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Ideas and Opinions from Donald Trump and TrumpU Faculty.
Shaking Hands, Turning Pages
I’ve always been against shaking hands as it’s a great way to pass along millions of germs. The other offense is when people lick their fingers before turning pages--that’s a fingerprint full of germs just waiting for the next person who picks up the paper. In this day and age, people should think about that. It’s not only unnecessary, it’s unhealthy and disrespectful of other people.
People are surprised when I shake their hands, and it’s only because it’s a custom (a bad one) that I do it, but I will always wash my hands afterwards. That’s not an offense to anyone
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Thanksgiving Time
We should all get together and make a country in which everybody can eat turkey whenever he pleases.
--Harry S. Truman
When the Thanksgiving season comes around, it makes me think about how we should always be in a season of thanksgiving. There’s always a reason to be grateful. We’ve had some challenges the past couple of years and we’ve seen some improvement, and things will continue to improve.
There are silver linings to situations that may appear less than positive. The important thing is to approach each day with a sense of victory. Are you big enough for what the day will bring?
When
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The Real Estate Market
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
Will the real estate market turn around?
My Response:
It will take awhile, it really took a hit, but it will turn around. Real estate is cyclical, as are many things, and it needs time to even out. There are still real estate investment opportunities out there.
Related Posts
My Biggest Accomplishment in Real Estate Investing
Choosing the Right Real Estate Market
Focus On The Opportunities
Related Training:
Learn How to Invest in Real Estate
Work with a real estate coach to find the right market
more...
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Staying on Top
One way I stay on top of things is to realize there’s a flip side to everything. It keeps me circumspect in both good and bad times. This produces a learning curve, which is a smart way to look at problems or the curveballs that come your way. There are highs and lows in everyone’s life. Whether you’ve reached your goals or not, staying on top of things requires momentum on a daily basis.
If you’re riding high or having tough times, it applies to both situations. It’s a sound base from which to operate. There is the saying “courage is grace
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Trump International - Scotland
I am pleased to announce that work on site on my golf course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, will begin this week, ahead of schedule. We plan to build the greatest golf course in the world. There are hundreds of acres of magnificent sand dunes and the seaside landscape includes three miles of spectacular oceanfront. 2000 acres in all, and the location couldn’t be better.
I spent five years reviewing sites and turned down over 200 possibilities for development throughout Europe. When I saw the links land at Menie Estate, which is in northeast Scotland’s Grampian region, I knew it was the right place. I
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Business is an Art Form
In my last blog, I spoke about delivering the goods and how consumers, whether past, present or future, want the best for their money. That will never change. Another thing that will never change is that art forms will always draw from the past, reflect on the present, and look to the future. That applies to everything from art and architecture to business.
In my first book, The Art of the Deal, which came out in 1987, I start out by saying “I don’t do it for the money. I’ve got enough, much more than I’ll ever need. Deals are my art form
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Deliver the Goods
Not too long ago someone was asking me what I thought the secrets to my success in business might be. That’s a broad topic so I decided to apply it to my success over the years, especially pertaining to the brand I have built. But the answers can be helpful to you whether you are a student or if you already run a business.
First of all, you need to be able to deliver the goods. People want the best for their money, and that’s a quality common to consumers whether past, present or future. It can also simplify your life--all you
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The Best Advice From Fred Trump
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
What is the best thing your father Fred C. Trump ever taught you in your lifetime?
My Response:
He always told me to “know everything you can about what you’re doing” and that was simple but wise. I’ve followed his advice and it has proved effective.
He also gave me his 4-step formula for success:
Get in
Get it done
Get it done right
Get out
This is also very good advice and I’ve followed this formula. It works.
Side point:
My first book, The Art of the Deal, gives background information on my father and how
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Pursue Your Passion
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
I am a first year diploma student specializing in Engineering. I prefer Entrepreneurship, business management and currently I am educating myself with those subjects more than my current formal education. Would you advise me to stay focused on my formal education for a diploma or for me to pursue my passion?
My Response:
If it’s possible, you should do both. It seems you are doing both now if you are reading my books. But if you clearly aren’t interested in engineering, it’s best to switch majors. I’m a firm believer
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New Creativity
One reason entrepreneurs are important is because they find ways to create jobs. How ideas are generated is sometimes a mysterious process, but one way to look at it is to envision giving the world what you wish had been given to you. That opens the door to the philanthropic side of great endeavors, and can greatly increase your mind power when touching on the imaginative side of business.
Walt Disney, for example, created an enormous business largely from using and believing in his imagination. Steven Spielberg followed his passion, as did Bill Gates, and they’ve wound up being great givers in
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Architectural Critics
Over the years I have dealt with many architectural critics, some of them bad, some good, some excellent. I do not rate excellence just on what they’ve said about me, but rather on their level of taste and expertise.
One of the best I’ve ever known is the late great Herbert Muschamp of The New York Times. His reviews were not only interesting, in the terms of the building, but also literarily superb.
Generally speaking I have done well with architectural critics. I have found though, somewhat sadly, the choice of the architect is usually more important than the building itself. Certain trophy architects,
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Problems or Opportunities?
People become creative when faced with an emergency. Amazing events have happened when people have a crisis or crises to deal with. Unusual strengths can surface, as can courage in the face of disaster. Courage is the ability to go beyond fear.
I’m not one to urge anyone to wish for a crisis, but they happen and sometimes it turns out that your problem becomes your opportunity. That’s also a wise way to view any situation you might be in that wasn’t in your game plan--and a lot of things have happened that weren’t in anyone’s game plan or vision of the
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Manage Difficult Times
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
What was your mentality when you encounter difficult times? How did you manage negativity and come through successfully?
My Response:
I refused to give in or to give up. I knew I wasn’t finished, and in fact I came back to be more successful than I was before. I refused to become negative and saw the situation as a ‘blip’ and not a catastrophe. I focused on the solution, not the problems. Being positive can give you tremendous resiliency. I regained my focus and was very tenacious. The best mentality
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Consider This
If a baseball player hits .333 he’s had a great season--but it also means he failed to get a hit close to 70% of the time. I played baseball in college and I learned a lot about the game and about the importance of team work. I also learned that patience and timing are crucial.
That translated into business skills later on. I’m a firm believer that every experience has value if we choose to notice and take the lesson away with us. Not everything we do will be a hit, a home run or a grand slam. It just doesn’t work
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Update On What's Happening With The Economy
I was on Neil Cavuto’s show yesterday for an update of what’s happening with the economy. On the whole I’m feeling much better than a year ago. They did the right thing with the banks or we’d be in a major depression now.
One problem is that the banks won’t lend any money. Fortunately I’m using my own money. But the banks need to lend to fix unemployment. In that sense, the situation is worse now than a few months ago.
The banks are probably building up their balance sheets, but it isn’t doing the economy or the people any good.
Regarding the stimulus,
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Success and A Happy Family Life
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
How has your family life and marriages influenced, either positively or negatively, in your way of achieving things? How is this aspect of your life tied to your success?
