Donald Trump in Think Big by Donald Trump
On Corporations:
In the game of life, money is how you score
Don't think about how you can make money. Instead think about what you can produce or what service you can offer that is valuable and useful to people and to your community. Sure, you need to get paid for your work, and you will if you provide
something valuable. In the game of life, money is how you score. Yet the real fun is not in simply scoring; rather it is in the excitement you will have coming up with creative ways to get the ball in the goal.
Find your passion in doing something useful for people and the money will follow.
It may sound simple, but I have become a billionaire many times over by sticking with this simple philosophy. Many people believe that I started out with a lot of money
from my father. The truth is that when I started out in business, I was practically broke. My father didn't give me much money, but what he did give me was a good education and the simply formula for getting wealthy: work hard doing what you love.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 43-4
Sep 8, 2008
On Corporations:
A great deal when both sides win? That's a bunch of crap
One of my greatest passions is making deals. I love to make the big score and to make the big deal. I love to crush the other side and take the benefits.
Why? Because there is nothing greater. For me it is even better than sex, and I love sex. But when you hit, when the deals are going your way, it is the greatest feeling! You hear lots of people say that a great deal is when both sides win.
That is a bunch of crap. In a great deal you win--not the other side. You crush the opponent and come away with something better for yourself. In negotiations I love to go for the complete win.
That is why I have made so many good deals.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 48
Sep 8, 2008
On Corporations:
I trust my instinct on business deals as well as personal
When I was acquiring 40 Wall Street, literally every person recommended that it be turned into residential units, but I did not agree. My gut instincts told me it was a great business location. I trusted my instincts and the building now houses many
thriving businesses.When I first started building golf courses, my instincts told me it was a good business decision. I knew if I combined my passion for golf with my knowledge of real estate, I would succeed. The results have been spectacular.
Practice listening to your instincts. Play with this skill, and test it out on small decisions. Learn to trust it. You will acquire a real edge in both your business and your personal life. Use this skill to choose who you date and who you trust
to babysit your children.
Many things are hidden from us that we cannot articulate logically, but somehow we know they are there. We have a vague feeling that cannot be explained. Your instincts are there to guide you. Use them.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 91-2
Sep 8, 2008
On Corporations:
Recuperated from debt with hard work and intelligence
[In 1991, I owed bankers $149 million, but I went to a bankers' dinner where I knew I would face those to whom I owed]. Most of the supersuccessful people I know worked hard to create their own luck. Remember, "The harder I work, the luckier I get."
One day, in my darkest hour, I went to a bankers' dinner in Manhattan. That one event changed the course of my life. If I had not gone to that dinner, I may not be writing this book. I hated to go to that dinner with bankers.
I went because it was my job to go there. It was work, horrible hard work, but I worked hard, and I got lucky; that is why I am here today.
You can make luck happen through hard work and intelligence. Sure, bad things can and do happen--be prepared for the worst, but if you work hard and are smart, luck comes your way when you least expect it.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.133-4
Sep 8, 2008
On Corporations:
How big you think determines how big a success you become
In a lot of ways it is easier to do things on a large scale. It is easier to build a skyscraper in Manhattan than it is to buy a bungalow in the Bronx. Bankers would much rather lend money for a big project than for a small one. If you succeed with
the big project, you stand to gain a lot more money.
The first step to success is to make the leap from being nobody to being somebody. Most people are afraid to think big. They just can't do it. Why? Because they cannot imagine themselves doing
big things; they do not have the knowledge, experience, or track record. They have none of the trappings that a successful big- thinking person has. When it comes to thinking big, you are your own worst enemy.
Do you believe that thinking big is
reserved for people with money, college degrees, family connections, or even intelligence? That is not true. Anyone can think big. The most important thing is the size of your thinking. How big you think determines how big a success you become.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.268
Sep 8, 2008
On Corporations:
Look below the daily news to identify big sweeping changes
Take advantage of big trends. Many events that occur appear surprising to most people but are really quite inevitable and predictable. Look below the surface of the quickly changing daily news to the big sweeping changes that take decades to play out.
That is where you can find ideas. There are demographic, cultural, financial, technological, and medical trends in place now that will produce results years from now.
