiple offices that are leased.”
He also admitted how he was able to forge a strong bond with fellow businessman Lord Sugar after the show.
Although they’re “not best friends” they still hold a “strong level of respect”.
Ricky said: “He’s an investor to the business I set up. I’m an investor in other businesses.
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“We’re not mates, but we have a level of mutual respect.”
It comes after a former candidate told how show bosses “fix” tasks to ensure maximum chaos.
Ricky’s top tips for starting a business
Here’s what Ricky thinks you need to do to kickstart a business.
1. Be authentic – “The only advice I can give is you’ve got to be yourself and not play to a character.”
2. Be persistent – “You might apply and fail and apply and fail but if you keep going you will get there. Keep trying.”
3. Be positive – “If the business lives and breathes what you love you’ve a good chance of getting the job.”
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