Bill Rancic is a restaurateur, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, speaker and author, as well as the first winner on season one of NBC’s hit ‘The Apprentice.’
After his big win, Rancic wrote a book titled You're Hired: How To Succeed In Business And Life, which became a New York Times best-seller. He has also appeared on several different television shows including Today, The View, Rachael Ray and many CNBC programs, where he educates viewers about business and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, Rancic is the founder of Cigars Around The World, a monthly online subscription-based retailer that has become a multi-million dollar enterprise.
He has been married to E! News host Giuliana Rancic, who he stars with on their reality show Giuliana & Bill, since 2007. The couple also has one son together.
Now, Rancic will be a celebrity judge for the #InternetOfficial contest to celebrate the famous dot-com turning 30. TheCelebrityCafe.com caught up with Rancic to speak to him about the contest, what he learned from Donald Trump and what’s next for him.
TheCelebrityCafé.com: After you won season one of ‘The Apprentice’ you said that Donald Trump has been your mentor. What was the most valuable advice you got from him?
Bill Rancic: There’s so much great advice that Donald Trump has given me as a result of winning that first season of ‘The Apprentice.’ The most important lesson I think I learned is that you can never quit. I think so many small business owners and so many people in life they give up too early and they don’t fight. Look at Donald Trump, he’s had some highs, he’s had some lows but he never gave up. He always found ways to make things work and that’s something that I really incorporated into my life. I don’t give up very easily. I know that I’m going to find a way and figure it out and I remain optimistic. I keep going after it.
TCC: What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into marketable products?
BR: So many people have great ideas, they have great concepts, they have great products that they want to get out there, but many people never start. I think so many people go through life and they have one foot on the boat and one foot on the pier and they have what’s called analysis-paralysis. They don’t get anywhere and they look back on life with tremendous regret. So I would say you got to get started. Come up with the idea, get your dot-com up and running and get going. Most likely you’ll never regret that. There will be hard times. Don’t ever think that there won’t be. There’s going to be ups. There’s going to be downs. It’s a long race, but I think when you cross the finish line you’re going to look back and won’t regret it regardless of what you did.
TCC: Speaking of dot-com, it of course turns 30 this year. To celebrate the anniversary, you will be judging the #InternetOfficial contest. Can you give us some more information about that and how contestants can enter?
BR: The first dot-com was up and running in 1985 and who would have ever thought it would be where it is today. Billions and billions of dollars have been made from successful dot-com companies. The fact that small business owners, anywhere in the world, can get their dot-com going I think is spectacular, so we are trying to find the best dot-com out there. We want people to go to VerisignInternetOfficial.com and we want them to create their dot-com. Myself and four other judges are going to pick the best dot-com based on originality, memorability and keyword rich. We’re going to give $5,000 a month away and then on July 3rd, we’re going to award the grand prize of $30,000. That money can go a long for a small business.
TCC: And finally Bill, you are a husband, a father, a best-selling author, have the two restaurants and several other business ventures as well. So what’s next for you?
BR: We are opening our third restaurant this summer in Washington D.C. Also, my wife and I just launched the XO, G Wine available at Wal-Mart. It’s a very neat concept. It actually a bottle of wine, but it is individual cups in a stack so you can have one cup at a time. You don’t have to open up a whole bottle and it is $10 at Wal-Mart. It is a great wine. We have several different varieties and it’s available across the country, so we’re very excited about being in the wine business. It’s something that’s new to us and I’m learning a lot.
To register for the contest head over to VerisignInternetOfficial.com before April 30th for your chance to win!
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