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[Assistant] The world inspires me, and keeping up with world events can give you a lot of ideas. In this age of technology, we have access to more and more information at a faster pace than ever before and I find that exciting.


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[Assistant] I have a pretty good track record of successes by now, but failure is always a possibility.


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[Assistant] I am cautious but not fearful. That's a difference. There's a difference.


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[Assistant] It's important to be circumspect. Know that the possibility of success is there as well as failure. Risk plays a part in everything we do.


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[Assistant] I could get hit by a bus while I am crossing the street. Things happen.


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[Assistant] Since I own golf courses and love to golf, I can have a great time golfing while inspecting the course.


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[Assistant] In the winter, I go down to my Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach on the weekends so I can golf year-round.


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[Assistant] I take weekends more than vacations which works for me.


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[Assistant] 16. We like your show, the apprentice. We were wondering if you like firing people. I don't like firing anyone.


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[Assistant] Sometimes it's necessary, but I'd rather keep people around me for a long time.


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[Assistant] I have employees who have been with me for over 30 years.


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[Assistant] The best working environment is when everyone has the same work ethic and focus and does their best.


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[Assistant] That's the case with most of my employees, but not always, and if not, then a change has to be made. 17. When you first started out in real estate, what was your main goal?


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[Assistant] Doing well. Doing my best. Doing a great job and knowing it's great. Being able to share that accomplishment is good too. I can increase the value of neighborhoods and communities, provide jobs, and I'm in a position to give back in charitable ways.


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[Assistant] You can accomplish more things with that attitude than anything else I can tell you.


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[Assistant] I have always been interested in building a golf course in Scotland for two very good reasons aside from the spectacular beauty of that country. My mother was born there and Scotland is the birthplace of golf.


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[Assistant] Golf has been an important part of my life, and needless to say, so was my mother.


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[Assistant] I spent five years reviewing sites, and I turned down over 200 possibilities for development throughout Europe.


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[Assistant] Many estate and many house, which dates from the 14th century, is 12 miles north of Aberdeen, which is Scotland's third largest city.


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[Assistant] More important, I had never seen such a dramatic, unspoiled seaside landscape. It contained sand dunes of immense proportions, three miles of spectacular oceanfront, and 1400 acres in all. It was stunning, and I got excited. The low point. It's not easy when people laugh in your face.


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[Assistant] I knew that Scotland had a reputation for being a great place when it came to development and business, so I was enthusiastic to begin work there.


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[Assistant] However, the announcement of my proposed development caused some consternation and the environmentalists were immediately on guard. In fact, I remember people openly laughing when they saw the scope of what I had planned.


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[Assistant] This site is of environmental and historical significance to Scotland, and no one thought I would get approvals to go ahead.


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[Assistant] The environmental statement on many a state alone takes up two five inch thick books.


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[Assistant] The main problem centered around an environmental concern I had never encountered before called geomorphology.


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[Assistant] It was brought to our attention by our environmental experts and by the Scottish National Heritage Organization.


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[Assistant] Since addressing this subject was a planning board requirement and a major hurdle, we took it very seriously and tried to learn everything we could.


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[Assistant] We hired the leading authority on geomorphology, and every detail was seriously considered.


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[Assistant] I think we surprised everyone by our concern and professional conscience, and our perseverance and integrity was noted by the decision makers involved.


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[Assistant] Back to geomorphology, which is the study of movement landforms, including their origin and evolution and the processes that have shaped them over the years.


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[Assistant] The remarkable sand dunes found on the many estate are a restricted area comprising a total of 25 acres of land.


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[Assistant] They move by natural forces, which can spell disaster for a golf course.


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[Assistant] We looked at maps from many years ago and saw how the entire 25 acres of dunes had literally moved to a different location by nature's force. And so we knew the environmental concerns and ours were valid.


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[Assistant] We did extensive research on this problem and discovered the dunes could be stabilized by planting beds of marum grass, whose root system allows it to thrive in windswept and harsh climates.


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[Assistant] This grass protects the sand dunes and also adds another dimension of natural beauty to the landscape.


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[Assistant] In addition, based on our environmental research we made many other recommendations to improve and protect the local wildlife.


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[Assistant] The creation of three artificial holts for otters and a written otter protection plan. Preparation of a badger protection plan based on new surveys.


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[Assistant] New habitat creation for red list breeding birds.


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[Assistant] Erection of nest boxes and bat boxes at many house.


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[Assistant] Remember when I mentioned the two five inch thick books? I wasn't exaggerating. So if you think things just happened because my name is Donald Trump, let this be a reminder that it doesn't work that way.


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[Assistant] When we finally submitted the final outline of the planning application to the Aberdeenshire Council, it addressed both the environmental and business issues of the development.


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[Assistant] On the economic side, the construction project would create approximately 6,230 jobs in Aberdeenshire and 740 jobs in the rest of Scotland.


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[Assistant] The ongoing operation would support a total of 1,250 jobs and 1,440 long term jobs. Overall, the project could create as much as 205 million pounds in economic value for Aberdeenshire and 262 million pounds for Scotland.


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[Assistant] Those are some of the facts and figures we submitted, and as you can see, our research had to be very detailed.


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[Assistant] It's no surprise that support was enthusiastic from the local business community.


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[Assistant] For my part, this will be an expensive development, costing nearly one billion pounds, but it's really a labor of love for me.


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[Assistant] As I write this a year after the first big environmental issues surfaced, we are going ahead with our vision, and very few impediments. How did it happen?


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[Assistant] How did we overcome the challenges people thought were insurmountable?


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[Assistant] People were expecting a duel and instead, we offered a partnership.


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[Assistant] We worked with the Scottish National Heritage and forged a partnership based on our collective concerns.


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[Assistant] We did a huge amount of background work and environmental research that took a lot of time and effort on our part, but it was time well spent.


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[Assistant] Along the way we broke the barriers and mistrust by being vigilant, open and honest, and by hiring the best people to get the job done properly.


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[Assistant] We offered a superior product and no one could challenge our credibility.


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[Assistant] The fact that we were environmentally sensitive gave the authorities faith in our ability to do what was best for everyone.


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[Assistant] Being sympathetic to the rich history and heritage of the area and the overall impact our development might have as it turned out was not a sacrifice by any means. It will remain an ongoing concern for centuries to come, I would hope.


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[Assistant] The Scottish National Heritage is doing their job, and so are we.


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[Assistant] We are still awaiting approvals for some areas of our development and George Soriel from the Trump Organization, who I asked to manage the project, has been traveling to Scotland every two or three weeks to oversee progress. I'll be going over in about two weeks and I've enjoyed every trip I've taken to Scotland.


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[Assistant] Coincidentally, George's mother was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis, where my mother grew up.


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[Assistant] Martin Hawtree is designing the course, and we hope to have it done in two years.


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[Assistant] That's not all. We will have a golf driving range, a golf academy, and a short game practice area.


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[Assistant] The home of golf deserves this kind of comprehensive attention and we are designing the course to be the best links golf course on earth.


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[Assistant] It will be the perfect site to host an Open or the Ryder Cup down the line.


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[Assistant] In addition to the golf links, which will eventually include two 18 hole links golf courses, we are building 950 condominiums, 500 houses, a 450 room hotel, 36 golf villas, and accommodations for 400 staff members.


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[Assistant] This will be a destination point for all golf lovers of the world, and the standard for golf development will reach a new plateau when we are finished. It hasn't been an easy road.


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[Assistant] But after waiting and looking for five determined years, every bit of work has been worth it.


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[Assistant] As a result, I'm nearly an expert at geomorphology. Who could ask for anything more?


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[Assistant] Chapter 10 Separate yourself from the complaining crowd. You can create your own luck.


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[Assistant] I've often heard people talking about how so-and-so is so lucky, as if to emphasize that they themselves are not lucky.


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[Assistant] I think what's really happening is the complainers aren't working themselves into luck.


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[Assistant] If you want to be lucky, prepare for something big. Sure, it might be more fun to watch movies, but unless you're going into the film industry, it's not the best use of your time. Developing your talents requires work and work creates luck.


