Only Those Who Do It Can Teach You How

Donald Trump is back with a new book. In Trump 101, The Way to Success, the real estate magnate who became a legendary figure in the business world pulled yet more advice and hints from his hat for those who dream of professional success, and who knows, maybe accumulate a few $million, or $billion along the way. And as always happens when a book of this nature reaches the stands, the question everyone asks is: Is it really possible to learn something from a book like this?

I may be able to answer that question by speaking a little of my own experience. Throughout my entire professional life, there have always been those I consider mentors. These are professionals whose examples inspire me and continue to inspire me. Being able to live with these mentors has provided me with an invaluable learning experience. With them I was able to learn what is not taught in school; practical lessons in life and work that showed me how to overcome obstacles and succeed. Donald Trump was one of those people. When I looked him up to sell him my idea about building a real estate venture in Brazil, I was given a true lesson in how to negotiate. This lesson, incidentally, was motivation I put to good use when I wrote a book called You Have 3 Minutes! Learn the Secrets of the Pitch from Trump's Original Apprentice, published in the US by McGraw-Hill and now translated into more than 10 languagues.

Of course, we do not always have the opportunity to accompany these people up close and absorb firsthand what they can teach us. But that is why books exist. So, returning to the initial question, yes, I do believe it is possible to learn something from books like Donald Trump’s. Obviously, I am not saying that by simply reading the book you are guaranteed to become as rich as Donald Trump. What I am saying is that after reflecting, digesting and adapting what he has to say, you may get a new insight into solving an old problem, or you may get uplifted and be able to get back up on your own two feet and continue your march forward. Or you may begin to question your methods and imagine new ways to proceed. And if any of these possibilities truly happens, then the book will have served its purpose.

When Trump speaks about things like thinking big or being passionate about what you do, skeptics rush to accuse him of creating a list of obvious ideas. The fact of the matter is, there is no secret and bombastic ingredient capable of making someone an instant success. From this perspective, the greatest revelation in Trump’s book is to show that the ingredients for success are always the same: determination, passion, enthusiasm, effort, and hard work. How to manipulate them and use them in your favor, with utmost efficiency, is what really makes the difference. And that is something only those who do it can teach.