My Response:
Having a happy family life definitely provides an equilibrium that is very helpful for finding success. It is a firm foundation, just as education can be. A family unit is stronger than an individual. For example, I am the Chairman of a large organization, and I know how effective it is, and how important it is, to have a
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My Daughter Ivanka
My daughter Ivanka’s first book, The Trump Card, is a collection of personal memoirs and business advice. It will be released on October 13th by Simon and Schuster. She’s done a terrific job and I’m very proud of her.
The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life
Ivanka Trump.
A child of privilege with one of the most familiar surnames in America, Trump has managed to avoid many of the pitfalls that routinely plague children of the rich and famous (reckless partying, drug abuse and other mindless self-indulgences) to become a focused, successful woman in her own right-a model, entrepreneur and vice
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Tenacity
Henry Ford said “Don’t find a fault. Find a remedy.” That statement can cover a lot of territory in our business lives as well as personal lives. I have often said that one way out of a problem is to focus on the solution, which is a similar take. The next step is tenacity.
People who know me know that I don’t give up. I’m someone who stays the course and sometimes it can take decades. Trump Place on the Hudson River took many years to come into being, as it was in 1974 that I first secured the option to buy
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Serena Williams
I hated to see Serena Williams apologize so much for her actions in her recent loss to Kim Clijsters.
I have always liked Serena and respected her tenacity. She got angry at a line judge, as have many other great players like John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, because the line judge made a mistake--there was no foot fault! The line judge made a very evident mistake, and she is the one who should be apologizing. She had a smirk on her face and was being a wise guy. Serena was right to be upset, as would be any other player.
The backlash against
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A Lesson In Resilience
With so much being said about how bad things are, I’ve decided we need to accentuate the positive. There are always positives, and one reason I’ve remained resilient is because I choose to see the bright side of situations. People who know me and work with me know that my persona of optimism isn’t a façade--it’s for real.
I want to emphasize how valuable that approach is if you intend to be successful. Your attitude is also your altitude--and the higher your frequency, the greater your results will be. That doesn’t mean it will happen overnight.
As you might know by now, I
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Top Ten Tips For Success
One of the requests I receive the most is for a list of the top ten tips for success. Here’s a list that addresses students as well as professionals:
Be focused. Put everything you’ve got into what you do every day.
Believe in yourself. If you don’t, no one else will.
Be tenacious.
Trust your instincts.
Maintain your momentum and keep everyone moving forward
See yourself as victorious and leading a winning team.
Be passionate about what you do.
Live on the edge. Do not become complacent.
Leadership is not a group effort. If you’re in charge, then be in charge.
Never give up!
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Being Well Informed
I remember hearing someone say “I am not an intellectual, but I’m well informed” when they were talking about their interests, and I thought that statement was well put. People are surprised when they discover the variety of subjects I am interested in, but that comes with paying attention to newspapers, magazines, television coverage and the Internet. If you stop to consider how much information is given out on a daily basis, there’s very little reason not to be well informed.
Give yourself opportunities by refusing to limit yourself. I may be a businessman, but I attend concerts, read history books and
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Getting Motivated
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
What is it that motivates you every day in the morning besides your family, love and passion for your business?
My Response:
I have remained a curious person and that’s a motivation in itself. There’s always something to discover, and every day provides another opportunity. Remain alert and curious and you’ll be motivated every morning too.
Related Post
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Taking Control
Focus On The Opportunities
Related Training:
Learn real estate investing
Work With a Coach
Join Trump University's Network
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Inspiration
There are many stories of inspiration that we can draw on from history, such as Abraham Lincoln and his triumph over many years of adversity, and there are people who are living and working today who have had success despite many setbacks and tragedies.
I recently came across a book by a man who survived five concentration camps as a teenaged boy who became a real estate developer in Los Angeles and encountered great success. His story is an inspiring one.
A Holocaust Survivor: In The Footsteps Of His Past is by Naftali Deutsch. After his parents and brothers were murdered
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The Death Penalty
When I read about Phillip Garrido and what he has done, it made me believe in the death penalty as never before. He is a monster who ruined a young girl's life and may have killed other women as well. His horrendous treatment of another human being shouldn't be taken lightly.
I don't understand people who don't condone the death penalty. There are people who obviously have no conscience and if they do, knowingly continue to commit crimes. They are obviously not capable of censoring themselves and any behavior is 'okay' as long as they get away with it. What Garrido has
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The Great Thing
The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand
as in what direction we are moving.
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
This quote brings home a powerful thought, and it has to do with circumstances. Many people are dealing with difficult circumstances now and it’s important to remember that it can be a temporary situation. As long as we keep moving forward, things are certain to change.
Keeping things in perspective is helpful. I have mentioned before that a fear should be labeled a concern, as that allows for more objectivity. I also ask myself, “is this a blip or is it
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My Biggest Accomplishment in Real Estate Investing
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
What was your biggest accomplishment in real estate? And where was it?
My Response:
Trump Tower opened in the early 1980’s and was the first building I had built that had my name on it. Getting it done--and in the way I wanted to do it--was a huge accomplishment. I’m still proud of it, and it has become a major tourist attraction in New York City. Trump Tower is on Fifth Avenue in New York, between 56th and 57th Street.
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Moving Your Ideas
We briefly discussed creative capital last week, and it’s a topic that deserves a bit more exploration. In essence, one way to become rich is to be able to move an idea into your asset column. Those people who have had an innovative idea and put it into production, whether it was for an automobile or for Post-Its, have been able to move that idea from “idea” to “asset” in a very big way.
A lot of great ideas get discarded before they are developed, and a lot of ‘great’ ideas deserve to be discarded before they take up too much time
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You Can Be in Charge
That’s an empowering thought. It’s also a real possibility. If it seems you are being thrown curveballs every day, that means it’s time for some strategy. In short, you need to be bigger than your problems in order to handle what’s being delivered.
Here are a few things to think about.
What is your creative capital? Many of us have hobbies, knowledge and experiences that can be turned into something useful in the marketplace. Give this some comprehensive thought. You probably have talents that could be further developed to create a career.
Are you lucky? Some people seem to be naturally lucky. Another definition
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Choosing the Right Real Estate Market
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
There are many markets in real estate, what is your opinion about choosing the right type of market and how do you do that?
My Response:
The most important thing is to know your territory. I am successful in real estate but I still do my homework, particularly if it’s an area I’m not familiar with. When I decided to develop in Manhattan, I spent a great deal of time walking around, to familiarize myself with the neighborhoods because I was new to the city. Do not take anything for
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An Incomplete Education
There’s an interesting book that first appeared in 1987 that became a bestseller. It was updated in 1995 and it contains a full gamut of information that will keep you interested in reading more no matter what your interests might be. An Incomplete Education,by Judy Jones and William Wilson, covers a variety of subjects in a succinct CliffsNotes way that can save you a lot of study time while keeping you entertained.
For example, their chapter called Opera for Philistines describes the ‘most bankable composer ever’ (Puccini) as “The Steven Spielberg of opera.” Their chapter on Shakespeare, Bellying up to the Bard,
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Something New Every Day
I have often said that I learn something new every day, and recently I learned where the term “caddie” came from, which, as a golfer, I found to be of special interest. Golf originated in Scotland and Mary, who was later to become known as Queen of Scots, loved and played the game.
