TV's 'Apprentice' to give book talk TV's 'Apprentice' to give book talk (September 24, 2004)

Rancic to peddle book in Mountain View

By Julie O'Shea

Bill Rancic was tapped as Donald Trump's "Apprentice" in April. It took him less than six months after the final taping of the hit CBS reality show to crank out a book about how to successfully climb the corporate ladder.

He'll be meeting his Peninsula fans when he stops in at Books Inc. in Mountain View Sept. 27, to promote "You're Hired: How to Succeed in Business and Life."

The free event -- one of only three stops Rancic will make in Northern California -- will begin at the Castro Street bookstore at 7:30 p.m.

Rancic, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, was handpicked by Trump to oversee a 90-story building project in downtown Chicago.

Rancic said he's been spending a lot of time with the man known as "The Donald" and clocks more than 100 hours a week at work. But he said it's worth it. The $250,000-a-year salary he's earning isn't so bad either.

Of his brush with fame, Rancic said it's been "a great learning experience," one he'd like to share with America.

The idea of writing a book, Rancic said, was something he had been toying with for a while. Most business books, he added, are based on theories and not real-life experiences. Rancic, who started Cigars Around the World eight years ago out of a small studio apartment, is hoping to change that.

He began writing "You're Hired" long before his stint on "The Apprentice." It was published with a forward by Trump earlier this month, and hit the bestseller lists of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and U.S.A. Today last week.

"It covers everything on how to survive in corporate America," Rancic said of his book. "No, it's not a traditional business book. And no, it's not the story of my life.

"I think people will be able to relate to this."

Rancic takes readers through lessons he learned during his career, and he also provides an inside look at "The Apprentice," which he agreed to audition for on a friend's suggestion.

Ultimately though, he said he'd like people to realize that in the business world, "it's OK to ask for help.

"Donald Trump has made mistakes. I've made mistakes."

Books Inc. put in a request for Rancic two months ago. Margie Scott Tucker, who schedules author events for the bookstore and its San Francisco affiliates, said Rancic's celebrity will get a lot of attention.

"He would do well in any store," said Tucker. "We can get the largest crowd in the Mountain View store. It really does draw a big crowd."

Books Inc. is expecting a large turnout Sept. 27 and suggests people get to the store an hour before Rancic's 7:30 p.m. appearance.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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