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[Assistant] Having this attitude towards success is a great way to set yourself on a rewarding course for your life.


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[Assistant] There was a lot of talk for a while about venting your frustrations and anxieties and how it might be healthy to get them off your chest.


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[Assistant] To a point yes, but to an exaggerated degree, no.


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[Assistant] I read an article recently about how complaining without doing anything about it is actually detrimental to physical and mental wellbeing.


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[Assistant] With the advent of blogging and all the other sorts of opinion gushing venues available to everyone now, people are spending way too much time harping on negative themes. The emphasis is out of balance, and the negative focus doesn't help the situation.


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[Assistant] Don't dwell so much on a problem that you've exhausted yourself before you can even entertain a solution. It just doesn't make sense.


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[Assistant] It takes brain power and energy to think positively and creatively and to see creatively and positively.


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[Assistant] Going negative is the easy way. The lazy way.


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[Assistant] Use your brain power to focus on positives and solutions, and your own mindset will help create your own luck.


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[Assistant] That's a clear message. We are responsible for ourselves. We are responsible for our own luck.


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[Assistant] What an empowering thought. If you see responsibility as a bum deal, then you are not seeing it for what it really is. A great opportunity.


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[Assistant] Let's say you're facing some big challenge today. I can tell you right now, you've got a lot of company.


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[Assistant] What will separate you from the complaining crowd will be how you choose to look at your situation.


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[Assistant] If you believe you are in control of it, and you are, you will know exactly who to look for when you need help. Yourself.


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[Assistant] You could be your greatest discovery yet for success, luck, power, and happiness.


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[Assistant] When I encountered enormous financial challenges back in the 1990s, I was mature enough to assume responsibility and know that the problem was mine.


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[Assistant] I knew it wouldn't do any good to blame other people, that would be a waste of time, and that's one kind of loss I don't like. Time is something that cannot be replaced.


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[Assistant] If you find yourself slipping into the blaming others mode, get out of it quickly. Give luck the chance it needs to play itself out in your life. No one can do it for you. As soon as you discover that luck is yours to create, you'll be thinking and seeing things in a whole new way. So work hard, have fun, and good luck.


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[Assistant] Chapter 11 Sometimes, you have to swallow your pride. Trump International Hotel and Tower, New York.


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[Assistant] We've all heard of beauty makeovers. Sometimes the results are amazing. I like to do the same thing with buildings.


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[Assistant] Sometimes it requires more innovation to improve things in a big way than to build something new.


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[Assistant] The challenges can be more complex, which is why a lot of developers are quick to tear down existing structures and start over with a site.


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[Assistant] I have a few good examples of buildings and businesses that were worth salvaging and they have turned out to be resounding successes.


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[Assistant] The first thing to keep in mind is that you have to be resolved not to give up in the face of more problems than you might normally encounter.


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[Assistant] Trump International Hotel and Tower is located at 1 Central Park West. Fantastic location with unobstructed views of the park.


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[Assistant] What a lot of people don't know is that it was formerly the Gulf and Western Paramount building.


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[Assistant] It was owned by General Electric, which had Jack Welch, John Myers, and Dale Fray at the helm, and it was an office building.


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[Assistant] It really stands out because it's one of the few tall towers on the west side.


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[Assistant] It went up in the early 1960s just before zoning laws were passed that would prohibit such a tall building at that location.


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[Assistant] This building managed to attract a lot of attention not just because of its height, but because of some construction problems that had the tenants on edge.


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[Assistant] For one thing, it's swayed in the wind and would flex at the top with winds of only 15 miles per hour.


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[Assistant] All buildings have some flexibility, but this was an exceptional situation.


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[Assistant] Elevators would stop, and some tenants even said they felt seasick.


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[Assistant] Once, when there was a high wind, the upper windows fell out. These episodes were legendary.


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[Assistant] Let's just say this building had some problems, some pretty major problems.


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[Assistant] Also, it was not constructed very well because the outside curtain was made of glass and cheap aluminum, and it was chock full of asbestos.


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[Assistant] The good news was that the building structure was classic and had wonderfully high ceilings. It was worth saving for those important reasons alone.


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[Assistant] When I heard this building was for sale, I called Dale Frye and asked to meet him.


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[Assistant] That's when I found out he was receiving calls from many major developers around the country. I would have a lot of competition.


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[Assistant] However, I arranged for a meeting and I explained that if the building was completely demolished, it could only be rebuilt as a 19 story building versus the 52 fabulous stories that it was. That alone was a big reason to see what could be salvaged, but it would require a lot of research, which I immediately started doing.


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[Assistant] What I suggested was that the steel structure could be strengthened and the high ceilings would be ideal for a residential building, which was also a hotter item in the market than a business space would be.


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[Assistant] This was the perfect location for a luxury residential building.


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[Assistant] General Electric seemed impressed with my ideas, and I felt good about their positive reaction to everything I had presented.


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[Assistant] My only concern at this point was that I was just emerging from some financial problems So they might be hesitant to take a chance on me What happened next came as a shock


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[Assistant] Dale Fry called to tell me that while he liked my plans a lot, they were putting the job out to bid.


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[Assistant] I was wondering if they had just been humoring me all that time, even though they appeared to be interested and impressed with my ideas.


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[Assistant] What could I do? I was definitely interested. I'd already spent a lot of time and effort on this, so I finally swallowed my pride and decided to just go for it.


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[Assistant] I like challenges and this had become an even bigger one. Not that I was happy about it.


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[Assistant] So I worked on a fantastic and detailed presentation.


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[Assistant] When I say put everything into what you're doing, this was a good example.


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[Assistant] It seemed like ages, but General Electric finally called to say they were going with me.


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[Assistant] Being chosen by this power group to develop this incredible site was wonderful news. Trump International Hotel and Tower would become a reality.


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[Assistant] It made all the aggravation of the process worth it. Dale Fry and John Myers at GE made it possible. They are great guys.


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[Assistant] In 1995, we began to demolish the former Gulf and Western Tower. Only the steel structure would remain.


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[Assistant] I had Philip Johnson lined up as the architect, along with Costas Kondalas and associates, so we were assured of a spectacular as well as elegant building.


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[Assistant] Philip Johnson had designed the State Theater at Lincoln Center, which is only a few blocks away.


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[Assistant] This was an important building and I wanted the very best. That's exactly what all of us got.


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[Assistant] Trump International Hotel and Tower is now the number one hotel in New York City. It includes Jean George Restaurant, which is acknowledged as one of the great restaurants of the world.


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[Assistant] The condominiums in the building stay on the market for a very short time. There are waiting lists for everything concerned with this building.


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[Assistant] It's also the first time a hotel and condominium have been combined, which people now hail as an innovation.


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[Assistant] It wasn't an innovation to me, just common sense. In fact, it's an idea that is copied around the world today and with great success. So take the time to think things through.


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[Assistant] Yes, the original building had major problems. Yes, the approval process was confounding. But that was part of the challenge. It also provided me with a great opportunity.


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[Assistant] Sometimes you have to look a little harder to see those opportunities, but believe me, it's worth it.


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[Assistant] Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's the conquering of fear.


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[Assistant] It's much easier to give up, and that's exactly what losers do.


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[Assistant] Being knocked down is one thing, staying down is another.


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[Assistant] Some very ordinary people have accomplished remarkable things by simply being persistent and never giving up.


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[Assistant] On The Apprentice, the candidates must first go through a grueling audition process. There have been millions of applicants, and only a few people are chosen.


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[Assistant] Those aren't terrific odds. That's why I firmly believe that there are no losers on that show. The people who try out for the program show great courage to begin with. They are all winners. Being fired in front of millions of people isn't easy. But that's part of the deal, and they persist anyway.


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[Assistant] Most of them say the experience was worth everything they put into it, whether they won or not.


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[Assistant] Hemingway wrote the now familiar phrase, courage is grace under pressure. Think about it. Some days we are faced with challenges that we'd rather not have to deal with, but we get up and deal with them anyway.