Louis, King of France, knew that Mary loved the game and so when she went to France as young girl he had a golf course built for her enjoyment, which was the first golf course outside of Scotland. As he was concerned for her safety, King Louis had cadets
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Taking Control
The way things are these days it seems a lot of people feel they’ve lost control. There are many things we can’t control, but I’ve learned that taking a positive outlook is a form of control that is available to everyone. It’s a way of keeping your fate in your own hands.
One effective technique is to make sure you define yourself versus allowing others to define you. They will limit you when instead you should see yourself as limitless when it comes to possibilities. I can remember when people and newspapers were saying I was done, finished and in total financial
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Synergy
Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.
--Henry Ford
Synergy is a word that implies that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s a coming together of energies that is made clear by the Greek roots of the word: syn + ergos = ‘together working’ which is what Henry Ford was saying in his quote. It has a scientific application but is a great word for business aptitude, as in, combining forces to create a greater momentum, a greater whole.
We all know about the great teams that have worked together to make history
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Focus On The Opportunities
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
You have faced some really big challenges and some very difficult circumstances in your life. What activities, words of wisdom and other tools do you use to get yourself back up to remain positive? What advice would you offer to anyone struggling today?
My Response:
Your focus is very important--so be sure to focus on the opportunities, because they are always there. For example, if 90% of companies aren’t hiring, then focus on the 10% that are. I learned to focus less on the problem and more on the solution,
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Curiosity
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that curiosity is a good way to stay stimulated and informed as well as young. Ever notice that children are curious about everything? That’s how they learn and the same thing should apply to adults.
People have often commented that I ask a lot of questions, which is true, and it’s one way I’ve learned a lot. I can remember when I was deciding on what type of bathroom sink to install in a new property, so I kept three samples on a sofa in my front offices. I would ask everyone who came
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Confidence
I can remember when someone asked me where my confidence came from. I thought for a moment and realized that a lot of it comes from discipline, and from having a firm foundation. My father always told me “Know everything you can about what you’re doing”-- in other words, cover your bases, be thorough. This sounds very simple but it was very good advice, and I have followed it. It has obviously worked, and I remain grateful to my father to this day. His advice and mentorship gave led to my entrepreneurship success.
Another thing about being thorough is that it can
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Managing Real Estate Investment Property
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
Question:
I have never studied management but am interested in learning real estate property management so I can manage my own real estate investing properties. Where do I start and what are the basics I need to know about property management?
Study everything you can about it. In The Art of the Deal, I talk about how I learned from my father and had my own experiences with property management. It’s worth reading about. You’ll see that it takes a lot of insight into human nature, so all your experiences
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Additional Reading: The Thinker
We’re not going to be discussing Rodin and his famous statue today, but Edward de Bono. For those of you who aren’t familiar with him, de Bono is worth knowing about. He is an author, a physician, an inventor, an entrepreneur and a consultant. He has degrees in medicine, psychology, physiology, and design and holds many professorships throughout the world. He has written 62 books and he invented the term ‘lateral thinking’ with subsequent work on parallel thinking.
In using lateral thinking, you can provide a possible solution to problems through a creative and indirect approach. Trying harder and in the same
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Signs Of Improvement
On Wednesday I was interviewed by Neil Cavuto and we discussed issues pertaining to the economy. I said that things seemed to be looking better, and that very importantly, people seemed to be confident that the economy is improving. Considering the situation awhile back, there are indications that the market is coming back and along with that we see confidence returning. That’s a very good sign in itself.
Neil asked me what I thought about the idea of raising taxes. I think that’s a dangerous thing to do. This is a fragile time, we have a delicate economy and it wouldn’t take
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Donald Trump's Summer Reading List for Business Success - Part 2
I learned a great deal about business and life from my father, Fred C. Trump. I learned from watching him and working with him. He was unable to attend college himself, so it meant even more to him for his children to be well educated and well read. I will always be grateful to him for emphasizing the importance of education, and reading is still an integral part of my daily life. To make sure it’s part of yours, here’s a list that has the variety that life presents to us. Being good at business means having a broad base of
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Strengths vs. Weaknesses: A Citizen's Duty
The New York Post ran an article on Monday about a letter I wrote to Governor David Paterson about his choice of a lieutenant governor. As a citizen, I felt it was my duty to point out a few things that I knew about the man he appointed, which included his strengths and weaknesses.
I decided this would be a good lesson in objective assessment for my readers at Trump University. It’s always important to be circumspect when it comes to business, politics, and just about everything. I had carefully thought about the pros and cons before writing my letter, and realized
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Fred Trump
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
On several occasions you pay tribute to your father Fred C. Trump. We only see a small glimpse of him as a family man and as a business person. Anything in the works to do an inside biography of your father and his early years?
My first book, The Art of the Deal, gives background information on my father and how he started out in business, and about our family life. It’s a good source.
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Donald Trump Books for Summer Reading
Recently, I was asked to recommend a summer reading list from my own books. Over the years I’ve written a lot of business books and even one on golf. Why do I write? I’m a bit of a teacher by nature and I feel writing allows me to organize my thoughts and experiences in a way that I can provide lessons of wealth building wisdom in an easily accessible format. It is my sincere desire to help you by sharing my own experiences and life lessons and I hope you’ll take some time this summer to catch up on your reading.
What are your favorite
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OPEC
Last week I spoke with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News, and we covered topics that included the economy, President Obama, the banks, health care, and OPEC. OPEC deserves our attention because it’s a situation that is too often overlooked, and it has had serious impact on our country and our economy.
OPEC openly laughs at the stupidity of our country as they raise oil prices. They are draining and sucking the life blood out of this country. They like to blame it on speculators. The speculators are peanuts compared to the power of OPEC. OPEC hires lobbyists in Washington and they
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Michael Jackson
There’s been a lot of coverage on Michael Jackson, and rightly so. He was the most amazing performer I have ever seen, and I have seen most of the greats. I knew him personally as well, as he lived at Trump Tower and stayed at my Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach. He stayed there when he and Lisa Marie Presley were married, and they were obviously a romantic item. They had a great time and we loved having them as guests.
Michael Jackson was a shy person which made his gift as a performer even more astonishing. I remember thinking, “This quiet
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Wrestling, Ratings and Guerrilla Marketing
Guerilla marketing is a term that was coined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book of 1984, Guerilla Marketing. This is a form of advertising and promotions that depends on the unconventional. Imagination is key, and a big budget isn’t always necessary. Entrepreneurs use this technique, and it’s considered to be non-traditional--just what entrepreneurs are known for being.
A very good example of this would be the June 22nd WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) event that drew 6.8 million viewers. That’s a 25% increase in viewers from an earlier broadcast in June. Some of you may have heard of Vince McMahon, who owns
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Focus On Business
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
What methods do you use to help you focus on the many projects and businesses that you have?
In the morning, I review the newspapers, national and international, and watch the morning news. I pay attention to anything that might have a positive or negative effect on wealth creation and make mental notes about that. It gets my mind going for what I need to address that day, and gives insight into developing situations that might also affect my businesses in the future. This provides an immediate focus.
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Donald Trump's Biggest Challenge
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
What was your biggest challenge as one of the top entrepreneur’s in the world?
