Summary
One Sentence Summary
One paragraph Summary
What is the foundational knowledge required for me to learn this?
What do I hope to learn AND take ACTION on after reading this book?
- Learn: I hope to learn the mindset of Donald Trump for financial success
- Learn: I am naturally curious to learn what Trump thinks
- Learn: I wish to discover the similarities between what Trump advocates compared to what others I have read advocate
- Learn: I hope to learn the right questions to ask in business and life
- Action: I will make less excuses when it comes to my work
What are my assumptions before reading this book?
- I have a feeling Trump will speak of the same things that I’ve already learned, but in a different context
Reading Comprehension questions from ChatGPT
What ACTIONS/HABITS will I partake after reading this book?
What Questions do I have after reading this book?
What Phrase(s) can I add/validate to my mantras?
- We don’t really create, but we assemble what has been created for us.
- One of the worst fears we have is the fear to attempt something.
- Not studying history is like being a leaf that didn’t know it was part of a tree.
- A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.
- No one cares about the blood, sweat, and tears that art or beauty can require. It’s the end result that matters.
- This may sound simplistic, but I’m a firm believer in visualization, and it worked for me.
- My advantage is my ability to get to the point faster than anybody else.
- Look at yourself first when things go wrong.
Barack Obama Election Ushers in a different world
“Barack Obama proved that determination combined with opportunity and intelligence can make things happen–and in an exceptional way”
“The world is excited about Barack Obama and the enw United States. Let’s keep it that way”
Essays, Assets, and Stephen King
“I knew that if I did something that was intended to impress the so-called critics that I would be selling not only myself short, but other people as well. That’s one reason why I’m liked as well as disliked.”
“…one critic…mentioned that I do better when I choose to ignore my critics than when I pay attention to them. I have to agree.”
“Being true to yourself and your work is an asset. Remember that assets are worth protecting. No one will ever tell you it well be easy to stick to your own convictions, but I believe it si necessary.”
That’s why even an honest man, who has nothing to worry about, must have courage to pursue his truth.
“Keep it straight and simple. You will be richer–in more ways than one–in the long run.”
Innovation
People often talk about something new being “innovative”. most of the time, it’s simply putting together existing elements to create what appears to be new.
The key is to pay attention and keep your brain and sense open to new stimuli.
Side note: Rick Rubin speaks of the same advice. Keeping your creative athena alert.
It also helps to be thinking of two things at once–multilevel focusing is what I call it. The intersecting of ideas is when innovation will follow.
Don’t limit yourself to staid thinking because you want to excel in business…I view business deals as being an art form.
Maybe that’s why I’ve been a successful deal maker. I employ both sides of my brain when I’m thinking and working.
I’m not advising you to dwell on the mysterious–a successful life requires common sense and hard work–but to be aware of things are are sometimes inexpiable because they can ne a big step towards innovation.
Side note: Trump mentions the Golden Ratio as something he is interested in.
We don’t really create, but we assemble what has been created for us.
The importance of being a team player
As you will discover as you gain wisdom over the years, most of the things you do will rarely be just about you.
“Everyone had a good time, and everyone won”
An early Thanks Giving
Find a blessing in the midst of adversity
Learning is a new beginning
Being a know-it-all is like shutting the door to great discoveries and opportunities; keep your door open every day to something new and energizing.
Start every day with a blank slate.
Never think of learning as being a burden or studying as being boring. It may require some discipline, but it can be an adventure.
Learn to Think on you Feet
“A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised”-Napoleon Bonaparte
The same way how learning and the right attitude opens doors; the opposite holds true for complacency.
Being complacent is like being in a rut and deciding to be there.
That’s why I like to advise people to live on the edge–it’s the opposite of complacency, and the same as thinking on your feet.
Being on the edge gives you extra energy from the adrenaline rush and heightened state of focus.
If you see everyday as a challenge, you’d be surprised how efficient you can become and how much can be accomplished
One of the most obvious lessons on The Apprentice is for the candidates to learn to think quickly. They are under a time constraint to finish their assignments, and we’ve noticed, it’s important that they have a plan B in line. If plan A doesn’t work, they’re prepared for it and they won’t lose much time. They are learning to think ahead and cover their bases.
