CELEBRITY APPRENTICE – THE AFTERMATH

Our country is in turmoil politically and economically.

The "win by any means necessary" mentality has hurt us. In the past, it has brought us the likes of Enron, and today the current mortgage crisis rages on with no end in sight. We are reaping what we have sown.

I think we are all tired of seeing bad behavior rewarded every day. While I have the utmost respect for Piers Morgan's intellect and consider him a friend, I feel it is my duty to get up every morning and teach my 8-year-old-son Lukas to do the right thing, even though it may not always be rewarded.

The high profile of “Celebrity Apprentice” placed us all in a position to be role models, and the role model that I most respected (and whom I thought best represented how things should be in business, and in life) was Trace Adkins.

What’s so appealing and admirable about Trace is that he has a wonderful quiet confidence about him. He’s successful, compassionate, straight forward, but most importantly - self aware. He understands the importance of being a great husband, a great father, and a great human being. His life has been difficult, and goodness knows that he has had to work hard on himself, but through it all he has managed to keep his integrity intact.

I long for integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior to be the true measure of success - something to be valued again in this country, even if means sometimes taking the longer, harder road.

-Nely