Entrepreneurship takes patents, skill and a lot of hard work. In the early 1990’s I was many millions of dollars in debt, the markets weren’t doing well, and newspapers had reported my demise, that I was finished. But I didn’t believe it for a second. I focused on the solution, not my problems, and refused to give up. I became more successful than I had been before.
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Father's Day
To this day, I think of my father every single day. He was a tremendous presence in my life and the example he set for me remains intact. His integrity was beyond reproach, and the legacy he left behind was as important to him as it is to me. In that sense we are still very much together. Our goals may have been different--he didn’t see why I wanted to build glass skyscrapers, for example, when bricks worked for him as a developer--but the means were the same: hard work, focus, integrity, and a standard that would not be diminished by
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Real Estate Investing and The Global Economic Crisis
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by a Trump University member.
What do you think about the importance of buying real estate in this world crisis?
There are always real estate investing opportunities, but one must research and be careful. Of course it helps if you have cash and know how to buy in this kind of market, but it’s important to realize that there are opportunities no matter what the market is doing. One of my first deals was done when the real estate market was in bad shape in New York City, in fact the city itself was
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Hand Carts and Airplanes
After learning that Air France is replacing the airspeed sensors on its Airbus A330 jets following the air disaster--even though there is no confirmed link between the crash and the airspeed sensors--I spoke to a friend of mine who has a hand-cart company.
For many years his carts were made of steel, and now they are made of a carbon fiber composite that is stronger and lighter than steel, but has moments of weakness. The carts are made of the same composite material as the Airbus 330 vertical stabilizer/rudders. He also explained that out of many thousands of carts made a year,
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D-Day
June 6th marked the 65th anniversary of an epic day in history, which was the Allied invasion of Normandy. This was the turning point in World War II and is an event that warrants the great tributes it has received. President Obama, President Sarkozy, Prince Charles, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were among those who were present, along with veterans, at the American cemetery in Normandy on Saturday.
Maybe some of you saw Stephen Spielberg’s film, Saving Private Ryan, which chronicles this day in a realistic and therefore devastating way. One veteran said this film is
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Entrepreneurialism
Last week in the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal there was an article on James Gutierrez. Gutierrez is the co-founder of Progreso Financiero, which he started in 2005. His company has brought in $26 million in venture funding, has partnered with Sears and has made 20,000 loans from 24 locations throughout California.
He mentions that his success had early beginnings when he would look through business books while in grade school. He came across one of my books, and that’s the first time he had seen the word ‘entrepreneur’--and he decided that’s what he wanted to be.
His first venture was selling pens
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Education vs. Experience
Here’s a topic that can be argued positively from both sides. My father, Fred C. Trump, didn’t have the advantage of a college education yet he became very successful. He was smart, focused and he worked hard every day. But he knew the advantages of having a good education. He put his younger brother through college, and my uncle went on to get his Ph.D. from M.I.T. and became a professor of physics. Education was stressed when I was growing up, and my father made sure we had the best education possible.
While I had the great advantage of attending Wharton, one of
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Trump University's 4th Anniversary
It was four years ago this week that Trump University was launched. In these four years, we’ve seen excellent growth as well as excellent results from those who have taken our courses and read our books. Our aim is to help people to succeed, and we have succeeded.
Education was very much stressed when I was growing up. My father didn’t have the opportunity to get a college education, and so it mattered to him that his children would have that opportunity. I am well aware that college is not easily affordable and one of the great advantages of Trump University is
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Personal Finance Advice For All Ages
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by memeber #1958969.
I'm a high school teacher working with 11th and 12th graders. I read your blog entry regarding the need to prep students for the business world at the high school level rather than waiting until college. I was wondering if you could list 5-10 general areas you think would be vital for students to have exposure to at this level?
Students need to know more about how the financial sector works, both nationally and internationally. Emerging markets, equities, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, asset management, fixed income, commodities, and so on should be
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Why We Want You To Be Rich: Winners Take Control
The first part of the title of this blog is also the name of a book Robert Kiyosaki and I wrote back in 2006. We were trying to warn people of the necessity for financial literacy. We could see there were problems on the horizon in the government as well as in the financial markets, nationally and globally. Unfortunately, we were very right about that.
The seismic shock we experienced doesn’t just even itself out right away, and we experienced--and are still experiencing--aftershocks. It’s a good idea to be prepared to ride this out for awhile longer. My theory has always been
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Sales and Marketing is 24/7
Last week there was an article on Forbes.com titled Genuine Business Lessons from Donald Trump by Shaun Rein, who is the founder and managing director of the China Market Research Group. He writes for Forbes on strategy, leadership and marketing, and I found his insights to be right on.
All of them are helpful to anyone interested in success, and here are a few for your review:
Trump has mastered the art of defining the core values of his brand and leveraging his brand equity to appeal to a wide customer base. In a time when consumers are seeking to stretch their shopping
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Celebrity Apprentice Finale and Lessons Learned Along the Way
I hope all of you will tune in to the live finale of this season’s Celebrity Apprentice, which will be this Sunday night at 8 p.m. We will be live from the Museum of Natural History in New York City, and that’s a fitting environment for this season of historic proportions.
If you’ve followed the season, you will know that it’s down to Joan Rivers and Annie Duke, and considering their record thus far, I think it’s safe to say we might be in for an explosive evening. But one thing I hoped you noticed during this season is that it’s important
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Is It Easy To Say You're Fired?
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by Ray C.
Q: Do you think because of employers seeing how you handle things on The Apprentice it has become easier for individuals in business who watch to say “You’re Fired!” to under performing employees?
A: I don’t think anyone really likes to fire another person. I know I don’t. I’d rather keep people around, but sometimes it’s necessary. I’ve had employees who have been with me for decades, and that’s my preference. I think employers understand the premise of the show and what is going on, and as professionals, it wouldn’t alter their course
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Obama's First 100 Days: A Strong B+
On Wednesday morning I was on CNN to talk about President Obama’s first 100 days in office. I was quoted from my new book, Think Like a Champion, where I mention that Obama “will need to be a great president because we’re in serious trouble as a country. It hasn’t been this way since 1929. So he doesn’t have much choice--he will simply have to be great, which he has a very good chance of being.”
I was asked if he had lived up to the challenge. I said that he is working very very hard on many many fronts--it would be
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Champion Challenge from Donald J. Trump
I’ve decided that I would like to give you a challenge. My latest book is called Think Like a Champion, and if you haven’t read it yet, I would recommend that you do so as soon as possible. These are challenging times and all of us need to have as much training as possible to get through the race that lies ahead.
I signed some of my books for the purpose of sending a few to those of you who can tell me why you think you’re a champion-- how do you write a business plan for success? No doubt a lot
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Larry King Live and Direct
I visited Larry King Live on Wednesday night and we had a great visit, covering many topics. We talked about my new book Think Like a Champion, which also covers a wide variety of topics, from Obama, to Madoff, to pirates and prescience. To be a champion, as I told Larry, knowledge is important, and this book provides a solid step in that direction.
Here are a few highlights from our interview:
On real estate: I mentioned that this is a great time to buy real estate. However, banks are not doing their job. They’re not providing financing for deals. If the
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Advice For New Real Estate Agents
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by Helen G.:
I am really feeling at a loss as new agent in real estate. I have not been able to land one deal and am not sure if it’s me or what it is, for the most part. I don’t have the right people around, everyone claims they have already bought. Am I that late in the game?