Strive for wholeness
I’ve encountered people who don’t wonder about anything…don’t let yourself fall into that category. Don’t ever sell yourself short. That’s bad business on every level, even the metaphysical.
We’ve seen empires come and go, and survival of the fittest take place. Things change. We get to keep up with the changes and move forward.
As the Trump Organization has moved forward, I have seen it as a living organism that needs to be fed…I can’t have any missing pieces. I can’t have any ingredients that aren’t the best. Those are my standards, and it’s my responsibility to make sure they are kept.
See yourself as an organization. Pay attention to every facet of your life. What’s strong? What’s weak? What’s missing? What can you do to make the big picture better?
Whatever you do, don’t stagnate. Don’t become complacent. Things move too quickly today to fall into that trap.
When I realized how fast the world moves, I decided to double up on my work hours. That wasn’t a big sacrifice because I love what I’m doing and I’ve always been a hard worker. I’m happier and more productive than I ever was.
You can adapt or you can lose out. I chose to adapt.
I kept the pace in order to keep up with my environment, which is a fast one. People who want to compete with me will have to keep up with me.
Don’t be the guy who can’t adapt–even Darwin would agree.
Very few of us are completed projects. It’s an ongoing process.
Give your higher self a chance
When the achiever achieves, it’s not a plateau, it’s a beginning.
Achievers move forwards at all times. It’s enthusiasm that can’t be fabricated. It’s either there or it’s not.
Achievers go for the challenge, so the next deal is what they’re thinking about.
They have an obligation to themselves to best themselves. That’s living in the highest realm.
Your higher self is in direct opposition to your comfort zone.
You’ve heard people refer to a city as vibrant; what that means is that it’s growing and lively–not stagnant. See yourself as a city.
Our higher selves can serve to transport us to becoming visionaries.
One of the worst fears we have is the fear to attempt something.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take
I wasn’t sure if I’d be a success on radio, but I went for it anyway, and it was a big hit. I had to take the chance first to find out.
Wisdom
What I realized is that wisdom comes as a result of several factors: one being experience, and one being knowledge.
It’s something you can’t teach someone else–you have to achieve it on your own.
It’s very hard for me to just give you this wisdom–you have to get there yourself.
Another way to gain wisdom is to read about the greats in history and those in your specific domain.
I remember realizing back in school that two things in particular seemed to shape the world as I knew it: war and nature.
It’s worth spending some time to know how and why we are where we are today.
The more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know
I see no value whatsoever in believing ignorance to be an attribute. It isn’t.
Not studying history is like being a leaf that didn’t know it was part of a tree.
We are individually responsible for our education, and that applies whether you’re in school or working.
There is no ceiling to learning. You will never know it all, but it’s a fantastic way of practicing longevity
Think like a champion
What comes to mind when I see their amazing ability is the amount of training they have endured, the sacrifices they’ve made, and the courage they’ve had to have to get where they are.
They also wanted to achieve something special. Ordinary wouldn’t be enough for someone who was of the mindset of a champion.
Champions think big.
Champions are focused; they are disciplined.
A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.
I’ve seen very talented people fail because deep down I think they were afraid of winning.
Winning comes with responsibility, and it takes courage to willingly accept that responsibility.
I view my work as an art form
Artists are known for their dedication to
- their ideals
- their muse, and
- their perseverance in getting things just right. Those are the admirable traits to possess.
Compete with yourself to be the best version of yourself–that’s the mindset of the entrepreneur.
Entrepreneur know that competing with others might lower their own standards.
You get to have your own vision and stick with it.
Don’t be afraid to be unique; it’s like being afraid of your best self.
No one cares about the blood, sweat, and tears that art or beauty can require. It’s the end result that matters.
Art is also representational–it’s not life, but it’s about life.
Art can point to truths that we might not notice in our busy lives. It gives us a reflection.
I strive for a comprehensive approach, much as an artists would. No matter your field, you can learn a lot by emulating that approach as much as possible.
