Archive View (November 2007)

When pricing properties, sellers, sales agents, and appraisers frequently use price per square foot comparisons. For example, a 1,500-square-foot property listed at $350,000 would figure out at $233 per square foot. The agent or seller then might toss in a statement like, "We got this house bargain priced at less than $235 a square foot. Nothing else in this neighborhood has sold for anything under $275 per square foot."  Okay, sounds good so far. But before you bite, check the facts. Watch Out for Errors of Measurement Appraisers, sales agents, sellers, and property tax assessors mismeasure properties all the time. In fact, sellers or realty agents often more...

An interview with business-planning guru Tim Berry When Trump University was searching for the best business plan software to integrate into our Entrepreneurship Mastery Program, we found a blockbuster program in Business Plan Pro. Little did we know that it was the brainchild of a business-planning guru named Tim Berry - a man who has spent nearly three decades helping successful entrepreneurs bring their dreams to life.  So if you are scared of writing a business plan, worry no more. That will all change when you read this conversation between Tim and Trump U’s Executive Editor Barry Lenson . . . Barry Lenson: Why do people get paralyzed at the thought more...

Today we showcase Ivo Verhaegh, a student from the Netherlands and his winning question. Many students submitted questions for Mr. Trump, but the judging committee selected Ivo’s as the most interesting. Let’s take a closer look. Ivo’s winning question . . . “I’m 16 years old and come from the Netherlands. I’m very ambitious and I really want to be successful. I want to start my own company, I have several good ideas. Do you think it is better to go to university first to gain more knowledge and life experience? And if I should go to university, which education/course will fit best more...

"Whether you're involved in negotiations, war, public speaking, or merely socializing, learn about the person across from you and find out what he or she wants so that you can build a better relationship." - Donald J. Trump I've heard stories about people who landed terrific jobs, not just because of their qualifications, but also because of common interests they had with the people hiring them. Granted, the applicant had to have the credentials to begin with, but lots of people do. I once heard about a top law firm that hired a young lawyer because, in addition to excelling in law school, more...

Flip This House, a popular show about people who apply the flip-and-fix strategy to real estate investing, is a big hit on A&E. Over at Bravo TV, you’ll find another show, Flipping Out, on a similar theme. If you watch them, you already know that they offer very different perspectives on real estate development. I have personal opinions about what is realistic about these two shows, and what is not. But instead of writing about what I think today, I’d like to invite all of you to post your comments here about what you like and dislike about those two shows - more...

If you want to improve morale around the office, start cursing. According to a study by British researchers, regular swearing at work can help boost team spirit among staff members. It’ll help them express their feelings and it’ll help develop better social relationships. The key is knowing when such language is appropriate and when to watch what you say. For example, you probably shouldn’t let loose with profanity in front of senior executives or customers. But a few choice four-letter words can help foster solidarity among employees, especially when you’re expressing frustration or stress. The study also found that swearing is becoming more common as more...

With today’s blog post, we showcase a winning question from our recent Ask Donald J. Trump contest Let's meet James Kayui Li and learn from his winning question. About James (in his own words) . . . “I am happily married and self-employed. My interests are reading, real estate, excercising and continous learning. “I am a fan of The Apprentice and Mr. Trump is my teacher and a role model for me. My aim is to create great wealth and joy in life. As Mr. Trump knows so much about real estate and wealth creating, who better to learn from than Mr. Trump himself? So I read his books and listen more...

This is hard to believe, but according to a new study, most American executives say they believe they are overpaid. Four out of six top U.S. CEOs or company presidents polled said that the compensation of top executives was too high in relation to their very own performance. Only about two percent said their salaries were too low and about a third said their compensation was “just about right.” Outside directors thoroughly agreed with them. More than 80 percent of them said that chief executives were definitely overpaid. I think this is a big problem. Sure, there are plenty of people who are paid more...

As predicted, this was going to be a busy month, and it has started that way. The Apprentice filming is in full swing, and that means early mornings and late nights for Mr. Trump, as well as for Ivanka and Don Jr. Mr. Trump is accustomed to an over-the-top schedule, and the office has proceeded seamlessly despite this added activity. Having the Mark Burnett team back is almost like getting back to normal in some ways, which says a lot for their expertise. Not too many places can absorb a television show being in process with hardly a ripple felt by more...

How worried are you about work and money? According to a new survey from the American Psychological Association, worries about work and money are causing one-third of Americans to suffer from extreme stress, driving them to overeat, drink and smoke. Nearly half of Americans say their stress levels have shot up in the past five years, taking a toll on their personal relationships, their productivity at work, and on their health. People say they have difficulty balancing family and work responsibility and stress causes friction in their relationships with family and friends. We’ve all been there. Many deal with it in unhealthy ways, turning more...

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear about asset protection law - even from other lawyers - is that everyone should have his or her personal residence owned by a business entity such as a corporation or LLC. This is a huge mistake. I realize that this may sound counter-intuitive, but your home should always be owned by you and your spouse and held in a revocable living trust. (I discuss revocable living trusts in detail in my new book Trump University Asset Protection 101. You can also learn about them from your attorney and accountant.) So why wouldn’t you want to have more...