There are shortages of doctors and nurses, and at the same time the population is aging rapidly. There is a growing Hispanic population, a migration out of the suburbs to the far suburbs, called the exurbs, a growth
in the number of single people, and a cultural shift in people thinking more ecologically. There are huge opportunities for profits if you can think big and create big solutions for human needs brought about by trends.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.288-9
Sep 8, 2008
On Drugs:
Gave second chance to Miss USA who got caught with drugs
Recently, Miss USA, Tara Conner, broke pageant rules by using drugs and alcohol in excess publicly in New York City. I do not tolerate or condone that kind of out-of-control behavior in someone representing Miss USA. I do believe in giving second chances
I set up a meeting with her, and I had every intention of stripping her of her title. After talking to her, I realized the right thing to do in her case was to pardon her and give her a second chance.
As you may know, this decision caused a media frenzy.
Tara is willing to learn from her mistake and not let it happen again. I decided it was better to give her a second chance than to destroy her career and ruin her chances in life.
She finished her reign and continues to support the goals of Miss USA completely.
She agreed to go to rehab and is now doing fine. She thanked me for "saving her life."
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.162-3 & 187
Sep 8, 2008
On Education:
College degrees open a lot of doors
practical, convenient way to teach success. Trump University doesn't just bear my name; I'm actively involved in it. I participated in creating the curricula, and my words, ideas, and image have been woven into the courses we provide.I'm deeply and
actively involved in Trump University because I firmly believe in the power of education and its function as an engine of success. I want to help people, and, simply put, the Trump University students want to be successful. I'm on their side.
Q: I'm a young woman with an entrepreneurial mind. What advice would you give to me, go to college or start in the real estate business?
DT: I would say, there is nothing like education. You can put it down and I can give you lots
of examples of people that didn't need education to get ahead in life. When you get a college degree it's like a card that says, "This person has accomplished something." It opens a lot of doors for you.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.320-1
Sep 8, 2008
On Energy & Oil:
Green buildings take 40 years to get investment back
Q: What do you think about green buildings? A fad or the future?DT: I'm doing one right now. I'm doing this huge complex in Jones Beach in coordination with the State of New York. It's on the ocean and it's going to be great. I made a deal to
build a regular building and all of a sudden the state wants me to do a green building. I could have challenged them, because I have my long- term lease. A new commissioner came in and just wanted a green building. It's much more expensive.
The science has not been perfected yet and in some cases the savings cannot justify the huge cost. You spend a tremendous amount of money now, and it takes 40 years to get your money back. Even with the tax breaks it doesn't work financially.
For example, if I use solar, I get my money back with the tax breaks in 12 years. It's a very hard thing to justify in terms of real estate right now. It's a long, long time before you get your money back. I think that will get better with technology.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.327
Sep 8, 2008
On Families & Children:
Everyone getting married should have a prenuptial agreement
I have seen many business deals in litigation--but there is nothing worse than a man and a woman who fight over their assets and everything else. You were in love with somebody, and now you are no longer in love. The hatred is intense, far more intense
than it usually gets in a business transaction. You need a prenuptial agreement to protect yourself and your business interests.Marriage is a contract unlike any other contract in life. It's a legally binding contract that knows nothing of love.
If the love dies, all you have left is a resentful ex-spouse & the marriage certificate. There's nothing more terrible than an ex-spouse with a ten-ton axe to grind, and no agreement on common property. Always get a prenup. It's just too risky not to.
When I met Melania and we decided to get married, I said, "We're going to have the greatest marriage ever, but listen, just in case it doesn't work, sign on the dotted line." It's not exactly the most romantic thing to do, but you really, really need it.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 31-2&260
Sep 8, 2008
On Families & Children:
Too many hollow compliments are not healthy for kids
A new study found that today's college students are, in fact, more narcissistic and self- centered than ever before. Since birth, many of these youngsters were fed a steady stream of compliments on how wonderful and special they were. The "self-esteem
movement" of the 80s and 90s became a national fad.Too many hollow compliments are not healthy for kids. It is okay to let your children know they are special. It is a part of being a loving parent, but do not overdo it. To constantly lavish praise
on your children for every little thing they do is too much. Do not be easy on them. Let your children work hard to gain your praise. They will value it more.