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[Assistant] That's courage. It requires a certain poise. Maybe it's not heroic. Maybe everyday isn't going to bring a calamitous situation, but it's an example of bravery that we can all understand.


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[Assistant] Self confidence is a component of courage that we all need. Sometimes we need a push in the right direction.


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[Assistant] I worked with a young executive who had never done any public speaking so he decided he wasn't any good at it. He told me so. And I thought to myself, he hasn't even tried public speaking and he tells me he's no good at it.


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[Assistant] I had a feeling he'd be good at it. A few months later, when I realized I wouldn't be able to make a dinner engagement that included a short speech, I told him he'd have to step in for me. He told me I don't do public speaking.


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[Assistant] I said to him, you do now, end of conversation. Do you know what? He's become an accomplished speaker.


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[Assistant] Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's the conquering of fear.


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[Assistant] The phenomenon of stage fright is a good example. I read an article recently about how common stage fright is, even among professional actors. There are a lot of very accomplished and famous performers who deal with it regularly, sometimes for decades. They don't let their fear get in the way of their passion.


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[Assistant] I'm used to speaking in front of tens of thousands of people and I find it enjoyable, but I've often had people ask me if I get nervous. I don't. I just go out and do it.


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[Assistant] Winston Churchill was a great orator, but I read that he spent a lot of time developing this skill. He wasn't a natural in the beginning, but he worked at it until he mastered it. He became a powerful and mesmerizing speaker.


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[Assistant] One of his most famous speeches during World War II included these words, Never, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.


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[Assistant] Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.


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[Assistant] Churchill and his people were in danger of being bombed out and overrun by the German military when he said that. You might not be experiencing the Blitz, but you can still apply those words of courage to your daily life.


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[Assistant] There are days when I have so many problems come at me at once that it can seem like the blitz.


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[Assistant] I don't give into them, and neither should you, ever.


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[Assistant] Another important thing about courage is that it will help you think and act in the right way. It will help you focus on the opportunities in front of you instead of on the problems. Problems are often opportunities coming at us in packaging that isn't what we expect or want.


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[Assistant] This has happened to me more times than I can count. So when I say I welcome problems, there's a reason for it. Keep your mind flexible and open to creative solutions to your problems.


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[Assistant] Einstein said, you can't solve a problem with the same thinking that created the problem.


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[Assistant] That's a good way to avoid brain cramps, as well as find a solution.


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[Assistant] Back to courage. Remember that fear can be conquered.


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[Assistant] Know that you are capable of courage and that you are designed to succeed. That's half the battle.


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[Assistant] Then go full throttle, and the odds will be on your side.


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[Assistant] When I decided to build my first golf course, I found a good piece of land near my Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach and decided to go all out. I hired Jim Fazio, one of the all-time great golf course designers.


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[Assistant] When he told me he'd have to move over 3 million cubic yards of dirt to make the relatively flat land into a spectacular course I didn't blink an eye.


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[Assistant] I was excited about building my first golf course and ready to move mountains if necessary.


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[Assistant] I did, however, wonder what I'd gotten myself into once again.


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[Assistant] Shortly after hearing the three million number, he told me it would be necessary to bring in over five thousand trees, and about a thousand royal palms, and over a thousand coconut trees.


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[Assistant] Then there would need to be about two million dollars worth of little plants to make everything look well groomed.


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[Assistant] The water feature for one hole, number 17, would cost close to three million dollars and take about nine months to complete.


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[Assistant] This was going to be an 18-hole course. I almost started to worry.


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[Assistant] I knew Jim was giving me straight, well thought out numbers for his work. His integrity is legend.


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[Assistant] I realized that my original 40 million dollar estimate might be way too low. Is this what happens when a developer who specializes in skyscrapers turns to golf course development?


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[Assistant] Was I making a huge mistake? Should I have stuck with terrain that I knew more about already?


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[Assistant] I've always told people to know what they were doing first, to do due diligence to the nth degree, to be cautiously optimistic.


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[Assistant] Jim Fazio often says that one of the great things about working with me is that I never asked him if we were spending too much money.


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[Assistant] Instead I'd ask, do you need anything else?


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[Assistant] He said that attitude helped his creative process. I'm glad he thought that because in a big way, that's how it was. I have to admit that I had a few moments of doubts. Not big doubts, but doubts nevertheless.


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[Assistant] For example, it took a solid year to move three million cubic yards of dirt and to transplant five thousand trees.


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[Assistant] This wasn't fast going, but it was necessary, and it was painstaking work on Jim's part.


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[Assistant] Then, the Department of Environmental Resources told us that only 50 acres could be cleared at a time, which required us to plan the course in seven sections.


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[Assistant] This also involved labeling all the trees and building a lake system.


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[Assistant] So it took a year before the golf course could even begin to be built.


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[Assistant] Fortunately, I'm a patient man when it comes to things I care a lot about.


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[Assistant] I was very excited to have a spectacular course and I realized that if this is what was required to have that then so be it.


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[Assistant] I had made my decision, and I decided to stick with it.


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[Assistant] When you are faced with situations like these, it's important to think about why you are doing whatever you're doing in the first place.


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[Assistant] There are always going to be some problems and if you can remind yourself of your original goal, it helps to clarify and shed light on any doubts you might be having.


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[Assistant] Having done that, I was reassured and ready to move forward.


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[Assistant] Then I heard about the oak trees. One thousand of them. It took five months to move them in because each of them had to be wrapped, and only three could be hauled in at a time.


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[Assistant] These oak trees were 20 to 40 feet tall each. They would line the fairways and would be worth it, I hoped.


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[Assistant] It was around this time I heard about the gopher tortoises.


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[Assistant] For example, they have been known to dig burrows as long as 40 feet by 10 feet deep. Just imagine what that can do to a golf course.


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[Assistant] So while I admired the tortoises for their industry, they had to be carefully relocated.


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[Assistant] After more than a year of meticulous preparation, the course was actually being built.


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[Assistant] Every hole was treated as if it was to be the culmination of a great course. And the end result is that the course is an absolute masterpiece. No other description does it justice. That's what I wanted and that's what I got.


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[Assistant] Every tree was worth the time and effort, and believe me, I know about each and every tree.


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[Assistant] An additional nine-hole course was opened in 2006 to equal a claim.


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[Assistant] It has been a resounding success on top of being an extraordinary achievement of design.


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[Assistant] The success and beauty of Trump International Golf Club set me up for building more golf courses and all of them have been highly praised and very successful.


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[Assistant] If you are passionate about your endeavors, it will be reflected back to you in your end result.


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[Assistant] Be sure to get the right people to work with you. Jim Fazio is as passionate about his work as I am, and this becomes apparent when you see the scope and quality of the finished course.


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[Assistant] Overcoming tremendous obstacles is all in a day's work if you love what you're doing. Remember that.


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[Assistant] If you see big problems, look for big opportunities.


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[Assistant] Transforming a dilapidated neighborhood into a world-class hotspot.


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[Assistant] Today, Grand Central Station in New York City is beautiful, both as a site, as well as a site. It's in a thriving, well-kept neighborhood.


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[Assistant] However, in the 1970s, it was a different situation altogether.


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[Assistant] The area was in the midst of serious decay. It was crummy, run down, and a destination point for no one except those entering and leaving the city as quickly as they possibly could.


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[Assistant] I love this city, always have and always will. So this situation merited my attention and the opportunity, as I saw it, was not just to turn an old hotel into a shiny new one, but to bring up the neighborhood at the same time. It's that think big attitude that I have.


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[Assistant] Why do one thing, when you can accomplish two or more at the same time?


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[Assistant] The old Commodore Hotel next to Grand Central was in big trouble.


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[Assistant] I knew that the neighborhood was ready for change, and acquiring the Commodore Hotel became a quest.


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[Assistant] The flip side was that I knew it was a way to get the city to flourish the way it should.


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[Assistant] I'd be creating jobs, and improving the neighborhood for starters.


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[Assistant] I wanted it to be beautiful and that gave me incentive to get through all the problems and negativity surrounding this project.


