From the full episode: Fired First Week on The Apprentice - Now a Business Powerhouse

Being fired in week one of The Apprentice did not slow Michelle Niziol, property and finance entrepreneur, founder and CEO of IMS Property Group, and this clip is the reason why. Talking to host Aleksandra King on The BEYOND Podcast, she names the one thing she looks for before anything else in business: passion for the work itself.

Her test is simple. Whatever the trade, if you love it and you are willing to put your all into it, the down times will not finish you, and that is what carried her from a week-one exit to a seven-company group.

Full transcript

Aleksandra King: That's insane. That's just crazy. So what qualities, what essential qualities do you need to possess- To be able to run a business successfully, do you think?

Michelle Niziol: I think number one is the passion for it. So you can see, you know, with my businesses it's the passion to get you to own your own home, 'cause that's what made me feel safe- Yeah

Aleksandra King: Drives you, the energy ...

Michelle Niziol: unless you are passionate about it, because there's gonna be so many down times. Yeah. So as long as you've got that, you know, the passion for what you're doing, whether it's, you know, hairdressing or makeup artist or photography, if you love it and you're willing to put your all into it, then you're gonna be successful.

Aleksandra King: Have you ever experienced a situation, um, over the years running your, your own businesses where being a woman has actually proven to be a hindrance in any way? Have you found that?

Watch the full conversation: Fired First Week on The Apprentice - Now a Business Powerhouse