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The Olympics

Posted by Donald J. Trump on 2/14/2006 at 2:58 PM

Chairman, Trump University

I'm certainly enjoying the Winter Olympics in Torino. Apart from the usual excitement of any Olympics competition, there's also one very good lesson you can learn: in business and in life, always be willing to try something new.

The United States team this year has several high-profile athletes who have crossed over from other sports hoping to bring home some gold medals. They've started from scratch, leaving their comfort zones and training in entirely new sports. That takes a lot of nerve.

These are athletes like Shauna Rohbock, who once played professional soccer and ran track. She's now at the Olympics as a bobsledder with Valerie Fleming, a former sprinter and javelin thrower. Jennifer Rodriguez of Miami, who was an artistic roller skater, is now a speed-skater on ice.

All these athletes took risks. They were willing to take chances in new fields and, boy, did those risks pay off. Take that as a lesson in your business and personal life. Don't get complacent. Try something new. Keep learning. You may not win a gold medal for your efforts, but you will have succeeded.

Trying out a new sport isn't the only risk these Olympic athletes are willing to take. Several of them are ready to take a shot at my boardroom. A dozen U.S. Olympic athletes are vying for a chance to appear on season six of The Apprentice, and you get to choose which one will get that coveted spot.

To vote, click here. Choose from athletes such as freestyle skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson, speed skaters Chad Hedrick and Casey FitzRandolph, snowboarder Seth Wescott, and ice hockey player Angela Ruggiero. Voting ends Sunday, February 26, the night before season five of The Apprentice.

Here's your chance to help one of these Olympic stars make a possible career change. Even though you're doing the hiring, I'm still doing the firing. Let the games begin.

Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

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12 Comments

Posted by Lucas Wynne on 02/14/2006 6:21 PM

I voted. Mr. Trump, even though I know you don't respond to comments, I do know you read them. I wish you didn't have to be an adult to sign-up for the apprentice. I'm a 15 year old (very close to 16) who has a great business background. I've put on BMX competitions

Posted by Matthew Dixon on 02/14/2006 10:57 PM

I personally like the medal count and America has the highest in Gold and 3rd over all.

I'd have to say i have to vote for Allison Baver due to bias of being a fellow Penn Stater and from Reading, PA. Not to mention she has incredible credentials.

Posted by Dawn S. on 02/15/2006 9:10 AM

As with business, sports is also very competitive. It also teaches an individual the value of teamwork. Both of these qualities are key to succeeding in work and in life. I learned these lessons early on and reap the benefits at home, work and the community.

Posted by Dawn S. on 02/15/2006 12:24 PM

Lucas, I am not associated with Trump University or the Apprentice. In the past, I have researched the entertainment industry, but I am not a part of it. I do think I know why teens are not invited to apply to the Apprentice, and it has to do with child labor laws. Even with the entertainment or media industries, child labor laws have to apply. The Apprentice has many long days over a certain amount of time on shooting for the season. Also, it also stipulates that a minor must attend school or have tutoring as a part of the day. And has been shown during the season, the contestants work through the night on the tasks which you would not be able to legally due to child labor laws restrict the latest a teen could work.

Posted by Walter Paul Bebirian on 02/15/2006 4:51 PM

I am not sure about sports and the transferring of efforts from one activity to the other, but in music transferring from one instrument to the other is not all of that difficult and in the long run gives a person some understanding of what the other players in an orchestra are going through to get those notes out correctly and on time, and very often between instruments there are mental machinations that one must go through in transposing from one clef to another depending on what clef the music is written in for a particular instrument.

The biggest risk taker in the orchestra might not be any person going from one instrument to another as a performer in an orchestra - but one who goes from being an orchestra player to being a soloist perhaps someone pursuing a stint as an unaccompanied solo violinist or an unaccompanied Opera Singer in Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center - no back-up - no one to cover up any mistake and a position where the performer is strictly right up there in front of the audience - and quite all alone -

thank you!