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[Assistant] That's a good thing to keep in mind. Use your mind to visualize how things might be as you go along. That can make a plethora of details and setbacks just a part of the plan.


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[Assistant] About nine months before I was seriously into negotiations for the hotel, the owner, Penn Central Railroad, spent about two million in renovations that had no impact whatsoever. The hotel needed far more work. Six million dollars was owned in back taxes.


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[Assistant] It was not a pleasant situation for the owners and they were ready to get out.


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[Assistant] Before I could purchase the hotel for 10 million, I had to structure an extremely complex deal with other interested parties.


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[Assistant] I needed a tax abatement from the city of New York. A commitment from a hotel company with experience running hotels and financing.


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[Assistant] This was complicated stuff, and it took several years to negotiate everything.


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[Assistant] At one point, Penn Central wanted me to pay a non-refundable $250,000 for an exclusive option on the property.


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[Assistant] I had to stall on that. That was a lot of money for an obviously risky situation.


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[Assistant] In order to remain in the process but to have more time, I had my lawyers nitpick the contracts and slow everything down.


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[Assistant] Meanwhile, I looked for a designer who had what it took to make a spectacular building.


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[Assistant] One young architect named Dare Scutt that I contacted was immediately interested.


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[Assistant] He understood that I wanted to change the dingy hotel completely to basically wrap it in something new and shiny and give the whole area a new face.


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[Assistant] Note that I wasn't sure this deal was even going to go through, but because my goal was so clear in my mind, I went ahead and took the time to meet with an architect, as if the project was a done deal.


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[Assistant] That's positive thinking, but also pragmatic thinking, keeping things moving forward. If one thing doesn't work out, another will.


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[Assistant] Meantime, I will have met and connected with an architect that I respected and who respected me.


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[Assistant] If this deal fell through, I'd already know someone to reach out to for the next big project.


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[Assistant] I hired Dare Scutt to do some drawings and asked him to make the presentation look as sleek as possible. I also started to look for an operator for the hotel.


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[Assistant] The hotel business was new to me at the time, so I needed to find someone with experience, a lot of it, because my proposal was for a 1400 room hotel with 1.5 million square feet. That's big.


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[Assistant] I wanted a big operator. And the big names then were Hilton, Hyatt, Sheridan, Holiday Inn and Ramada Inn.


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[Assistant] To me, the top of the line was Hyatt. Their hotels were contemporary and light, which would be the perfect antidote to the dark and dreary Commodore.


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[Assistant] It was also a fact that they didn't have a presence in New York City, though Hilton did. They might be interested. I was correct. They were.


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[Assistant] I called up the president, and we discussed a partnership.


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[Assistant] However, he was prone to changing his mind after we'd negotiate, and this was seriously interfering with any progress.


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[Assistant] So I called another executive at Hyatt who suggested I call the guy who really ran the company, Jay Pritzker of the Pritzker family, who owned a controlling interest in Hyatt. So I did. He seemed eager to meet me and came to New York.


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[Assistant] We made a deal quickly as equal partners. Hyatt would manage the hotel after I had it built. I was thrilled. We announced it to the press in May of 1975.


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[Assistant] I still needed to get financing and a multi-million dollar tax abatement from the city.


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[Assistant] At least with a hotel partner, an architect, and rough cost estimates, I had something substantial to bring with me, along with my big ideas. So I hired a real estate broker who had a lot of experience, and who was in his 60s.


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[Assistant] I was only 27 years old at this time, and having a mature, accomplished presence with me worked to my advantage. We'd be making the pitch together for financing and we'd make a good pair.


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[Assistant] That's a good point to remember. Get the right people to work with you.


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[Assistant] When dealing with Hyatt, it was critical that I had gone around the president who was slowing things down and called Jay Pritzker directly. Now, finding a dedicated broker who added the right balance to my image was a smart move. Am I tooting my own horn a bit? You bet.


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[Assistant] Getting financing quickly became a catch-22 situation.


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[Assistant] Without financing, the city wasn't about to consider a tax abatement.


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[Assistant] And without a tax abatement, the banks weren't too keen on financing.


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[Assistant] It seemed like a brick wall at every turn, so we decided to change our approach.


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[Assistant] We finally found a bank that appeared to be interested. We went far with them, putting in endless hours and effort when a key guy suddenly changed his mind and brought up some inconsequential issue in order to kill the deal.


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[Assistant] We came up with every conceivable argument, but the guy was implacable. He would not budge.


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[Assistant] It was at this point that I said to my broker, let's just take this deal and shove it. I had had it.


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[Assistant] You're probably surprised to even hear me say it, but it's one of the few times I just wanted to throw in the towel.


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[Assistant] It was my broker and my lawyer, George Ross, who convinced me to keep going, pointing out how much time and effort had already been devoted to this project.


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[Assistant] I'm not a quitter by nature, but I'm telling you this so you'll know there have been times when the difficulties seemed greater than the rewards. That was definitely the low point.


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[Assistant] But because I hung in there, it became a turning point.


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[Assistant] Afterward, my resolution became even stronger.


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[Assistant] The city agreed to a deal that would essentially make us partners, and I would receive a property tax abatement for 40 years. It was a deal that benefited everyone.


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[Assistant] I would buy the Commodore for 10 million, with 6 million going to the city for back taxes. I would then sell the hotel to the city for 1 dollar, and they would lease it back to me for 99 years. Was this complicated?


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[Assistant] Yes, but it worked, and we eventually got financing from two institutions. One of them was directly across the street from the Commodore.


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[Assistant] I don't know if you have seen the Hyatt at Grand Central, but it has four exterior walls of mirrors as a facade, which reflect all the wonderful architecture of the area.


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[Assistant] Incredibly, this at first made people furious when it didn't fit in with the existing neighborhood design.


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[Assistant] What they didn't realize is that the reflections of the surrounding buildings emphasize their beauty and importance to the Manhattan skyline.


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[Assistant] Now people and critics love this building. It started the revitalization of the Grand Central area and opened in 1980 to great success.


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[Assistant] Today, it's a hub of New York City, thriving and beautiful.


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[Assistant] Expect problems and setbacks. It's all part of the game.


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[Assistant] If you're not running into major challenges, you're doing something easy and probably not that valuable. And it's probably not going to make much money for you.


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[Assistant] A big problem often signals a big opportunity. Be prepared to work long and hard for it.


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[Assistant] Don't be afraid to pursue multiple options or multiple people at the same time.


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[Assistant] If one thing doesn't work out, you've got backup options. I promise you, not everything is going to work. In fact, you may have to try a lot of things to get just one thing to work. That's tenacity. And it's critical to success.


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[Assistant] Not too long ago, I received a letter from my kindergarten teacher.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] Maybe your own sense of discovery is one reason you're listening to this book.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] It's also a reminder that no matter how much you've accomplished already, there's still more waiting for you to get done.


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[Assistant] Maybe I'm a naturally curious person, but I think it's a good attitude to cultivate.


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[Assistant] I like hearing what other people have to say, and I learn a lot that way too.


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[Assistant] My interests are reflected in the diversity of businesses that I am involved in. Real estate, the entertainment industry, golf course development, and so forth.


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[Assistant] Keeping yourself as diverse as possible can open you up to many more opportunities than you might imagine.


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[Assistant] Sometimes, one thing can lead to another.


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[Assistant] You already know I'm not big on complacency, and I'm also not big on know-it-alls. The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know.


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[Assistant] Having this attitude is a great way to set yourself up for some big success. To be any other way is to sell yourself short. How can you possibly discover anything if you already know everything?


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[Assistant] People who come into my office for the first time are often surprised by how many questions I ask. I remember when I had three bathroom sinks on a couch just outside my office for a few weeks. I had to decide which one I liked the best, so I asked every person who came in for their opinion and the reasons behind their choice.


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[Assistant] You'd be amazed at how much that opened up conversation and discussion, and I learned some very insightful things about these people and their tastes.


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[Assistant] How do you decide when it is smarter to bail out than to keep paddling?