If you over-compliment a child, they start to believe they are entitled to success in life
without even trying, but it is not true. When they grow up they will find out that the world is much more difficult than you led them to believe. Then, if they cannot get something right away, they quit. Quitting is a habit that is hard to break.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 66-7
Sep 8, 2008
On Families & Children:
I would rather live a married life than be single
I had a choice of staying single or getting married, and I chose to be married. I do not want to be single. I have a bad track record for being married, it is true, but I would rather live a married life than be single.
That is because I met the right woman. I have learned something from my previous mistakes. I am determined to do much better in my marriage to Melania.
What surprises many people is that beautiful women love me. For the first season of The Apprentice one broadcast exec said, "To be successful, large numbers of women would have to watch, and why would women want to watch
Donald Trump?" I said, "I have not done so badly with women." As it turned out, the biggest audience for The Apprentice by far is women.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.270
Sep 8, 2008
On Families & Children:
Be cocky & confident & get all the women you want
The women I have dated over the years could have any man they want; they are the top models and the most beautiful women in the world. I have been able to date (screw) them all because I have something that many men do not have. I don't know what it is
but women have always liked it. So guys, be cocky, confident, smart, and humorous and you will be able to get all the women you want. We may live in houses in the suburbs but our minds and emotions are still only a short step out of the jungle.
In primitive times, women clung to the strongest males for protection. High-status males displayed their prowess through their kick-ass attitudes. They did not give a crap about what other people in the tribe thought.
That kind of attitude was and still is associated with the kind of men women find attractive. It may not be politically correct to say but who cares. It is common sense and it's true--and always will be.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.270-1
Sep 8, 2008
On Foreign Policy:
Use tough negotiators instead of naive academic people
I could give you the names of ten to twenty of the greatest deal- makers in the world who live in this country. These great negotiators could go up against China or Iran and work out a fabulous deal for the United States. Instead we have well-
meaning but na‹ve academic people negotiating, who do not know what they are doing in tough real- life situations. They have never faced tough, winner- take- all, fight- to- the- death negotiations against ruthless and vicious adversaries.
If the government used our best negotiators, it would solve a lot of our problems and the United States would come out on top. For one thing, we have all the cards:
we have the strongest military and the strongest economy on Earth, or at least we had. We would be negotiating from strength. We would win if we would just sit down and negotiate--but using our best people!
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.152-3
Sep 8, 2008
On Foreign Policy:
It's about time we started thinking differently about Cuba
If the government used our best negotiators, it would solve a lot of our problems and the United States would come out on top. For one thing, we have all the cards:
we have the strongest military and the strongest economy on Earth, or at least we had. We would be negotiating from strength. We would win if we would just sit down and negotiate--but using our best people!
Q: What do you think about the relationship between the United States and Cuba?
DT: That's a very dangerous question. Every country in the world is in Cuba right now, except the United States. Castro is old and sick. I looked at him the other day on
television. I said, "Man, that guy is tough. He doesn't die!" Cuba's going to be an amazing story in the coming years. I think it's about time we start thinking a little bit differently about Cuba, because certainly every other country in the world is.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.315
Sep 8, 2008
On Homeland Security:
Focus & discipline are habits I learned in military school
Acknowledge the problem, and then shift your attention immediately to possible solutions. Start by first thinking about what is good about the existing situation. Then dream up scenarios in which things are better. Then take the best ideas and act on
them.That is the Trump way of using focus to solve problems. Do not think about the problem in terms of "How did it happen?" or "It is impossible to solve." Instead, accept the challenge. Realize that you have what it takes to overcome the challenge.
Then look for solutions. Ask experts for advice. Start testing possible solutions. If one idea fails, go to the next one and the next until you succeed.