My work as a builder combines both craftsmanship and art, and I refuse to settle for less.
I didn’t have to use a rare marble when I built Trump Tower, but it would make a difference and I knew it.
Don’t sell yourself short. Life is an art, business is an art, so be an artist and best yourself.
Building connected thoughts
Comprehensive education dissolves the line between knowing too much on one subject and knowing too little on a variety of subjects.
Read: “Integrated Education”, by Aldous Huxley, 1959.
In the referenced essay above, Huxley emphasized the importance of building bridges in knowledge and thought, and the word he mentions for this is pontifex, or bridge builder.
By building these connected thoughts, we increase our learning capacity to include and connect ideas and subjects that may not specifically pertain to our area of interests, but that may serve us well to pay attention to.
We all know the saying, “connect the dots”. I see it as having enough knowledge to be able to connect the dots ina reasonable and informed way.
The tunnel-visioned man I interviewed could not do this. I wasn’t asking for an in-depth review of each topic presented, but an awareness of at least what the topic was.
I’ve mentioned before the importance of keeping up with global events on a daily basis if you are planning to get anywhere in this world.
Another tactic for being your own bridge-builder is to visualize how much time is saved when you cross a bridge, versus fording a river, or traversing a canyon.
It’s a safeguard for falling into a gap that might take you weeks or months to get yourself out of.
Confronting your fears
If you label something as fear, then it creates fear when sometimes it’s not fear, but a concern.
Side note: How does this reconcile with the idea from “The Way of the Superior Man”, when the author claims that our fears are our sharpest definitions of ourselves, and that a man who knows his fears is more trustworthy than a man who does not.
It’s easier to break down a concern than it is a fear, because fear will create a block that will only hinder your creative thinking. Objectivity will remove that block and allow for creative ideas to flow.
An antidote to fear is simply problem solving; breaking down a task into units of thought and dealt with in an orderly manner.
Know that if you want to own your own business, you will be doing a lot of work yourself. That’s just the way it is.
Business is not all about giving orders or having other people do the legwork or brainwork for you. True, that comes into the picture, but you should always be ready to go at it yourself.
If responsibility comes naturally to you, or if you enjoy that challenge, owning your own business is a good fit.
The opposite of fear is faith.
Do not allow fear to settle into place in any part of your life. It is a defeating attitude and a negative emotion. Replace it with a problem-solving attitude.
Imagination: A key to financial Savvy
Donald Trump attended Wharton School of Business and studied economics for undergrad.
This may sound simplistic, but I’m a firm believer in visualization, and it worked for me.
A lot of people have imagination, but it doesn’t help them because they can’t execute. I’m able to execute with the imagination.
Is business success a natural talent?
Before I decided to go to Wharton School of Finance, I had thought of attending University of Southern California to study film, but once I decided on Wharton, I was very serious and focused on school.
There’s a certain amount of bravado in what I do these days, and part of that bravado is to make it look easy. That’s why I’ve always referred to business as being an art.
When I was in school, I always did more than was expected and studied on my own in addition to what was required.
Business is about creativity. That’s were the art part comes in.
Keep it short, fast, and direct
Business is no place for stream of consciousness babbling, no matter how colorful you might think you’re being.
Whatever you’re doing, keep it short, fast, and direct. It’s also more polite.
Practice giving your presentation in under 5 minutes.
My advantage is my ability to get to the point faster than anybody else.
While they are still formulating sentences, I’v already written the book.
I already had the deal done in my head.
But that ability did not happen overnight, I’ve worked at it for a long time.
But we can all put the technique to use everyday, whether it’s replying to a message, writing an email, or ordering lunch.
The candidates who can present the facts with the least amount of verbal decoration will have an advantage.
People appreciate brevity in today’s world.
Have the right mindset for the job
When I say have the right mindset, I am thinking about responsibility. People who take responsibility have no need to blame others or be continually finding fault.
When faced with the question, “what are you going to do about it?”, it’s really a question only reserved for the people who bear the most responsibility–the ball is in their court.
Look at yourself first when things go wrong.