Mr. Trump's Office

I am often asked what it’s like to be in Mr. Trump’s office during a meeting. The first word that comes to my mind is “energizing.” There’s no way one can be in a meeting with Mr. Trump without feeling a bit of a buzz, whether it be adrenalin or something else. It’s also true that there’s no way you can leave a meeting without feeling the residue of that buzz.

I remember a very intense meeting a few years ago with one of Mr. Trump’s editors from Random House, which had proceeded at the rather typical--to us--breakneck speed. When the editor came out, he turned to me and said, “I need oxygen!” And he wasn’t kidding. He was completely drained but cognizant enough to make an insightful remark about what we’d just experienced. This editor had worked with Mr. Trump for years, but he said the speed he encountered here still took him by surprise.

I could relate, especially to the surprise aspect of his comment. A few years ago I had been asked to sit in on a meeting, a meeting about a project that I knew very little about, and one with which I wasn’t directly involved.  I assumed that I would be the silent ghost who was just there to observe, so I was paying attention, but not very close attention. I’ll admit I was daydreaming a bit and looking out the window at the park. After about five minutes, Mr. Trump suddenly asked me what I thought about something they were talking about. Fortunately I knew enough to muddle my way through an answer, but it was sheer luck that I got through one fairly--but barely--intelligent sentence as a response to his question. But it taught me a lesson--pay attention! I never “checked out” again during a meeting in his office, no matter how distant it seemed to my interests.

One thing people who meet with Mr. Trump will comment about is that he includes everyone in the meeting. He will ask direct questions to anyone in the room, whether they are the head honcho that is visiting or part of the entourage. He is interested in their comments, but I also think he likes to see who is tuned in and who isn’t. He tests people and is curious about their reactions. He also covers a lot of territory quickly, so you have to be alert as well as fast.

When I had been at the Trump Organization for just a few months, I was told Mr. Trump needed a letter done, and that he needed it in fifteen minutes. I thought it was a joke, because it was a very important letter, one that would certainly merit longer than a fifteen minute preparation time. I laughed a bit to his assistant, saying, “He’s joking, right?” She said absolutely not, that he was leaving in fifteen minutes and he’d have to have the letter by then. My laughter suddenly subsided, being replaced quickly by adrenalin and panic, but I got the letter done.

Then I noticed after about a half an hour that he hadn’t left his office, so I mentioned to his assistant that he was going to be late. She told me he wasn’t going anywhere--he had wanted to see how I fast I was! Was I mad? Yes! I felt like a sucker. But then I realized I learned a good lesson for myself--I knew I could be fast if necessity required it. It also gave me self-confidence, knowing I could produce under pressure.  A good lesson, and funny in retrospect, if not at the moment.

That’s one example of why I think Mr. Trump was a natural for Mark Burnett’s concept of The Apprentice.  He’s a bit of a teacher, even in his daily work. There are many other examples of this side of his nature, which I had noticed--and endured--so I was pleased when it was put out for the public to see for themselves when the television show hit the airwaves. No one leaves his office the same way they entered it. So a word to the wise to anyone who comes for a visit: Pay attention! It will serve you well.