The Front Office

I’ve been working in the front office of The Trump Organization since September of 2001. My office is just outside of Mr. Trump’s, and the acoustics are perfect for hearing everything that goes on. It also helps that Mr. Trump rarely closes his door, and that he doesn’t use an intercom.

People often ask me what it’s like here, in this rarefied environment, made more famous because of The Apprentice, which brought the workings of The Trump Organization to public interest. My first response is that it’s loud. That was one of my first impressions when I started to work here. As mentioned, Mr. Trump doesn’t like to use an intercom, so he just yells. We are expected to yell back, and loudly enough for him to hear us on the first take. This isn’t for dramatic purposes, I realized, but because it’s more efficient. If you can imagine the number of phone calls he receives every hour--and these are the important calls that make it through to him--you might see why. His average is to receive 400 calls per day, and sometimes more. Using an intercom is just an extra step that isn’t really necessary provided you can speak or yell loudly and clearly. Seconds are saved, which matter when you’re someone like Donald Trump. I had some serious work to do on my voice projection, but it didn’t take long. Adrenalin can do that for you.

My second impression is that there were a lot of blueprints. In fact, they were everywhere. In closets, or piled up in every corner, or falling over the edges of conference tables, they were ubiquitous.  But that makes sense--Donald Trump is a famous real estate developer, and the biggest developer in New York. It’s just that sometimes, with his fame being in so many areas, this aspect of his life gets eclipsed. Some people have skeletons in their closets, but I can tell you that Donald Trump has blueprints in his. Just try to hang up your coat in one of them if you ever come to visit. Good luck.

Another question I am often asked is, What is Donald Trump really like? I know they mean, what’s he like behind the scenes? I can tell you he’s a lot like the boss you see on The Apprentice--he’s tough, fast, demanding, funny, and unpredictable--but he’s also fair. When people were surprised by his personality when they got to see him in action on television, none of us who work with him were surprised. That’s what he’s like. It’s not an act. Fortunately for us, however, he doesn’t go around firing someone at the end of every week. In fact, he prefers to keep people around for a long time, provided it’s working for everyone. He’s had a substantial number of employees who have been with him for three decades or longer.

I’ve co-authored four books with Mr. Trump thus far and he’s a writer’s dream--there is never a lack of material. Every week is a history lesson, a business lesson, a life lesson, a media lesson, or an entertainment lesson with Donald Trump around. I’ve learned a great deal from him about a lot of things, and so will you.

Which reminds me, I’d like to give you a word to the wise: Pay attention to your boss! You’d be surprised how much you can learn. Granted, I am in a very fortunate position to work for someone like Mr. Trump, but make sure to learn as much as you can in whatever situation you might be in. It all works to your advantage in the long run. But it’s up to you to plug in and pay attention, whether you’re in the front office or not.

More from my desk to yours soon.

Editor’s note: We are delighted to welcome Meredith McIver as a contributor to The Trump Blog. Ms. McIver is uniquely qualified to explain what it really is like to work Inside Trump Tower, because that is where she spends every working day. Watch for more posts in the future from her. Welcome, Meredith McIver!