This is a tough time for real estate, even for seasoned agents. Instead of becoming discouraged, use this time to learn as much as you can about what you’re doing and about the industry
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Some Good News on April 15th
Today, which is April 15th, the New York Daily News has an article called Donald, yer hired! in their paper. The subtitle is Trump tops nationwide Web poll on whom we’d like to prepare our tax returns. I didn’t know about the poll so this came as a surprise.
The article, written by Sarah Kaufman and Bill Hutchinson, says:
What do Donald Trump and CNN newsman Anderson Cooper have in common? They’re the celebrities Americans feel most comfortable doing their taxes.
In a nationwide survey by WalletPop.com, The Donald edged out The Coop, 32% to 27%, as the most trusted tax preparer.
Apparently over
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Champions Rise to the Challenge
I was recently interviewed for the New York Times by Deborah Solomon for their March 29th magazine. One of her questions was:
Your latest book of business advice is called “Think Like a Champion,” but isn’t it the American infatuation with thinking like a champion that got us into the financial mess?
My answer was: I would say no. I think it was the greed of a fairly small group of people that got us into this mess. The vast majority of people did not get us into trouble.
Last weekend, the Times had an article on Bob Newburger, who began his career on
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Tough Love About DUI
There’s been a lot of commotion about alcohol lately. On The Celebrity Apprentice, two of our celebrities have admitted problems with it. One had a DUI conviction. People wonder why I take a strong position on this situation.
My experience with alcohol is limited, as I don’t drink. Maybe that allows me to have a clearer view of what it can do to people who do not handle it responsibly. Many people can drink and live healthy and productive lives. Others cannot.
I saw what happened to my elder brother when he couldn’t handle alcohol well. It destroyed him. His loss left
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The Think Big Approach
The following question was submitted to "Ask Donald Trump" by Luke Yaugo:
You take a big kick ass approach to everything you do. How did you develop that mindset? From your father or on your own? Would you say the 90’s were the starting point of your philosophy? Will your children carry on this way of thinking? What is your vision? Where do you see the Trump Organization headed when you’re no longer able?
I learned a great deal from my father about many things, he was definitely a mentor and a terrific example, but my think big philosophy was more of my own
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The Think Link
My new book, Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life will be coming out soon--on April 14th, to be exact. I’m excited about this book because as Robert Kiyosaki says, “it’s the perfect book at the perfect time.” I tend to agree, because one thing we all need now is some inspiration as well as motivation, and this book serves that purpose.
I start each topic covered with a quote, which has proven to be a popular approach. Some people who have skimmed the book mention that they love the quotes because they are diverse and cover the
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Who's Happier at What Age: Men or Women?
How happy are you? How old are you? Researchers say there’s a correlation.
Apparently, the happiness “tipping point” is right around age “40.” Before that, according to University of Southern California economist Richard Easterlin, women are generally happier than men. In their 20s and 30s, they’re generally pleased with their personal lives and their careers and life overall. Men, however, allegedly experience the saddest period of their lives in their 20s. They still haven’t hit the peak of their careers, most are still single, and they’re still trying to figure out life.
But once they hit the big 4-0, men and women switch
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Hostages, Revolutions and Critics
Most uprisings and revolutions find their beginnings in injustice. The French and American revolutions are two examples, and we can trace this back to Greek history. Democracy started there. The people had a justified outrage and managed to change things.
Just recently in Paris, the French protested layoffs by barricading the director of a large company in his office and another similar incident happened at Sony in the South of France a couple of weeks ago. It seemed to work--after the ‘bossnapping’ occurred, Sony agreed to talk about severance packages. So far this is a revolt without violence, but it’s a barometer
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Pigeons and Hedge Fund Managers
Recently I heard a good one that pertains to a lot more than the luxury car market:
Q: What’s the difference between a pigeon and a hedge fund manager?
A: A pigeon can leave a deposit on a Ferrari.
That’s a vivid visual but fortunately it’s not as bad as it might seem out there. I’ve pointed out before that there are always opportunities. I’m working on my new golf course on the Potomac River and I visited Puerto Rico last week, where the Trump International Golf Club has 1250 acres of Atlantic Ocean Waterfront in Rio Grande. We hosted the second Puerto Rico Open, and
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Why I Selected Tionne Watkins for The Celebrity Apprentice
Tionne runs the success gamut from musician to producer to philanthropist and more. She’s tireless and gifted--a great combination.
Tionne Watkins, www.chasescloset.com, is best known as "T-Boz," the lead singer of TLC. During the 1990s TLC blended pop, hip-hop, and urban soul to create iconic songs like "Creep" and "Waterfalls." They are still the best-selling female group of all time with over 45 million records sold worldwide.
In addition to her successful musical career, Tionne is a skilled actress, producer and a tireless fundraiser for many important charities. Twice, People Magazine named Tionne one of its "50 most beautiful people" she appears as
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Business Has No Conscience. Yet.
Covering the issues last night with Larry King brought up some interesting points, which is one reason Larry is so good at what he does. At this time in history, it’s not that hard to find an outrage or two to talk about, but Larry is always spot-on about what’s going on and knows what to ask.
He asked me about the public anger over the AIG bonuses and if it is justified. I said the anger has been unbelievable, but what AIG did is very bad politics. In fact, to me it sounds absolutely insane and I think AIG has the
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Why I Selected Herschel Walker for The Celebrity Apprentice
Herschel’s legacy is such that he is considered by many to be the greatest college football player of all time. When I bought the New Jersey Generals, I was pleased to have Herschel on our roster, and it’s good to see him again--and in fine form.
Herschel Walker,www.herschelwalker.net , is another example of a successful athlete who transformed discipline on the field into business success. Herschel was a football great and today he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Man Food Service, a successful company that produces Herschel's Famous 34, a popular line of flavorful entrees and appetizers.
Of course
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Why I Selected Dennis Rodman for The Celebrity Apprentice
Dennis has a personality that matches the diversity of his credentials. He’s a little bit crazy, but he’s also very smart, and that’s a good mix.
Dennis Rodman, www.drodman.com, is as flamboyant as he was a great basketball star. Over 14 years of NBA play Dennis amassed one of the most enviable basketball records ever. He is a five-time NBA Champion, seven-time All-Defensive First Team pick and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Dennis brought amazing energy to the game and equally thrilled fans with his play and his ever-changing hair color, his tattoos and his body piercings.
During his career, Dennis played for five
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Celebrity Apprentice: Why I Selected Brian McKnight
Brian was terrific on Broadway in Chicago, and his stage charisma will hopefully transfer to the television screen--and to the boardroom.
Brian McKnight, defines the meaning of American soul man. A Grammy nominee, Brian's musical accomplishments include singing, songwriting, arranging and producing. He has sold over 16 million albums and will soon host BET's "Soul Sessions." His latest record "Ten" can be found in stores now. He truly knows how to write a business plan for success.
