Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
How to write a book, the Trump way: "I take a topic, think about it, dissect it, and put it back into a formula that becomes what I believe is solid advice." The result, Think Like a Champion, is a small, powerful book from one of the biggest names in business. Donald J. Trump is the very definition of success, and sets the standard for others to achieve.
The 50 essays are supported by Donald Trump's recommended reading list. Some of the essays are geared to students, so it makes a great gift for an entrepreneurial graduate. "Wisdom" for example is clearly written to a young audience.
The "Innovation" essay offers interesting ideas on multi-level focusing, where innovation comes from the intersection of ideas, as long as you're paying attention.
"Learning" reveals how Trump does not take knowledge and information for granted: "Ask yourself this question: "What do I need to know more about?" It seems Trump is always learning, and heeds his own advice: "Very few of us are completed projects."
Think Like a Champion is a quick read but worth studying. Trump's essays have real value, sometimes obvious, sometimes quite subtle. For example:
"It's good to start each day by saying to yourself, 'What can I learn today that I didn't know before?'" says Trump. "It opens you up to more information and net worth as an individual. Why live restricted lives due to lack of knowledge when there are so many resources available to us today?"
The "Imagination" essay reveals how clever the Donald really is and the deliberate thinking that got him that way.
I most enjoyed the "Keep it Short, Fast, and Direct" essay and its display of Trump's humor. "Business is no place for stream of consciousness babbling, no matter how colorful you think you're being … People appreciate brevity in today's world."
Can you read a two-page essay on financial acumen and get rich? No, but you might be willing to take Trump's advice and bump up your knowledge a bit: "A hungry man will realize something immediately. If he had money, he wouldn't be hungry."
"That's a very basic visual, but it applies. In other words, pay attention to your financial literacy, says The Donald.
And while I've read a lot of Trump's books, I don't recall him ever sharing his father's four-step formula, which Trump credits with giving him his efficiency in business:
"Get in, get it done, get it done right, and get out."
When you read "Scotland, You're Hired!" you'll realize success isn't always easy for Trump. He faced enormous conflicts and obstacles in building Trump International Golf Links on a desired location in northern Scotland, and he delivers the experience in a nice tight essay that serves as an effective business lesson.
"Compete with yourself to be the best you can be," pretty much sums up the philosophies of this hard-working, driven entrepreneur. He's certainly proved himself, and demonstrated his obvious belief in what he says: "Each success is the beginning of the next."