Some months back, U.S. Army Sergeant Dusty Englehart asked Trump University to help him and his fellow soldiers plan a successful return to civilian life. We were proud to help. Here’s the text of a recent conversation between Dusty and Paul Quintal, Vice President of Trump University. As we post today’s blog, Dusty and his fellow soldiers are still deployed in Iraq. We know that all the members of the Trump University community will join us in thanking Dusty and his comrades at arms - and in praying for their safe return home. Quintal: Tell me about yourself. Englehart: I am a sergeant more...

Today we showcase Mohamed Shedou and his winning question. About Mohamed . . . Mohamed is a brilliant and extremely accomplished man. His blogs are beautifully written and full of stimulating insights and opinions - many about what it means to be ambitious and new to living in the United States. But let’s allow Mohamed to tell you about himself in his own words . . . “I grew up in a small industrial town in northern Egypt, in a highly respected family with a reputation of solid morals and bright intelligence. We had a business and all my brothers were involved in it, so I was exposed more...

Here's a story I'd like you to think about today. It started on the day John bought a new laptop for Jeanne, for his 82-year-old mother. John set up the machine and showed her how to send e-mails to her grandchildren. A week later, they were all cursing the computer. Jeanne had gotten a fake phishing email from a scammer who was posing as her bank. She followed the instructions in the email and gave away all her account information, including a credit card number. Fortunately, the computers at her bank sent up a red flag as soon as the crooks tried to use her credit card more...

Recently, I wrote several blogs about the Seven Deadly Workplace Sins. Now I’m taking a look at the four Cardinal Virtues: justice, fortitude, prudence and temperance. These are great qualities to have in your personal life and they can carry over to help you thrive in the business world. Last time I looked at prudence; now it’s time for a little temperance. This is a difficult one for me to advocate in some regards because I don’t do many things in moderation when it comes to business. I believe in always having the biggest and the best. But sometimes if you’re so more...

Is your company protecting its most valuable asset - its intellectual property? Does your enterprise have intellectual property? You might not think so, but it probably does. Intellectual property is made up of copyrights (books, software or music), patents (inventions) and trademarks (symbols or logos). Why does intellectual property deserve special protection? Let me tell you a story that illustrates the point. Suppose someone walks into a small one-room office of a company that has no apparent assets: no vehicles, minimal office equipment, small inventory and so forth. Let’s also say that individual slips and falls when heading out the door. Chances are that more...

With today’s blog post, we showcase a winning question from our recent Ask Donald J. Trump contest Today we showcase Vinay Menon and his winning question. About Vinay (in his own words) . . . “I am 34 years old, originally from Calgary, Alberta. My passions are cars, computers, and business.  I am co-founder of the car photo Website, MadWhips.com.  “I live with my wife in Hamilton, Ontario, from where I implement manufacturing software, build web sites, and trade stock. “My current car is an SVT Cobra, my next is a Porsche 911 Turbo. The only TV shows I really watch are Mad Money, Formula more...

Recently, I wrote several blogs about the Seven Deadly Workplace Sins. Now I’m taking a look at the four Cardinal Virtues: justice, fortitude, prudence and temperance. These are great qualities to have in your personal life and they can carry over to help you thrive in the business world. Last time I looked at fortitude; now it’s time for a little prudence. After extolling the virtues of courage and people who are willing to take risks, now I’m praising people who have foresight and wisdom. These are the people who are smart enough to actually weigh the possible consequences before they take more...

The Donald Trump blog is in the running to win the “Best Celebrity Blog Award” in the 2007 Weblog Awards. And don’t you think we should win? We certainly do. The problem is, voting ends in a few days and some other celebrity blogs are ahead of us in the poll. But not for long! You can help us close the gap and win by CLICKING HERE to cast your vote for the Donald Trump Blog. So please take a moment to help us - and Donald J. Trump - win. Thank for you helping to make your favorite mentor the king of the blogosphere! more...

Dear 700,000+ members of Trump University,  You are all pioneers in distance learning. So it will interest you to know that that next week, November 12-16, is National Distance Learning Week.    This nationwide event, sponsored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) , will promote and celebrate the tremendous growth and accomplishments of distance learning programs. It’s an event that is also attracting attention in the blogosphere. Of course, I know that distance learning is thriving here on our virtual campus. But it might interest you to know that you are part of a growing trend. Here are some USDLA statistics that more...

Recently, I wrote several blogs about the Seven Deadly Workplace Sins. Now I’m taking a look at the four Cardinal Virtues: justice, fortitude, prudence and temperance. These are great qualities to have in your personal life and they can carry over to help you thrive in the business world. Last time I looked at justice; now it’s time for a little fortitude. For me, bravery is one of the most important characteristics to have professionally. If you don’t have the courage to make bold decisions and to take chances, then there’s no way you’ll distinguish yourself from everyone else in the workplace. It more...

Once when I was the first person getting on an airplane, I heard one of the attendants exclaim, "Here come the animals." For that attendant, passengers were a nuisance and it is very likely that that attitude carried over into how the attendant dealt with passengers during the flight. You don’t have a problem like that in your company, do you? I hope not, because in order for your enterprise to succeed, members of your organization must show respect for customers -- not thinly disguised contempt (TDC). When customer orientation grows, profits grow too. Consider Sanity Music, a chain in Australia, which doubled more...