Always looking for new challenges, in 2007 Brian made his Broadway debut by performing the role of Billy Flynn, the slick hustler lawyer in the revival of the musical
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Why I selected Brande Roderick to Play The Celebrity Apprentice
As an actress and businesswoman, Brande brings a solid background as well as landscape to the boardroom. A Playmate with smarts.
Brande Roderick, www.financiallyhung.com, is best known as being the 2001 Playboy Playmate of the Year and a Baywatch babe, she is an equally astute businessperson. Brande is the CEO and majority owner of Financially Hung, a web site that combines business development, social networking and celebrity events to create an ultimate experience for members. In fact, one of Brande's celebrity members is Celebrity Apprentice challenger Annie Duke. Brande also manages two other companies including She-Ra Productions, a film and television production company
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Why I Selected Melissa Rivers for The Celebrity Apprentice
Melissa is an accomplished producer and she knows the television industry well. Let’s see how she handles the boardroom--and her mother.
While Melissa Rivers, www.melissarivers.com, may be best known for interviewing celebrities on the red carpet with her mother Joan Rivers, she is an accomplished television producer, an Ivy League graduate, an equestrian and a mother.
A graduate of The University of Pennsylvania, Melissa teamed up with Joan Rivers to create a whole new red carpet experience for television audiences around the world. We have all seen Melissa interview celebrities and critique gowns in front of the camera. Behind the lens, however, it
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Donald Trump's Economic Survival Tips
What’s happened to the economy has been likened to a tsunami as well as an implosion. When the undersea earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit in Indonesia in 2004, the world was stunned by the devastation that took place. It triggered earthquakes around the globe as far away as Alaska. It happened in a very short amount of time.
This kind of event takes shape over a period of time and then erupts with incredible force. What happened this past year is similar in that respect--it’d been brewing for some time. When it hit, it was like a tsunami which caused other economies
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Celebrity Apprentice: Why I Selected Khloe Kardashian
Khloe is a dynamo and very pleasant on the eyes. As a veteran of reality television, we’re looking forward to seeing how she fares with this assortment of personalities.
Fans of Khloe Kardashian, know that she is the youngest of the Kardashian sisters, made famous by the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" TV show. The E! series rocketed Khloe into the spotlight end to embark of a busy series of projects.
A consummate entrepreneur, Khloe manages DASH, the Kardashian sisters' high-end women’s boutique in Calabasas, California, she writes a popular blog and hosts behind-the-scenes and red carpet events for Celebuzz. Khloe also contributes
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Why I Selected Joan Rivers for The Celebrity Apprentice
Joan’s a powerhouse--and that’s an understatement. An amazing woman!
I know few people who are as industrious as Joan Rivers, www.joanrivers.com. She is always fresh, funny and insightful. Joan is a comedienne, Tony-nominated actress, best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning television talk-show host, playwright, screenwriter, motion picture director, columnist, lecturer, syndicated radio host, jewelry designer and cosmetic company entrepreneur, red-carpet fashion laureate, businesswoman and, most importantly to her, a mother and a grandmother. (Whew!)
Joan caught the eyes of America back in 1968 when she appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. Less than three years later she had her own daytime TV show
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Why I Selected Claudia Jordan for The Celebrity Apprentice
From beauty pageants to real estate to television shows? Claudia is beautiful, interesting and smart.
No one will ever blame model, actor and reporter Claudia Jordan, (www.claudiajordan.net), of sitting still. Aside from The Celebrity Apprentice, she is best known for holding the #1 case on the hit game show “Deal or No Deal.” Last month Claudia did NFL Super Bowl Media Day coverage for "Entertainment Tonight" and was previously a correspondent for "The Best Damn Sports Show" and "5.4.3.2.1." Claudia will soon appear in the new feature film, “Middlemen" with Luke Wilson.
Early in her career, Claudia earned both the Miss Teen Rhode
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Why I Selected Jesse James for The Celebrity Apprentice
Jesse is a bit of a Renaissance man with his variety of interests and accomplishments. From motorcycles to a clothing line, he has the drive and diversity we’re looking for. But let’s see if he lives up to his name of legend.
Jesse James, www.westcoastchoppers.com, may be best known as a gruff looking custom motorcycle genius, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. Jesse's title at work is CEO, and for good reason. He oversees the chopper shop, a television production company, one of the hottest lines of clothing in America, a restaurant and more. Jesse may not wear French cuffs
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Why I Selected Scott Hamilton for The Celebrity Apprentice
As an Olympic gold medalist, most people know about Scott’s many accomplishments, but he’s also had an equal amount of challenges along the way. He’s a champion on and off the ice.
As an ice skater, a television commentator and as an entertainer, Scott Hamilton is an instantly recognizable figure. He has won 70 different titles and awards, including a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics, but whenever I see Scott, I always think of him as a classy gentleman who always sports a smile. In 1980, the year he finished third in the US Figure Skating Championships, he made millions
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Why I selected Annie Duke for Celebrity Apprentice
A worldwide poker champion who is also philanthropic in her efforts, Annie has an unusual flair and combination of talents that make her ideal for The Celebrity Apprentice.
Playing professional poker requires cunning, skill, knowledge, patience and daring. Annie Duke, (www.annieduke.com), is one of the world's best. In 2004, Annie won her first World Series of Poker bracelet by beating 234 players in the WSOP $2000 buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo Split. That same year she won $2 million by eliminating 8 of the world's greatest poker legends in the No-Limit Texas Hold'em winner-take-all WSOP Tournament of Champions.
Professional poker is a business, one that
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Why I selected Andrew Dice Clay for Celebrity Apprentice
I selected Andrew Dice Clay to appear on Celebrity Apprentice because he is edgy, smart and successful--and definitely a heavyweight of comedy.
Andrew, (www.andrewdiceclay.com), will tell you that he is proud to be America's most controversial and outrageous comic. Long before shows like South Park and comedians like Dave Chappelle came onto the scene, Andrew shocked his audiences and broke the rules with his never-before-seen brand of no apologies hardcore comedy. Clay doesn't mince words or make excuses. When he released his debut album "DICE" the parental advisory label simply read "Warning: This album is offensive."
Clay’s rise to fame was spectacular; he
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Why I Selected Professional Golfer Natalie Gulbis for Celebrity Apprentice
Natalie won the Evian Masters in 2007 and her calendar caused some waves but the only thing on her agenda is excellence--easy when you’re as talented, beautiful and intelligent as she is.
Natalie Gulbis, (www.nataliegulbis.com) is one of America's most recognizable professional golfers, both on and off the course. Back on 2001 she attended the University of Arizona where she won three tournaments and became and All-American First Team honoree. The next year Natalie joined the LPGA and broke out in 2005 when she finished third at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill and at the State Farm Classic. That year she
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Why I Selected Tom Green for Celebrity Apprentice
I am truly excited to have Tom Green join Celebrity Apprentice. Tom is a Talk show host, writer, director, producer, comedian, survivor-Tom has had a go at many things, and very often wins.
Tom Green made a name for himself with a public access television talk show that he nurtured and grew into his very own MTV hit show, "The Tom Green Show." After MTV, he returned to his talk-show roots, and to his living room, where he broadcasts "Tom Green's House Tonight." His web-based show is free of FCC regulations and television executives and has become an Internet phenomenon. Hollywood's most
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Why I Selected Clint Black for Celebrity Apprentice
I selected Clint Black to appear on Celebrity Apprentice because Clint is not only a gifted musician and songwriter, but he’s a good businessman. He has his own record company and has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. He’s bringing a lot of talent to the boardroom.
