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"What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I receive a lot of mail every day -- piles of it. Not too long ago I received a letter from my kindergarten teacher. It was a big surprise for me to come across that in one of those piles of letters. She mentioned that what she remembered most clearly about me is that I never stopped asking questions. I was the most inquisitive student she had ever had. I wrote back to her that some things never change - I still ask a lot of questions - but that my curiosity and sense of discovery have served me well for all these years. I also thanked her, belatedly, for her patience many years ago, listening to all my questions.

I started thinking back to those early days. Every one of my questions was the beginning of a new discovery back then, and that's how it is with me today. I hope it's the same with you.

Emerson's quote, "What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" is a good thought to keep in mind. It allows your mind to think big because there are big reservoirs of ideas inside all of us. It's a way to open the channels of creative thought, which leads to discovery and achievement. It's also a reminder that no matter how much you've accomplished already, there's still more waiting for you to get done.

Give yourself a chance - cultivate a sense of discovery.

Today’s blog post is adapted from: Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Opportunity, the newest book by our Chairman, Donald J. Trump.

Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

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14 Comments

[-] Posted by E. Rizzo on 01/16/2008 1:50 PM
No offense, Mr. Trump, but, your kindergarten teacher is still alive? Just kidding. Teachers are such an integral part of a child's life, especially during those tender formative years, as they spend more time with them than parents - unless a kid is home-schooled, which, by the way, should be outlawed. Who started that? Oh, I know, it's useful for kid performers... no, it's convenient for showbiz moms & dads who would rather make money off of their children, than allow their kids to grow and learn, alongside their peers.

Hey, Mr. Trump, you should consider doing THE APPRENTICE - TEACHERS. Since kids learn little about business and finance in school, it would be a chance for everyone to learn a thing or two. It would be an opportunity to show just how dedicated so many teachers are to their profession. The winning teacher would win money for his/her school...books, computers, supplies, etc... I realize that there is a certain curriculum that teachers must follow, but, they could still learn a lot from you, and your teaching methods. Just a thought.
[-] Posted by Business 2000 Foundation.com on 01/16/2008 3:03 PM
We love the book...Never give Up!

Get back in the fight...have the faith and courage to overcome and go the distance!
[-] Posted by John Hoff - eVentureBiz.com on 01/16/2008 4:40 PM
Great post and I agree. I think one of the first things an inspiring entrepreneur needs to do is discover themselves for who they are (not what their upbringing and schooling has molded them into). It sounds like Mr. Trump started the questioning early. Just because someone says this is so it shouldn't all be taken as gold (well, unless it's Donald Trump talking!).

Great entrepreneurs know who they are and are not a product of someone else's belief system. They know WHY they believe in what they believe in. By questioning the world in which they live and work they grow as a person and as an entrepreneur; in other words, their belief system is firmly grounded and is what they use to build their empire.

I wonder how many people have taken the time to do this?

John - eVentureBiz.com
[-] Posted by member1697219 on 01/16/2008 10:21 PM
I certainly can say one thing: I've lived with a sense of wonder and discovery for a very long time. Thirty-four years or so of my 37 years on this planet have been spent infused with the same wonderment, & questioning that I associate really with young children. In fact, it's the only part of me that has remained since then. There's a certain little spark, or electric quality in you that knows it wants to know more. There's so much on this site I probably can't relate to financially (for now anyway), but at least I can say that I share that in common with you, Donald. Leads you down some interesting paths, don't you think?

And it's genuine. There's one thing I know for sure ---> I absolutely love to learn. Maybe it comes from parents. My mom would always say, "go find the answer." Dad's was "always play chess with someone greater than you at it." When I was like, three.

Coo


www.IBOPlus.com/40542551
[-] Posted by *Gopi* 'Where Quality becomes Reality' on 01/17/2008 8:42 AM
I 've just discovered something about my life that is crucial for the rest of my ''riding''.

p.s.
Hope to see Your book on Croatian market.
Your books are penicilin for virus called ''communist methods''.

Control, control, control.
Sheeps, sheeps, sheeps.
Fear, fear,fear.

Ina Matijevic
[-] Posted by member1711951 on 01/17/2008 11:34 AM
Mr.Trump receives a lot of mail everyday.I hope he believes in the importance of that mail to the people who send it.Some may be trying to express "what lies within".
Everyone can not believe his reads every letter(if so I would be amazed).
Does he have a system in place that acknowledges mail received with a note-THANK YOU
and.... or Thank YOU but...
[-] Posted by lightwayvez on 01/18/2008 2:41 AM
Asking questions is good because it cuts to the chase and eliminates time wasters. Finally when in a pinch the answers are there for the asking...