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[Assistant] As businesses go, I'd rate the airlines as a great idea if you want a lot of trouble, too much competition, too much work, and all for too little profit.


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[Assistant] Recently, we saw what happened to JetBlue. They'd had a great record, very pleased passengers, and one ice storm knocked their reputation and their credibility completely off the runway. Their popularity plummeted, and they had to issue a public apology to passengers for their mismanagement. I thought, that's the airline business for you.


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[Assistant] Even Delta Airlines, which has been established for a long time, is just recently coming out of bankruptcy.


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[Assistant] The reason I can wince knowingly about these episodes with airlines is that I owned one from 1989 to 1992.


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[Assistant] It was known as the Trump Shuttle and it was originally a part of Eastern Airlines.


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[Assistant] We had flights from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Boston and Washington DC on an hourly basis. I got into the business initially because Eastern Airlines was having trouble in the late 1980s and it began selling its routes, including its northeastern air shuttle.


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[Assistant] Now this route was heavily trafficked, and I knew it could be successful. It just needed to be buffed up a bit, to make the travel time a bit more luxurious for the passengers.


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[Assistant] My previous experience with air travel was that I owned a helicopter service that provided flights to Atlantic City, LaGuardia, Manhattan, the Hamptons and Hartford, and I also had a private jet.


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[Assistant] I knew the conveniences that a traveler would want to have. I made the new shuttle top of the line and technologically savvy with one of the first self-service check-in kiosks, and it had laptop computers available to rent.


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[Assistant] The 727s were completely redecorated with maple wood trim inside and beautiful fixtures.


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[Assistant] I was the first to provide real luxury for shuttle passengers who had been used to no frills transportation


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[Assistant] I went into this business knowing that Eastern Airlines was in trouble, and in fact, I acquired the shuttle during a threatened mechanics strike. Let's just say there were problems, but I'm used to problems, right? Well, airline problems are another story entirely.


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[Assistant] The labor strike happened, and it went on long enough that we lost a lot of passengers to Amtrak as well as to the Pan Am shuttle.


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[Assistant] In addition, we were entering into a recession, and then in 1990, jet fuel prices skyrocketed due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. If it wasn't one thing, it was another.


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[Assistant] It's such a delicate business that the slightest tremor in world politics, economics, labor, or the weather and a hundred other variables can make a bright future suddenly tumble.


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[Assistant] As you know, I was having some financial problems around this time that would begin to escalate, not diminish due to the recession that had hit.


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[Assistant] My total demise was predicted in 1991 by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I had several big things falter, but this wasn't 1991 yet, it was 1990.


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[Assistant] I was sure Trump's shuttle would take off and avoid the recession. I was wrong.


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[Assistant] Trump's shuttle never turned a proper profit. And as my other business interests started to fail, my creditors were less than enthusiastic about my latest venture.


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[Assistant] In September of 1990, the ownership of the airline went to Citicorp, the airline's creditor bank.


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[Assistant] It's a complicated story, but to make it short, Trump's shuttle finally ended as such in April of 1992, and it was merged into a new corporation, which US Airways bought.


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[Assistant] Making a profit isn't easy, and it's a demanding and volatile business.


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[Assistant] That's why I find it hard to believe that Richard Branson, the owner of Virgin Air, has made any money at all with his airline.


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[Assistant] Fortunately, he has other businesses, or I don't think he'd be where he is today, financially.


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[Assistant] In the instance of Trump Shuttle, I know I did what was right to make it a successful and desirable business. I made the experience better for the traveler and introduced some innovations.


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[Assistant] It didn't matter. The outside forces were too great.


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[Assistant] It's one of those instances when you know the best decision is the decision to leave, to cut your losses and move on to something else.


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[Assistant] It was a great learning experience of what business not to go into. I'm perfectly happy now with my own planes. I rarely fly on commercial airlines and I can't say I miss it. I certainly don't miss the business. Coach Trump, make it happen in your life.


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[Assistant] Sometimes you work as hard as you can on something and it doesn't work out.


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[Assistant] The question is, how do you know when to give up?


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[Assistant] I usually tough it out longer than most people would in a similar situation, which is why I often succeed where others have failed.


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[Assistant] I also know that, sometimes you have to throw in the towel.


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[Assistant] Maybe you failed, but you probably learned something valuable.


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[Assistant] Chalk it up to experience. Don't take it personally. And go find your next challenge.


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[Assistant] There are probably a million definitions of what business is, what it isn't, what it's about, how it works and so forth. Years ago, I realized an important thing. Business is about knowing the world.


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[Assistant] I started to see the world as an emerging market. That insight alone can improve your vision almost automatically and vision is necessary for great success.


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[Assistant] In fact, if you can begin to see your neighborhood, your town, your state, as an emerging market, you will be surprised at how creative you will become.


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[Assistant] New ideas will come to you even though you know every street, every house, every tree.


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[Assistant] Newness of vision can be invaluable when it comes to business.


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[Assistant] When you suddenly get some great idea ask yourself, what am I pretending not to see?


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[Assistant] That's a good test for blind spots. Don't throw out those sudden lightning-like ideas, but be circumspect about them.


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[Assistant] Knowing the world means seeing the whole picture. That is definitely preferable to seeing a narrow slice of life and being content with a small amount of local knowledge.


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[Assistant] What we don't know can be as important as what we do know.


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[Assistant] If that thought doesn't make you endlessly curious about the wide world, I don't know what will.


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[Assistant] It's imperative to keep the big picture in mind and stay hungry for learning more if you want big success.


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[Assistant] I have had a think big attitude for a long time, even when I was determined to succeed in Manhattan as a young man. That was an immediate goal.


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[Assistant] The ultimate goal was a bit more universal. However, you have to do first things first.


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[Assistant] Now I am developing in many countries throughout the world, and the Trump brand is known globally.


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[Assistant] That's no accident. Aside from great determination and a strong will, I have to say that understanding the realities of how the world works, including a sense of world history, is a necessary ingredient for wide ranging success.


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[Assistant] There may be flukes that will occur that catapult individuals to fame or fortune, but most often, you will find that people who have operated on a large scale and remain diligent and successful for a long time also have a broad understanding of the world.


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[Assistant] I think the way technology drives business around the world today is an example of this.


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[Assistant] Visionaries saw all of this happening before most of us had given it a thought.


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[Assistant] The internet has brought the world together in an exciting and efficient way, and all of us worldwide are affected.


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[Assistant] Technology is growing so rapidly that it's hard to keep up with the changes even if you're in the industry. People have said, but is all this change really necessary?


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[Assistant] My answer is that refrigerators aren't really necessary. The world functioned without them for many centuries, but they sure were a great invention.


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[Assistant] In fact, for many years, countries' reputations were in part based on whether they had refrigeration or not.


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[Assistant] Emerging markets is a term very often associated with Wall Street firms. They have entire departments dedicated to fast-growing markets in developing countries around the world.


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[Assistant] Because it will most likely affect you and your business goals.


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[Assistant] My advice is to change your compass from local to global while minding your local business.


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[Assistant] Very often, what I want to do involves a lot of other organizations and a lot of bureaucracy.


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[Assistant] They say you can't fight City Hall, but I have no problem going against conventional wisdom.


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[Assistant] Think for yourself and go ahead and fight, especially if it means enough to you.


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[Assistant] This particular fight had a personal element to it. The view out my living room window.


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[Assistant] My apartment in Trump Tower overlooks the historic and scenic Wolman Rink in Central Park.


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[Assistant] It's a beautiful winter scene to look out and see it filled with ice skaters, except that for six years it was closed, and to look at the empty rink for six winters in a row finally got to me.


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[Assistant] This is a story about doing something that wasn't going to be easy. In fact, it was deliberately walking into a mess. But the end result would be a happy story for a lot of citizens in New York City, as well as thousands of visitors.


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[Assistant] It was a labor of love that also turned out to be one of my favorite accomplishments.


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[Assistant] New York City's management fiasco, with the renovation of Wolman Rink, was an absolute classic.


