Nick Warnock might have been a loser on "The Apprentice," but he is a winner in business.
"I was fired in front of 24 million people," he said. "And here I am today."
He said he owned his own Italian ice business by the time he was 18 years old and became a successful salesman for Xerox after receiving a degree from the University of San Diego.
Warnock was the fourth runner -up on the show's first season. He came to the SUB on Wednesday to give students tips on how to be successful business people.
"When I began working at Xerox, I learned the value of hard work, presentation skills and grooming," he said, adding that appearance and confidence are the keys to being a successful salesperson.
John Benavidez, marketing faculty from Anderson Schools of Management, said he was happy with how many students showed up to see Warnock speak. He said more than 120 students and faculty attended.
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"It was a good opportunity for business school students," he said. "But we also thought it was beneficial for all students."
Warnock is on a speaking tour across the nation.
He said he thanks persistence for landing him the gig on "The Apprentice."
He knew Mark Burnett, the show's producer, would probably be making a lot of copies for his new show "Survivor," he said.
"I just started knocking on his door," he said. "A year and a half passed, and nothing happened."
Then one day while sitting in a car wash, he said he ran into Burnett who told him he didn't want to buy copiers from him, but he wanted him for a new show about business.
"That day changed my life," he said.
He said he beat out 215,000 people for the show and has his charisma to thank for it.
"The producers told me at first that I was a redheaded stepchild who is obnoxious and full of himself," he said. "But then they told me I'd be on NBC in the fall."
This tactic can be used in business practices, he told the audience.
"Be nice to everyone," he said. "Align yourself with the best and the brightest in the organization. You never know who will be promoted. That's something career services isn't going to tell you about."
Jon Chavez, who is working on his master's in general business, said he walked away with a lot of good advice from Warnock but wouldn't take his word as gospel.
"He was very entertaining, to say the least," he said. "But he did make a lot of sense."
Anderson Schools of Management along with the New Mexico American Marketing Association, ASUNM Student Special Events and Exhib-it! Tradeshow Marketing Experts sponsored the presentation.
Warnock, who is no longer employed by Xerox, said besides motivational speaking, he is a business commentator for MSNBC and an actor.
One student in the audience asked Warnock if he would do anything differently if he could relive his stint on "The Apprentice."
"Absolutely nothing," he replied. "I am very happy with what happened."
