We are just past the midway point in the inaugural season of “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition,” and the competition is getting more intense by the week. However, only one of the remaining candidates will make it through to the end.

At stake is a US $250,000 job offer to work directly for ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong as his protege in business. The winner will also assume the role of ONE’s new Chief of Staff.

Veteran lightweight contender and former ONE World Title challenger Amir Khan has kept a close eye on the competition with each episode. 

While the 26-year-old has his own pick to win it all, Khan believes the winning candidate should possess a few important qualities that will make him or her a perfect fit for ONE.

“If you want to become Chatri’s protege, you have to have integrity. That’s one of the most important things. Doing what’s right even when no one is watching. You need a warrior spirit, the kind that pushes you past any adversity,” Khan said.

“Loyalty is also a very big thing. You have to be honorable. And the last two things, which go hand-in-hand are excellence and work ethic. You have to be good at what you do, and at the same time, be willing to go the extra mile.”

Khan is one of the hardest working athletes on the ONE Championship roster. His ability to put in the work until the lights go off has kept him among the top fighters in the lightweight division.

A secret to his success which he believes would serve candidates well in future seasons of “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” is having a strong mind, and having the awareness to proactively push yourself past obstacles in life.

“I think that, in order to be successful on this show, you have to develop mental toughness. You have to be willing to constantly challenge yourself and do things that are difficult, that bring you out of your comfort zone. It will teach you how to push through tough times, and to stay composed even under duress,” Khan said.

“Being proactive is also important. It’s stated in the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Franklin Covey. If you are constantly reactive, you have less control in your life. If you are proactive, you have more. And the more control you have in your life, the happier you will become.”

Of course, the winner of the first season of “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” will have proven worthy to stand beside Sityodtong as his “Apprentice.”

Khan has an idea of who he thinks will emerge victorious when all is said and done. He has his eye on a handful of candidates who could potentially win it all. At the same time, the Singaporean knows exactly what Sityodtong is looking for in a winner.

“Continuous self-improvement is a big thing for Chatri. It’s the martial arts way. We need to seek growth in every aspect of life. If each day is passing and you are not growing, you will not unleash your full potential. The winning candidate has to be big on this,” said Khan.

“Lastly, that candidate needs to have a fighting spirit and never give up. Most people fail because they quit too early. You have to see failure as growth. Be grateful that you are among the very few who step outside their comfort zones to do something great. Learn the lessons from your mistakes. Your past does not determine your future.”