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[Assistant] After 6 years of renovations to the tune of 12 million, the rink was still closed.


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[Assistant] Then the city announced in 1986 that the entire process of renovation was starting over again, from scratch. I could bear it no more and wrote to then Mayor Koch a brand new wallman rink and have it done in six months at no cost to the city. It would be my gift to this great city.


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[Assistant] This sincere gesture was spurned by Mayor Koch, but he published my letter in the New York papers as a joke.


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[Assistant] Unfortunately for him, the New York journalists and public rallied to my side. He totally underestimated the press reaction.


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[Assistant] As one paper wrote, the city has proved nothing except that it can't get the job done.


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[Assistant] Kotch's reaction to my magnanimous gesture reminded me of the old saying, no good deed goes unpunished.


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[Assistant] The next day, after the papers in public took my side, Koch reversed himself completely.


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[Assistant] Suddenly, the city was virtually begging me to take on Wolman Rink.


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[Assistant] We had a meeting in my office on June 6th, 1986 with city officials, and long story short, we came to an agreement.


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[Assistant] I put up the construction money and agreed to complete the work by December 15.


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[Assistant] Although I was genuinely interested in doing this renovation, I must admit that when I went over and saw the conditions I was walking into, I had a few moments of doubt.


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[Assistant] This rink is over an acre in size, which makes it one of the largest man-made rinks in the country.


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[Assistant] There were enormous holes in the roof of the skater's house. There had been extensive water damage. And the rink required 22 miles of pipes. It also required two 35,000 pound refrigeration units.


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[Assistant] I had publicly promised to complete all the work within six months.


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[Assistant] I wondered if I had backed myself into a potentially humiliating corner.


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[Assistant] The doubts went away as long as I kept the image of a beautiful and finished rink in my mind. I knew I could get it done, but I wasn't kidding myself that it would be a piece of cake.


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[Assistant] The physical conditions at the rink weren't the biggest problem.


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[Assistant] There was such a lack of direction that the restoration process looked like a bumper car amusement ride that just went round and round in circles. There was no leadership.


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[Assistant] That's when I made the decision to take charge and check on this project every single day. I wanted to know what was going on, who was doing what, and I personally oversaw the process.


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[Assistant] For example, because I knew nothing about building rinks, I set out to find the best skating rink builder I could.


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[Assistant] The rink was finished one month ahead of time and under budget. It was well worth the effort.


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[Assistant] The gala opening celebration for the rink was a great occasion, and we had skaters Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, and others to help celebrate this great day for New York City.


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[Assistant] We finally had a working rink and a beautiful place for New Yorkers to play.


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[Assistant] All profits went to charity in the Parks Department. Everyone won.


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[Assistant] Was this process easy? No, it was painstaking. Was it worth it? You better believe it.


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[Assistant] When you come to New York City, don't miss it. Skating under the trees in Central Park and looking out on the magnificent skyline is an event you will never forget.


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[Assistant] Government bungling of the Wallman Ring project was made possible in part thanks to a terrible New York state law passed in 1921 called the Wicks law.


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[Assistant] It requires local governments undertaking renovations or new building projects that cost more than $50,000 to hire four separate contractors. General construction, plumbing, electrical, and heating and ventilation.


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[Assistant] Local governments must hire the lowest bidder in each of these areas even though they could save a lot of time and money by hiring a single general contractor who oversees all subcontractors.


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[Assistant] Instead of allowing competition, what it does is increase up to 30% the cost of building anything for the government in New York.


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[Assistant] Fortunately, there may be some new hope for getting rid of the Wicks Law, thanks to recent media attention.


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[Assistant] On May 29th, 2007, the New York Times ran an article by Dorothy Samuels in their editorial section, which was titled, From Donald Trump to Eliot Spitzer, Still Battling Over a Wasteful Law.


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[Assistant] Ms. Samuels has always been an insightful writer who writes about significant issues.


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[Assistant] In bringing up the Wicks Law, she retold the story of how I saved Walman Ring from government bungling and managed to educate the citizens of New York City about something they probably weren't aware of unless they are in real estate construction.


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[Assistant] It's something that affects them by driving up government costs and taxes.


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[Assistant] I have to say, it was nice to be remembered 21 years later as someone who tried to make a difference and did.


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[Assistant] Let's hope this situation will be remedied soon. It will benefit


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[Assistant] Fear stop you, even in front of millions of people.


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[Assistant] What do you do when doubts continue to surface even after you've committed to go forward?


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[Assistant] A lot of people mistakenly think that I stride the planet in a state of absolute certainty all the time.


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[Assistant] The truth is, there are times I have to wrestle with doubts after I've made big decisions. The challenge is what you do with doubts.


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[Assistant] Handled poorly, doubt can sap your spirit and resolve.


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[Assistant] Handled well, doubt should make you smarter and strengthen your chances for success.


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[Assistant] I will always remember the day Jeff Zucker, the president of NBC, called to make an appointment to see me in my office. The Apprentice was already the hit of the season on NBC, and I didn't think he'd be making a social call considering the schedules both of us keep.


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[Assistant] However, I was not prepared when he came in and said to me, Donald do me a favor. Host Saturday Night Live.


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[Assistant] Hosting Saturday Night Live is usually a job reserved for professional entertainers, from Billy Crystal to Kevin Spacey, from Robin Williams to Alec Baldwin.


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[Assistant] I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but it was too late now.


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[Assistant] After Jeff left, I started thinking of a live audience, comedy skits, a monologue, facing off with Daryl Hammond, who imitates me very well, and who knows what else they'd come up with.


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[Assistant] This is a particularly good story for this book because it illustrates how doubts, potentially one of the worst forms of adversity, can continue to surface even after you've made up your mind to go forward courageously with some big risk.


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[Assistant] Let me tell you, I had major doubts about this one. It's not always smooth sailing just because you've decided to do something with enthusiasm.


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[Assistant] Running through my mind was the fact that, if the show was a disaster, millions of people would witness it, live, without edits. It was a great opportunity to flop on a huge level.


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[Assistant] The doubts swelled, and I knew I had to regroup.


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[Assistant] The more I thought about it, I realized the show is legendary. I know its creator, Lorne Michaels, and the writers are fantastic.


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[Assistant] I knew I'd give it my best shot. As I've always said, you've got to think big.


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[Assistant] Anyway, the process of this live show was an incredible experience.


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[Assistant] First on Tuesday, I met with Lauren's team of gifted writers, led by Tina Fey. They asked questions and pitched a lot of ideas. It was an intense and productive hour.


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[Assistant] By Thursday, we were reading through the sketches with the members of the Saturday Night Live team.


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[Assistant] They are pros, but very amiable and helpful. So, it was a pleasure, and I felt some of my nervousness vanishing.


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[Assistant] I knew I was facing some pretty big hurdles, and I was wondering how it would all fall into place in the two days we had.


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[Assistant] I was also wondering how I would remember everything. I'm used to doing my own material and as a public speaker I'm at ease. However, this was a different scenario entirely.


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[Assistant] Our first full day was on Friday, where we did run throughs of the skits on the Saturday Night Live stage. The sets weren't finished, but the theatrical aspect of what I was getting into was very apparent.


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[Assistant] There was so much going on around me that I didn't have time to take into account the fact that I was feeling apprehensive.


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[Assistant] In addition, the costume changes had to be taken into consideration.


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[Assistant] There wasn't much time between skits, and one skit required a mid-skit costume change.


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[Assistant] Fortunately, they have a wardrobe team that later takes over and navigates you through the show.


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[Assistant] Since I'm a guy who likes to know everything that's going on, I will admit that a few times, I felt a bit overwhelmed.


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[Assistant] This was a commercial for Trump's House of Wings, a skit that was popular from the first time we tried it out.


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[Assistant] It involves singing chickens with me in the middle of them. I don't need to say more. I had already said the chicken outfit was out and what they gave me instead wasn't much better. A bright yellow polyester suit that would make anyone look like a sitting duck for smart comments.


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[Assistant] I remember saying to someone, what have I gotten myself into?