Becoming a star recording artist requires determination, talent, hard work and, yes, luck. As any successful musician can tell you, it's a lot easier to fall out of the spotlight than it is to climb into it, which is why Clint Black was especially smart to secure his future with the establishment of Equity Music
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Making the Right Call
I was on Neal Cavuto’s show yesterday and we were discussing economic conditions and Atlantic City. I stepped down as chairman of the Trump Entertainment Resorts after my offer to buy the company was turned down by the bondholders. I was hoping that I might be able to reverse its fortunes.
My holdings there represent substantially less than 1% of my net worth, and I am not involved in management. It has been tough going for awhile and brings to light the timing that is necessary in business to make the right decisions at the right time. These are very tough times
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Obama Is Absolutely Right
Last night I was on the air with Larry King who always has incisive questions. He asked me if Obama was right or wrong to go after these executives with salary caps--and I said he’s absolutely right. Billions of dollars are being given to banks, and once you start using taxpayer money, it’s a whole new ball game.
It’s not a game I’m enjoying watching. The banks are trying to shore up their balance sheets. They’re supposed to be loaning out that money and they’re using it for other purposes, so it is a real mess.
Everyone wants to blame the United States,
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The 3 D's of Real Estate
The real estate market is such these days that one thing has become apparent: If someone is selling in this market it’s usually because of the 3 D’s:
Death,
Divorce
Debt
When the value of property is low, it is common sense not to sell it. You hold onto it until the realty market changes. Therefore it’s common sense to notice that those who are selling are encountering one of the 3 D’s just mentioned. Otherwise, their actions would be nonsensical.
It doesn’t take a sixth sense to figure out what is going on. Maybe it’s clearer to me because I’m experienced in real estate and
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Listen to the Greeks
The sea gets sick but never dies. This is a well known Greek motto that I think is pertinent to today’s economic situation. The Greeks have been around for a long time and they’ve watched the ebb and flow of history for many centuries. Their saying is based on observation, and we’d do well to give it some thought. If someone or something is sick, it means it has to be allowed to get better. That can take some time. It also takes care and a proactive commitment to a return to health.
Here we are in 2009 and we need to
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Where Are Nixon's Children?
After watching the movie Frost/Nixon I was thinking about Nixon's children. Where are they?Whether you liked Nixon or not, family is family and I find it incredible that no one has surfaced to defend him. Did they just disappear? Why haven't they defended him?
I would hope my children would fight for me more than his kids fight for him. I have a feeling they would. I also think Nixon would go to bat for his children, just as I would for mine. Their silence is a mystery to me and while I know it was a humiliating time in their
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A New Year's Observation
It takes all kinds. That’s something we’ve noticed in the past year in the news, with Bernard Madoff topping it off. We have a saying in construction when the structure of a building is completed--a ‘topping off party’ to signify the top floor has been put in place. Somehow, the past year got its own topping off party but not in the best sense.
My opinion is that we should all try to be grateful. There’s a lot to be thankful for and being positive is certainly more productive than being negative. But I have to say I got another surprise
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Loyalty and Kelly Preston
I have always respected people who were loyal and faithful--which brings to mind Kelly Preston. A long time ago, before I was married, I met Kelly Preston at a club and worked like hell to try and pick her up. She was beautiful, personable, and definitely had allure. At the time I had no idea she was married to John Travolta.
In any event, my track record on this subject has always been outstanding, but Kelly wouldn’t give me the time of day. She was very nice, very elegant, but I didn’t have a chance with her, and that was that.
When I
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Guidelines
Trump University came out with a book last year called Entrepreneurship 101: How to Turn Your Idea into a Money Machine. I wrote the foreword and first chapter, and entrusted the very knowledgeable Michael E. Gordon, PhD, with writing the rest. I was reviewing it again recently and realized how valuable a guide it is for today.
There’s not a specific college degree for being a great entrepreneur, but this book will set you up and on your way in a very comprehensive way. In my introduction, I mention that entrepreneurship starts with vision. Without a vision, nothing of consequence will happen
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Painfully Blunt or Just Honest?
I was interviewed by Neil Cavuto of Fox News and he announced that it was the most ticked off he’d seen me in the twenty years he’s been interviewing me. I’d say I was being blunt, which is typical for me, and Neil said I was painfully blunt. Well, these are painful times, and I’m not running for any political office so I can afford to be honest.
We covered the situation in New York, and the 137 proposed tax hikes by Governor Paterson. These tax hikes include non-diet soda and massages. Meantime, we’ve spent a trillion dollars in Iraq. And now
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Americans and Religion
I know it’s never safe to talk about religion and politics, but it certainly hasn’t stopped me before.
Are you religious? There’s a good chance you don’t practice the same faith you were raised in. Perhaps you’ve either switched allegiances or abandoned religion altogether.
When it comes to faith, nearly half of Americans have changed faiths or given up. It’s no surprise since we’re a society that’s used to change - whether in careers or where we live or in our personal lives. Religion is just one more thing we alter.
Some people are saying the religious economy is like a competitive marketplace. There
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Madoff Teaches Lessons in Due Diligence
I can remember when Bernard Madoff would approach me in Palm Beach, Florida, about investing some money with him. He’d say “Why don’t you invest in my fund?” I didn’t know much about him and I’m not a fund guy so I said no. I had enough going on in my own businesses that I didn’t need to be associated or involved with his. Madoff was a frequent visitor at my Mar-a-Lago Club and he was a respected guy.
I know several people who have been victims of his unscrupulous scheme and what’s happened to them is dreadful. He is without a
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Somali Pirates to Acquire Citigroup: A Cliff Notes Summary of Our Times
My friend Tom Barrack of Colony Capital sent me a recent article of his with the headline Today’s Debt is Equity plus A Few Suggestions to Help President-Elect Obama Ease the Pain. He bullet pointed the latest events pertaining to the economy--twenty two of them--and I realized that at any other time, just a few of these would be huge topics in themselves. It’s a good indication of how alert we need to be right now.
His Cliff Notes summary: Real estate is experiencing a seismic liquidity shock as a result of a complete closure of the credit and capital markets for
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Cheating with the Checkbook
We always hear so much about spouses cheating, it just becomes commonplace. But in today’s economic times, more and more couples are guilty of financial infidelity where they hide their spending from each other.
A Harris Interactive survey of nearly 2,000 people in a committed relationship found that 29 percent of them admitted to lying to their partner about their spending habits. Women were a little more apt to lie than men, but it was close.
That’s obviously very dangerous for the health of a relationship. Keeping secrets of any kind is damaging, of course, but financial cheating is like writing a business
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The First Apprentice: Great Managers Work For the Team
It's been almost five years since that first season of The Apprentice appeared on television. The first winner was a young man named Bill Rancic, who has gone on to be a best-selling author, a guest advisor on The Apprentice, a public speaker and the host of his own reality show on the A&E Network.