Walter

Posted by Dawn S. on 02/15/2006 9:43 PM

Walter, in a way you are right at times that it can be pretty difficult in transfering a skill from one area to another. I know from my personal experience that my being involved in my high school's marching band as a band manager evolved more into a greater appreciation for musical performances, and in addition and learning to march improved my running in place for my sports competitions. For my love of team sports such as soccer, a team can't do well if each individual just plays for himself or herself, and in business, its growth depends on a team effort. This past winter, I took on a new sport which was snowshoeing. I quickly discovered that the skills I learned from both nordic (cross country) skiing and alpine (downhill) skiing had a huge basis in snowshoeing in such skills as climbing a small hill.

Posted by Charles McGill on 02/17/2006 9:00 AM

Hi Donald

Watching the Welsh girl take the Silver for the bobsledding on her first ever Olympics was inspiring, especially after hearing how her local pub raised the few thousand pounds she needed to buy her equipment.

When you look at what some sportspeople get paid these days compared to others it makes you realise that the challenge or opportunity to compete goes way beyond money.

Perhaps one day we will find a way that lets more less fortunate kids get the chance to take part at Olympic level of sports etc.

Regards Charlie
Founder
http://www.netaid.co.uk

Posted by Dawn S. on 02/17/2006 12:20 PM

One of my favorite movie is Cool Runnings because it captures the desire of the first Jamaican bobsled team because it breaks the barriers of warm weather participating in the Winter Olympics. My other favorite sports movie is Miracle because it shows that through hard work anything is possible and even defeating a tough opponent who defeated you within the prior weeks following when it really counted in the Olympics. Since then, I have never learned to take it for granted a medal place just because we defeated them maybe twice before, but it comes to both drive and desire to win.

Posted by Walter Paul Bebirian on 02/18/2006 6:19 AM

The only real competition you have to improve upon is yourself -

Posted by Dawn B. on 02/18/2006 9:09 AM

Lucas, I was reading this blog and I wanted to comment and say that I read your post and was impressed at your drive and experiences at such a young age. Keep on doing what you are doing. Developing business ideas and expanding your knowledge. Who knows maybe Trump will do a special season for talented teens, regardless sounds like have the motivation and mindset to be successful.

Posted by Bill Fedun on 02/18/2006 10:46 AM

So what do you mean Mr. Trump? You going to change your career to, oh, auto mechanics? Nahh...you'll stick to what you are good at. I can't imagine why an athelete would change disciplines, though I suppose I could see going from downhill skiing to curling once the old knees start to give out. I can certainly see why they would take a chance on "The Apprentice",(its easier than 5am ice practice), what I don't see is what you think you can gain from employing a jock? Is it the discipline you are seeking? (I know, them's fighting words, and as a former jock myself, I would LOVE to hear the answer!)
Though it is interesting, in a sort of remote way, to hear you plug "The Apprentice", I KNOW there is much more to you than being a TV personality. For instance, the most inspiring thing I ever heard about you is when you took over building the Skating Rink in Central Park. You spotted the problems, identified the difficulties, and fixed them. Small potatoes for you, I know, but it is the sort of thing which us "little guys" can relate to. Though that is MY favorite story, I am sure you have a hundred others. Please share them here....

Posted by Eduardo Moran on 02/24/2006 2:49 PM

Dear Mr Trump, I find this initiative quite interesting, and I congratulate you for opening The Apprentice to one of this olympic athletes. Last week I asked this to you directly, but I would like to repeat it here as thetopic gives me the chance to do it: when are you going to include international candidates in The Apprentice? I believe that there is talented people all over the world who deserve a chance to be on your board, especially when you have business interests all over the world and not just in the USA. Definteley, I would be a nice candidate, as I managed to be a good business executive (finantial industry)and an entrepreneur at the same (I opened DownTown Golf - www.downtowngolf.com.ar -with big success), so my experience from both 'fronts' is really a plus. Thanks a lot, and I am looking forward to hearing your comments. Best regards, Eduardo Moran - Argentina.

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