Focus and discipline are habits, skills that everyone can learn. I was the most undisciplined
kid you could ever imagine. My parents could not handle me so they sent me off to a military school at a young age, where I learned discipline. Without this training, I never would have become who I am today.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.237-8
Sep 8, 2008
On Principles & Values:
Get used to hearing the word "no" and ignoring it
If you want to be a success, you have to get used to frequently hearing the word no and ignoring it. As a child, when your mother told you no, your father told you no, the teacher told you no, or the coach told you no, if you were a good little boy or
girl, you listened to the word "no" and stopped what you were doing. That is why 98% of adults are conditioned to stop when they hear the word "no." Quitters do not get anywhere. You will not be successful if you listen to nos.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 27
Sep 8, 2008
On Principles & Values:
When someone crosses you, get even!
Q: When someone intentionally harms you or your reputation, how do you react?A: When someone crosses you, my advice is "Get even!" That is not typical advice, but it is real-life advice. If you do not get even, you are just a schmuck!
When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I love getting even. I get screwed all the time. I go after people, and you know what?
People do not play around with me as much as they do with others. They know that if they do, they are in for a big fight. Always get even. Go after people that go after you. Don't let people push you around. Always fight back and always get even. It's a
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p. 29
Sep 8, 2008
On Principles & Values:
The harder I work, the luckier I get
When I was presented with the opportunity to build my first golf course, I had to think over carefully.
I decided to work on golf courses because I love to gold, and I wanted to create spectacular courses to play on. I did not need to do it, but I wanted to do it.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.119-22
Sep 8, 2008
On Principles & Values:
Never forgive someone who is bad; always strike back
- When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades.
- Forgive good people, but never forgive someone who is bad.
- When someone attacks you publicly, always strike back.
- If you want to stop a bully, hit them right between the eyes.
They will think twice about doing it again.
- Even some of the toughest top athletes are schmucks who let people steal from them and are afraid to get even.
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Always have a good reason to get even.
- Go for the jugular so that people watching will not want to mess with you.
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If someone knows they made a mistake and they apologize, forgive them and move on, but never trust them again.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.199
Sep 8, 2008
On Principles & Values:
1980: We handled captives in Iran poorly
Q: Mr. Trump, since you are not running for president, who do we support and how do we get started?DT: You have a lot of good people. Rudy Giuliani is a very good person. Hillary Clinton is a very good person.
We might not like what's going on right now, but we live in a very resilient country, and we'll find a way out of our problems. This country is very, very resilient.
Former President Jimmy Carter is a very nice man, but he wasn't my kind of president. I had never supported him and was actually very vocal on how poorly he handled our captives in Iran.
As an example, when it was announced Ronald Reagan won the election, the Iranians immediately turned them over to us. If Jimmy Carter had won, they'd probably still be there.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.276-7
Sep 8, 2008
On Principles & Values:
OpEd: Praised Hillary Clinton in 2008 election
If you want to be a success, you have to get used to frequently hearing the word no and ignoring it. As a child, when your mother told you no, your father told you no, the teacher told you no, or the coach told you no, if you were a good little boy or
girl, you listened to the word "no" and stopped what you were doing. That is why 98% of adults are conditioned to stop when they hear the word "no." Quitters do not get anywhere. You will not be successful if you listen to nos.
Q: Mr. Trump, since you are not running for president, who do we support and how do we get started?DT: You have a lot of good people. Rudy Giuliani is a very good person. Hillary Clinton is a very good person.
We might not like what's going on right now, but we live in a very resilient country, and we'll find a way out of our problems. This country is very, very resilient.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.307
Sep 8, 2008
On Welfare & Poverty:
I give a lot of money away to charity
Once you have reached the top, what do you do? Once you have reached the top, it is time to give back. Give to charity, give to your children, give your knowledge to others, and give to your culture. I made a lot of money, and I give a lot of
money away to charity.Warren Buffet is a great example: billionaire investor Warren Buffet is distributing more than $30 billion of his stock to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health issues.
It is also important to give your knowledge and insight freely to anyone who asks. I believe people absorb more efficiently and faster when they learn by doing, and I am intent on giving people the knowledge they need to succeed.
I give two-hour speeches at The Learning Annex Wealth Expos for the same purpose, and I donate a large portion of my speaking fees to charity.
Source: Think Big, by Donald Trump, p.218-9
Sep 8, 2008
Page last updated: Feb 25, 2019