Author and financial radio host Wes Moss was about 27 and had a few years of global investment experience under his belt when a client came up with a crazy idea: Why not try out for a slot on "The Apprentice"?
The year was 2004, when the NBC reality show where aspirants jockeyed for the opportunity to win cash and a job in Donald Trump's empire launched. Moss threw his entrepreneurial hat in the ring and got picked for the show's second season.
"They were really looking for somebody from the South as opposed to your typical New Yorker Wall Street guy," said Moss, whose radio show airs from 9-11 a.m. Sundays on 95.5 FM and 750 AM News/Talk WSB. "I think I was a slightly unique fit."
Although Moss didn’t emerge the victor, he came away with some valuable lessons and a continuing relationship with the Trump camp. “I’m proud of you. I’m glad to see you doing well,” he recalls Trump telling him.
“He’s exactly like he seems on TV, but the side that doesn’t get shown is his empathetic, big-heart side,” Moss said. “I don’t think people see that in these 30-second clips. That’s the side that gets brushed away by the media.”
During this Sunday’s show, Moss plans to talk about the top lessons he learned from Trump. Chief among them was the importance of strong communication skills.
“That takes a certain level of empathy and an understanding of your audience,” he said. “It takes a certain amount of courage and resolve.”
Trump is of course never shy about saying whatever's on his mind. He's drawn controversy with comments about Mexican immigrants, U.S. Sen. John McCain's military career and Fox News broadcaster Megyn Kelly.
That latest verbal volcano got Trump dumped from the RedState Gathering held recently in Atlanta. RedState leader and Moss' fellow WSB radio host, conservative pundit Erick Erickson, made the call saying, "It is not political correctness, it's common decency."
Moss said he was “unpleasantly surprised” to see Trump dumped from the event and believes he has a shot at the Oval Office.
“His quote about John McCain, his rhetoric about Mexico, his back-and-forth with Megyn Kelly — any one of those could have sunk a garden variety candidate,” Moss said.
“I’m surprised people are so appreciative of his bluntness and candor,” Moss said.
He’s reached out to his former mentor in hopes of getting him to come on his radio show at some point. As for what The Donald might say on his show or any other platform, Moss predicts no end to the trademark Trump directness.
“He’s incapable of tempering anything,” he said, “and he’s not going away anytime soon.”