Bill has done terrifically well since he became a celebrity after winning The Apprentice in 2004. I chose him above the other candidates because I knew he had the intelligence as well as the ability to be a combination of two things: a team player and a
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Inside City Hall Part 2
The second half of my interview with Dominic Carter brought up some interesting points. Being a New York based television show, he asked me what I thought of Governor Patterson, the Governor of New York. As I’ve gotten to know him, I can say he’s smart, sharp and street-wise, and I expect that he will handle the problems that this state has for him and very well.
Dominic did a word-association test on me with some well-known names in New York (and nationwide for that matter), and here were some of my comments:
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City: Michael Bloomberg
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Golden Goggles
Last week I had the privilege of presenting Michael Phelps with the Male Athlete of the Year award. Along with former Olympian Don Schollander, I enjoyed reviewing some of the great moments of the Beijing Olympics. Of course, Phelps and his eight gold epic is one of the greatest achievements in the history of sport.
There were four candidates for this award, which Don and I covered for the ceremony. For those of you who may not know who Don Schollander is, he was the nation’s most celebrated athlete in 1964. He was on the cover of Life Magazine as the
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Case In Point: Global Facts
Since I often emphasize the importance of being aware on a global level, I was reminded by a chapter in my book with Robert Kiyosaki, Why We Want You To Be Rich, which came out in 2006. In this chapter I gave some facts about China and India that illustrate why I stress knowing something about other countries should be a priority.
These two facts alone about China were a clear indication of how that country is doing:
The first Starbucks opened in China in 2004. There are now more Starbucks in China than in the United States.
In the 1970’s, Shanghai had exactly
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I Know It's Not Easy Out There
A few months ago, a citizen in Canada sent me a copy of her local newspaper from Kamloops, British Columbia. There was a photograph of a homeless man who was surrounded by his belongings, and he was reading a copy of my first book, The Art of the Deal, which came out in 1987. The reporter who saw him spoke to him, and a photograph was taken.
I was very taken with the story and photo and decided to send the man a check for $1,000.00 via the reporter from the Kamloops newspaper. I was impressed that, despite his situation, he
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Guess? Success Teaches Lessons in Leadership
Once again my very smart friend Tom Barrack of Colony Capital sent me one of his essays that was based on his pondering over a way “to chart a path to lead our team and our investors out of this jungle” in reference to what’s been going on with the economy. He found the answer while talking with one of his friends, Paul Marciano, the CEO of Guess?, Inc. Paul and his brothers are self-made and have built Guess into one of the most well-known fashion brands in the world.
He asked Paul what his insights were on the economy, and because
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Barack Obama Election Ushers in A Different World
This week I was interviewed by Dominic Carter of New York 1, on his program called Inside City Hall. New York 1 is an all-news program that is popular in New York City, and Dominic Carter is someone I have a great deal of respect for. He should have a national show, but then New York would miss out on his full time and dynamic presence here. He describes me as “a man not known for keeping his opinions to himself” and the interview spanned two consecutive nights.
On Tuesday night we covered some interesting topics. Dominic asked about the election
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A Great Coach
It was a few years ago, probably in 2005, that I received a phone call from Coach Mike Leach, calling to say how much he liked my books because they were inspirational. As I follow college football, I knew that he was the coach for Texas Tech, and a great one at that. We had a conversation and I realized we shared a few things in common as far as motivation and focus go, and we’ve stayed in touch. Just last week I appeared on ESPN for his weekend game against the University of Texas (currently #1). Coach Leach invited me
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Scotland: You're Hired!
This story started over five years ago, and as of this week, it has a happy ending. I had spent five years reviewing sites throughout Europe, and turned down over 200 possibilities for development. Then I saw the links land at Menie Estate, which is in northeast Scotland’s Grampian Region. I had never seen such a dramatic unspoiled seaside landscape--it had three miles of spectacular oceanfront and sand dunes of immense proportions. To put it mildly, I was excited. I knew this was the right place for my golf course, and I had two additional reasons for that: My mother was
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A Case For Tenacity
Jones Beach on Long Island has been an important part of many New Yorker’s lives since childhood, including mine. When my venture, to be called Trump on the Ocean, was announced in the spring of 2007, it was met with opposition as well as support. Some people saw it as historic preservation, other people saw it as a blight on the landscape. Whenever I do anything, the scrutiny can border on the ridiculous, but I refuse to give up.
Just last Friday it was announced that I’d won a big victory, and here’s the press release:
DONALD TRUMP WINS HUGE VICTORY AGAINST NEW
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Rudeness at Work
How important is it to you that people be polite at work? A professor of psychology at West Chester University in Pennsylvania conducted a study all about rudeness in the workplace. Jennifer Bunk found that about 75 percent of workers say they’re treated rudely at least once a year. That can mean anything from being ignored by the boss or hearing snide remarks from coworkers.
So, you say, rudeness in the office just makes for an unpleasant work environment. But, according to this study, it also harms productivity. This professor goes so far as to say that the “silent treatment” and other
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Political Literacy
I’ve talked about financial education before, but another concern for this country is political literacy. I was astounded when I read an article recently about a survey that asked U.S. citizens three questions dealing with political knowledge. In their survey of adult Americans, only 18 percent of those questioned answered all three questions correctly. That’s not a huge number.
I was thinking to myself that those questions must have been of a very complex nature to have received such a low score of correct answers. I was wrong. They were simple, and here’s what they were:
What is the controlling party of the
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Record-breaking voter registration and voter turnout expected
Because of all the excitement and interest surrounding this year’s presidential primaries, voter registration figures are way up. Numbers are up for women, young people, and nearly every ethnic group. They’re up in rural and urban areas, in the North and in the South.
Record-breaking turnouts are expected at the polls on November 4. The boards of elections all over the country are recruiting and hiring plenty of extra workers to handle the expected long lines as people show up to cast their votes.
Even before the final presidential contenders were decided, nearly one in 65 adult Americans signed up to vote in
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Bottom Line: This is Not the Bottom of the Financial Crisis
Thomas Barrack Jr. is a friend of mine who happens to be a brilliant guy. We’ve partnered on ventures and he’s the CEO of Colony Capital. He’s been following the financial crisis and occasionally sends me his thoughts about what is going on. He makes such good sense that I’d like to quote a few paragraphs from what he sent me a few days ago:
Why Can’t Anybody Find the Bottom?
It all boils down to trust! The mantra of the country is “In God We Trust--but not counterparties.” No buyer trusts any seller, banker, insurer or intermediary. No investor trusts any depository,
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Real Estate Investing Looms but OPEC Controls Economic Recovery
On a recent interview on CNBC, I was asked a few questions about the current situation with the banks and the market. Here are the questions (summarized) and my answers:
Q: What do you think about the economy after we get through this credit mess.
A: The economy is really driven by oil, and every time something good happens, oil goes up. Oil is the thing that killed the economies of many nations in the first place. OPEC is probably sitting down right now to raise the hell out of oil, and it’s going to take all of the good out of the
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Critics
I’ve had my fill of naysayers and critics. To me it’s a negative approach that doesn’t serve any purpose. Here’s a quote by Theodore Roosevelt that I keep handy because it’s so right on:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena: whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again...
who knows the great enthusiasms, the
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