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[Assistant] Little did I know, the hard part was coming. The monologue.


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[Assistant] Think about it. Walking out on stage with millions of people watching and hoping to be funny. Then think about this. What if I wasn't funny?


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[Assistant] Here's a word to the wise. Don't think about it. You have to go for it, or you will just freeze up thinking about it. I want to stop here to reiterate what I just wrote.


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[Assistant] It is absolutely true that sometimes you have to get out there and do it.


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[Assistant] Being tentative can lend itself to fear and fear of failure can halt you immediately. You have to work despite your fears and very often they will disappear. Don't let fear stop you.


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[Assistant] Once I got deeper into the rehearsals, it went well. We got some good laughs, which, believe me, was a wonderful sound. And I had gotten through a very big test of my ability to handle pressure and a new environment.


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[Assistant] In fact, I remember thinking that maybe I'd asked Daryl over to my office one day so I could take a break and he could play me for a few hours. Thinking these thoughts managed to take my mind off the live show the next night. It was all still very new to me.


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[Assistant] The next day was Saturday, which ends up being a marathon day for everyone.


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[Assistant] We ran through the show for a live audience of 300 people. This was considered to be the dress rehearsal. And the skits that are most popular with this audience will make the final show.


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[Assistant] That's when I learned that we wouldn't know what skits would be in the live show or their order until about a half hour before appearing live.


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[Assistant] I'm someone who likes having things in order and ready to go no matter what it might be. This news hit me with a strange sense of surprise. I'm used to having and studying blueprints for a long time, for example.


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[Assistant] Being well prepared for critical meetings has been one of the secrets to my success.


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[Assistant] Just think, some of the skits we had rehearsed for two days would be cut out completely, including, it turned out, one of my favorites, where I played a romance novelist.


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[Assistant] All the preparations for those skits would be null and void.


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[Assistant] Then we'd have a new running order and no time to get ready for it. I was in for an exciting time, that's for sure.


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[Assistant] I had to take a deep breath and realize that I just might be in over my head.


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[Assistant] This was big time, with a huge live audience to watch me, as well as being on tape for history to see.


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[Assistant] My photo would go up on the wall in the halls of this legendary show.


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[Assistant] What if I flopped? Forgot my lines? Forgot the lyrics to the song I had to learn in five minutes?


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[Assistant] Put on the wrong costume. Look like an idiot instead of a respected real estate developer. Believe me, you can have a lot of thoughts at critical moments like these.


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[Assistant] So, if you've ever felt that way, know you're in some good company.


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[Assistant] Here's my advice. Get to it, and go on with the show.


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[Assistant] That's what I did. And beginning with the monologue, I have to say it was a night I'll always remember.


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[Assistant] Everyone had a good time, from the wardrobe people, to the Saturday night live pros, to the audiences, both live and at home, and to the musicians, who made sure we were ready to go when the time came.


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[Assistant] Here's the best part. I had a fantastic time, and an experience that was worth every nagging thought and fear of failure thought that crossed my mind during that hectic week.


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[Assistant] Did I ever think I'd be the host of Saturday Night Live? Never.


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[Assistant] That's what's great about taking chances. Success won't happen to you unless you decide to take chances first. Don't settle for failure when you can take a few risks and change the course of your life or at least enhance it.


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[Assistant] It may not be Saturday Night Live, but taking risks and putting yourself in uncomfortable new situations can definitely put some excitement into your life.


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[Assistant] If I can do a song and dance number with people dressed up like chickens in a bright yellow suit in front of millions of people, you can certainly stand to take a chance once in a while.


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[Assistant] I don't want to hear any excuses, so go for it. And never give up.


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[Assistant] When a challenging opportunity comes along, take full advantage of it. Learn from it.


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[Assistant] Taking risks and making mistakes is the best way to learn something new.


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[Assistant] Most of the time, you will surprise yourself. Just dive in. Don't give yourself time to doubt. If you're thinking, I'm not sure if I can do this, turn it into, it's going to feel great when I do this.


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[Assistant] Chapter 20. Don't take yourself too seriously.


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[Assistant] People are surprised sometimes when they visit our offices and hear laughter coming from mine. I'm a serious businessman, but I also know the value of laughter. That's why I smile when I see those long, serious faces in ads and commercials that are supposed to represent serious business being done.


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[Assistant] There's no reason you can't have some fun. In fact, if you're not having fun, you know by now that I would advise you to find something else to do. Your job is probably not brain surgery, so lighten up a little.


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[Assistant] A friend of mine, Joel Anderson, is a remarkable and very successful businessman.


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[Assistant] I had invited him to a major charity event and I didn't hear back from him until after the event had happened.


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[Assistant] He had been traveling, but he took the time to write me a note and send a check anyway.


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[Assistant] He explained that thanks to the apprentice, I had become so famous that he was able to sell the signature on my letter for enough money to cover the charitable donation he was enclosing.


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[Assistant] I wrote back to him thanking him and told him I like having shrewd friends who know a good business deal when they see one.


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[Assistant] Both of us had a good laugh, and a good cause benefited.


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[Assistant] That's one way business works, and it can make every day a pleasure. Try to spice up your dealings and daily work routine with occasional jokes and laughter, and you'll see how much more enjoyable your work will become.


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[Assistant] The people you work with will appreciate it too, if you can make them laugh.


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[Assistant] After the first season of The Apprentice I wrote Mark Burnett a letter about how it had been a fantastic experience working with him.


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[Assistant] I explained to him that little did I know while writing The Art of the Deal back in 1987 that it would become a bestseller while at the same time being a catalyst to a young man selling t-shirts on Venice Beach in California. That young man was Mark Burnett.


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[Assistant] I also told him that if I'd ever said anything negative about guys who hang out on the beach that I hereby take it back.


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[Assistant] We had become business partners, but also friends, and the humor we enjoyed made the experience all the better. It pays to have a sense of humor about yourself.


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[Assistant] I did a commercial for Visa a few years ago that required me to grovel around or appear to be groveling around in a dumpster to retrieve my Visa card.


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[Assistant] I was filmed on top of Trump Tower showing my card when a gust of wind blows it out of my hand and onto the street below. A passerby notes when I crawl out of the dumpster and I thought he was doing so well.


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[Assistant] I didn't mind. I had a great time, and the commercial was a big success.


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[Assistant] If I took myself too seriously, I would have missed out on a lot of fun and a nice paycheck.


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[Assistant] Business at its best should have both.


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[Assistant] Sometimes it's in your best interest to start over, even if you're established and can afford to do as you please.


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[Assistant] A good example of that is the new Palm Trump International Hotel and Tower that's going up in Dubai.


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[Assistant] I partnered with Nakheel, the developer of over 30 billion dollars in real estate in Dubai, to build a tower on this island.


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[Assistant] Nakheel in Arabic means palm trees. So it follows that this would be their imprint in the Arabian Gulf.


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[Assistant] In 2005, we went into partnership and agreed that our hotel, which will be the luxury pivot point of the Palm Jumeirah, should be an extraordinary example of design and innovation. We both had the experience, the credentials, and the desire to do something amazing.


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[Assistant] One thing that attracted me to Knock Heel, aside from their proven record of success and expertise, was their innovative approach to whatever they did.


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[Assistant] Our original design for the hotel garnered a lot of publicity. It was a tulip design that would have a state of the art exoskeleton frame.


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[Assistant] We were excited about this iconic design.


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[Assistant] The price tag would be 400 million to complete it.


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[Assistant] However, after reviewing the design, we realized there were some problems with it, and we agreed it looked a bit heavy. So we decided to start over. We just scrapped it.


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[Assistant] Don't ever be afraid to change your mind about something. There is nothing wrong with that.


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[Assistant] Yes, we'd spent time and money on the first design, but when you're going after the extraordinary, sometimes you have to take extraordinary pains to achieve it.


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[Assistant] The new design we came up with was stunning. A split tower with an open core design.


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[Assistant] It would cost 600 million for 48 stories and would be constructed with glass, stainless steel, and stone. It would definitely be worth it.