Conviction comes from knowledge but also from taking action and using one's time to the best of one's ability within that action is the only way to go.
[-] Posted by member1712453 on 01/19/2008 10:18 PM
What I have always admired about you, is that you put so many things back into the world: your intelligence, past experiences, your sucess stories and solutions, and such a huge empathy for people and those who do not have much - charities.

This is such a great title for your book! I can't wait to read it!

Thank you for helping people.

Cordially,
Nina M. Sherwood, Professional Freelance Writer/Editor/Proofreader/Researcher
www.giftedwriting.com
www.websitewrite.com
[-] Posted by lightwayvez on 01/29/2008 2:57 PM
As I was reading Trump Blogs today, my son was singing some obnoxious rap song in the background, irritating me to no end until I actually paid attention to the repetitive words that were driving me absolutely insane, I stopped to listen... there were only three words in the lyrics repeated over and over again add nausium and the words were as follows,

Don't give up
[-] Posted by Cheryle on 02/06/2008 5:21 AM
I was sitting at a table next to the dance floor when a popular entertainer picked me out of the audience to become part of his act. He sang, "The Wonder of You." He sounded sincere. I left that evening alone. I could only wonder what he was trying to discover about me. It didn't seem like he wanted to know my IQ.

Sometimes, things are better left "undiscovered." His questions gave me a clue.

Thank you for reminding me,

Cheryle Gagnon
exceptionaladvice@gmail.com
[-] Posted by member1725332 on 02/11/2008 8:39 AM
What I've discovered about myself is that I'm an a**hole. Grant it, women have been telling me this all my life but it went in one ear and out the other. What finally made me understand that I was mistreating people was a threat of loss of something dear to me. Now, I've discovered that I am lonely, and lazy. I feel like without a woman I am nothing.

In New York I've discovered that to enter one's circle of friends you have to show yourself worthy. How can you do that when you're poor? I'm tired of churches and sitting on bench parks where the only people you meet there are unempowered women and stupid pigeons.
[-] Posted by about to erase it all hope you made a copy on 04/11/2008 12:36 PM
Discovery of selfhood
I love this Quote from Emerson; the mind is an amazing tool, and companion. It is either your best friend cheering you on to discover your best self, pushing you to be your best self, or it is your worse nightmare working in overtime to scare you day and night. Learning what my head is capable of imagining and developing myself into a decent human being that produces something in print everyday was something I knew I would do from the time I was 12. I just never expected it would happen this way; the head once injured is a fragile organ. Many people underestimate the true value of their brain till all they have left are the parts that can imagine, and think of ideas, but not piece them together. I love being able to do this one thing, write, and I imagine being able to write about anything and everything as I grow old. Business is to me, is just something else to write about, just like real estate, stocks bonds, and trains. I love to write about things I have never seen, like the top of a mountain that I can only imagine in my minds eye. So many people in the world will take and take and take away the creative imagination from people, and never let them in on the secret that they have long since achieved success only so that they might drain the life out of the creative engine they have discovered. I accepted this fact long ago, still I write because I must, and dream of vacations without conditions, and book deals and management that honestly cares about me as a human being.
[-] Posted by member1794306 on 06/27/2008 10:15 PM
I am absolutely supporting you. Interest is the best teacher of human.And what I think the most different between we, human, and animal is that we can create things which are leaded by human' interest.
In my mother land, I like to ask why everywhere, but to my disappointed, people treat me like a rubbish. THey will tell you these things are common, but they never tell your the reason. It's ridiculous.But in China, it is true.
In acient Times, we,Chinese, are the most intelligent people around world. There is no doubt that a lot of inventions were invented by our forefather generation. But now, we never take interest serious any longer.
If we want to improve, ,make interest to be your teacher is a good tool~
[-] Posted by member1894351 on 11/21/2008 7:04 AM
Hi Mr Trump,

i am from sri lanka ever heard of this country,i am sure if you have a little time you visit our country you might see what potentials you might have to get in to your next step trillionire,contact me !OUR CONTRY NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO BECOME A 1 CLASS COUNTRY!APPRICIATE IF JUST COULD REPLY ME,
THANKS..

Shane.......
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