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[Assistant] We expect the tower to be finished in 2009.


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[Assistant] There are considerations beyond the usual when you are developing internationally, and sure enough, in February 2006, we were hit with a political global trade controversy involving Dubai that threatened the viability of the project.


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[Assistant] Major world events can crop up at any time, and sometimes I feel like saying, now what?


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[Assistant] However, that's part of the deal. It can be a challenge, but it's always enlightening.


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[Assistant] Anyway, the controversy was over the sale of shipping port management businesses in six major USC ports to a company that was based in the United Arab Emirates. This received huge attention as a national security debate in the United States.


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[Assistant] The question was whether such a sale would compromise port security.


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[Assistant] This put Dubai in the national and international spotlight.


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[Assistant] For us, that could be good, and that could be bad.


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[Assistant] The good news was that suddenly everybody knew where Dubai was.


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[Assistant] The bad news is that controversy, especially concerning national security, could work against spreading the message about Dubai being a fantastic destination.


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[Assistant] It took us time to fully comprehend the echo effect of this controversy.


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[Assistant] I found it interesting that this development followed shortly after our deal went through in the United Arab Emirates, but all we could do was ride it out.


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[Assistant] I was relieved when it was resolved quickly and amicably.


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[Assistant] Eventually, U.S. security concerns were addressed, and Dubai demonstrated it understood the importance of security.


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[Assistant] We are looking forward to a 2010 opening in Dubai, and I already know it's been worth every change and every challenge.


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[Assistant] Your plan may be a bust or your goal may be unattainable for a time. You may be stopped in your tracks.


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[Assistant] Get back on the horse. Deciding to try again is the first step toward getting it right the next time.


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[Assistant] I'm fortunate to have the capacity to change my thought patterns quickly, to focus on something new without a long adjustment period.


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[Assistant] For example, people have commented on how quickly I conduct meetings.


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[Assistant] I can lead effective and productive meetings one after another without any downtime between them


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[Assistant] I credit this ability to knowing what focus really is, and the ability to get to the point very quickly.


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[Assistant] My focus is always on the solution to whatever the problem or challenge might be.


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[Assistant] In contrast, I have met so many people who waste a lot of their time and mind talking about their problems. It becomes very clear to me that they are avoiding looking for a solution.


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[Assistant] For every problem there is a solution and capable people will look for that solution. Make sure you're one of the capable people.


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[Assistant] Getting to the point is sometimes just a matter of asking yourself the right questions and answering them honestly.


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[Assistant] I remember an old friend who was miserable in his work going on about his travails when I had repeatedly told him he was in the wrong profession to begin with.


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[Assistant] I finally became very abrupt with him and told him he was a big time loser. That was cutting to the quick, and I meant to, because I wanted to get him to change. In this case it actually worked.


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[Assistant] I got him to focus on the solution, not his problems. And now, he has a successful and happy life.


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[Assistant] Sometimes bluntness is necessary to make a point that isn't being heard.


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[Assistant] For those of you who have watched The Apprentice, you know what goes on in the boardroom.


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[Assistant] Very often, it sounds like a revved up soap opera with everyone going at each other at once.


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[Assistant] What you don't see is that sometimes it goes on for hours, and I mean hours.


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[Assistant] The number of stories and opinions and inside dramas that don't make the final cut are truly unbelievable.


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[Assistant] When it's been edited down enough to fit the hourly format, you see the most important points that were pivotal in allowing me and my advisors to make a decision.


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[Assistant] The rest of it becomes inconsequential, like background noise, very loud background noise. My point here is that we can all do a little editing ourselves of our own unnecessary chatter when it comes to making a decision.


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[Assistant] People who live in New York City have all heard of Jones Beach.


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[Assistant] The beach and the boardwalk are part of a fabled history that began with the great Robert Moses. He considered this waterfront park on Long Island as his greatest achievement.


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[Assistant] I visited Jones Beach as a teenager, and it has always been a special place to me, as it is to thousands of people. So I was delighted when the opportunity came to renovate a major piece of it.


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[Assistant] When former Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro reviewed my plans, she considered them like a gift from God. We announced this project in September 2006 with a proposed opening in the spring of 2009. There was opposition at first.


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[Assistant] From citizens complaining that Trump was not fit for the Jones Beach scene.


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[Assistant] And the society for the preservation of Long Island antiquities made it clear they feared what the size of our new building would do to the visual balance of Jones Beach.


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[Assistant] When they realized how involved I was in the building plans and the fine details and how concerned I was over the impact of the development on the community and the environment, they were reassured. I even brought out a piece of marble.


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[Assistant] There will always be naysayers to anything you try to do, but this is a good example of how you can help your community.


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[Assistant] When they realized how this project would revitalize the local economy, and how beautiful it would be, the negativity lightened up.


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[Assistant] And most people think it's going to be fantastic. They're right. It will be a win-win situation for everyone.


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[Assistant] I told people I wanted to bring this historic site up to the gold standard it deserves, to make it a destination point worthy of its amazing history.


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[Assistant] What we are doing is replacing the old boardwalk restaurant with a beautiful 36,000 square foot facility that will have Atlantic Ocean and park views. There will be a catering hall and restaurant.


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[Assistant] We will have social and corporate catering, a restaurant, a lounge, and a ballroom.


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[Assistant] It will restore Jones Beach to prominence in the life of New York City.


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[Assistant] In fact, New York can expect to make around 75 million from it over the next 40 years.


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[Assistant] The building will belong to the state. Not a penny of taxpayer money will be spent.


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[Assistant] Our long-term lease required special legislation, which was not a surprise.


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[Assistant] We're in good company, however. Only one other New York parks contract has a term that long, and that's Niagara Falls. We had to deal with a lot of roadblocks, but we prevailed, and it will be a fantastic site.


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[Assistant] Being in a position to help out at Jones Beach has been a tremendous feeling.


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[Assistant] I know detractors will be pleasantly surprised when they see how well integrated the design will be with the environment and the park.


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[Assistant] In a way, I am paying tribute to Robert Moses. I'm sure he would be very proud. And so will the New Yorkers who have loved Jones Beach.


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[Assistant] It faces the Pacific Ocean. I think the Pacific Ocean can handle it. I never thought that flying the American flag on American soil would be considered subversive, but that's what it amounted to.


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[Assistant] Although there will always be some small-minded people who have a complaint to make.


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[Assistant] They made their complaints, but then came the backlash. Everyone rallied to my side in defense of keeping the beautiful American flag waving.


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[Assistant] The publicity was terrific, not only for patriotism, but for my property.


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[Assistant] Suddenly, everyone knew about this beautiful golf course that fronts the Pacific Ocean, and everyone knew that the American flag meant enough to me to go to battle for it.


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[Assistant] I didn't have to do much persuading to keep the flag the uproar that ensued did the persuading for me.


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[Assistant] So I decided to put up the American flag on my Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.


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[Assistant] I would love to tell the story, but I've agreed with the town not to do so.


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[Assistant] But, I'm pleased to report that the town is happy.


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[Assistant] I'm happy, and most importantly of all, the flag flies proudly. Always remember, some things are worth fighting for. The American flag is one of them.


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[Assistant] Everyone gets egg on his face sometimes, including me.


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[Assistant] Screw-ups may not seem so funny at the time, but at least they make life interesting.


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[Assistant] Fortunately in almost every instance, even big goofs can work out for the best.


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[Assistant] I know that sounds cliched, but it happens to be true.


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[Assistant] I was scheduled to speak in Dayton, Ohio, and about 5,000 people were waiting. I was flying in from New York City along with a camera crew who would be filming the speech for footage on The Apprentice.


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[Assistant] Just as we were ready to take off, my jet stopped.


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[Assistant] My pilot said there was something wrong with the brakes, and he didn't think it was safe to proceed. So we tried to get a commercial flight.


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[Assistant] But there weren't any that could accommodate the large group we had.


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[Assistant] I started to wonder if I might have to cancel the speech.


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[Assistant] However, when I give my word that I'll be somewhere, I do my best.