Entrepreneur magazine in a recent article suggests that spotting trends is the way to business success. Part of the article outlines mogul Donald Trump's trend spotting tips. Trump, who has built a business on trends (which partly explains his involvement in The Apprentice and the whole reality TV trend), offers these tips for entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on what's next:
- Do Your Research: read magazines and study pop culture for signs of what's next.
- Extend a Trend: try a variation on an existing trend.
- Be a Contrarian: sometimes it pays to go against the trend, because trends change over time.
- Be Flexible: you never know when a trend is about to stop, and you need to be able to stop manufacturing production when the trend stops.
- Be First: if you're too cautious, you may be too late.
- Follow Your Gut: follow your instinct, even if friends and family don't understand your vision.
Adapted from a post first appearing on Small Business Trends, the author's weblog.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Deborah Harders
The "Donald"! Did I ever think I'd be writing to you?? I'm not kissin' your butt either.I have admired you ever since you were "The only one that came to Kathie Lee's going away show with Regis. I have loved Kathie since she stayed on T.V. when Frank cheated on her. That "Girl" has guts!! I don't know how much I can write here and then I'll go over 200mill characters and spend 5 hrs. trying to make it only 200 words!! Ever done that? It's a JOY!!
My situation is completely awesome & scary. I know you guys aren't going to let me go too much further but I've told this story so many times, I'll take a nap and do it.
Synopsis-20yrs ago I worked in the same hotel I am a guest in now. It is 4:30am and am in the lobby writing to you. It is only 230 rooms but it was always my home away from home. This hotel was blessed by the Lord at that time. I've been in CO. 20yrs., I drove by my La Casa Grande Hotel on vacation.It's a "2nd rate Holiday Inn and it looks like "shit!!! by the way, I forgot to mention, it's right behind Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. In my day here, I'd say it was #2 next to Disneyland Hotel. We, as employees were family along with OWNERS!! They would cringe when they saw us do silly & crazy things in a lobby full of customers or throw baked potatoes across the Cafe'. WE took crying babies away from mothers, so they could eat their dinner. Our Owners at the time started putting their own money into the place, economy was down, probably around 1990 &91. They sold to Ramada for 9Mil and they then sold it to Holiday Inn where a woman from India got it for 13mill. This place is dead in the last month of summer by D-land and I don't mean Donald!!!!!! What do I do? This piece of property is worth boo-coo bucks but not as it is. It's sloo-o-o-w! I want this hotel so bad, I can taste it!! My husband did good in CO. A sole-propieter Plumbing & Hot Water Heating contractor. We have 2 homes up there close to Aspen & Breckenridge but we're no way rich. BUT-my husband wants a divorce because he fell almost 2 stories thru an unprotected skylight with no window and then stopped taking his Zoloft!! He loves me, he just forgot he did!!!I really hope that you can get this to the Donald or else, I'm so bummed & stressed, I don't know what I'll do. [edited] Man, if you called here, you would blow their minds!! I wrote to Pat & Bay Buchanan, Lara Ingrahm and now you. You are silly &crazy enough to call here, I know!!! See, I'm not a racist but this is originally the hispanics home, we took it from them. the people from Saigon are taking over this Hotel and pushing my hispanics OUT!!! NOO_OO_OO!!
Thanks for the ear. I am going to file 3 lawsuits against the 3 contractors who never owned up to their mistake with my husband and I will sue for ruining a good 20yr. marriage with a 14 yr. old boy who was very close to his Dad. Bye!!! I SURE would love some publicity from you here!!!!!!!
2 - Joey Mullikin
Donald I have a few Qustions, I am 16, please call me at [edited]
3 - Eric Olsen
Joey, it is very unwise to give your phone number out over the Internet. Trump won't call anyway - find out his address and mail him a letter.
4 - LK
Donald Trump the Real Estate Guru. I agree you are very amazing, you were off by a few Mil and almost lost it all. Except your personality, the winner, the fight in you could not give up.
Well, that's why I have decided to try and contact you. Of course this is probably a shot in the dark, but it took only a few minutes of my time.
I have a Real Estate Deal for, Money is dripping off trees, Hotels, Resturants all down the Golden Mile in Oakbrook, ILL. Yet we have no Hot Night Clubs. So much money so few Clubs to spend it in.
I thought if anyone could change this you could, and since my sisters and I were Clubers since the beginning we could help you design this club and give you an idea of what's Hot and what's Not in the Night Club scene!
$$$$$ Oakbrook, ILL. ask Bill he knows were Oakbrook,is and if there is indeed $$$$ to be made.
Ta, Ta, for now! LK
5 - t shull
Donald on the radio you asked that people quit asking you for money because you are not going to send it. OK mom says use reverse psychology so Donald DONT SEND ME A MILLION DOLLARS!?
hmmmm
T Shull
6 - Pallav Barah
Sir/Madam
This might sound very strange, but I am an international student
from India in the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Computer
Science. I am
a senior and am close to completing my graduation, but am not able to
graduate as I have one more semester to go and don't have the finances to
pay my
tuition money.
My family in India is a middle class family and has exhausted
their capability to finance me. I myself have been working the past 3.5
years
in school and getting an aid for half of my tuition money and financing
myself, but in my last semester I don't have enough to pay that too.
In a desperate attempt I am appealing to your organization
if they could help me in any way. I reassure that I am not
trying to spam your organization by sending this awkward mail, the fact
is that I don't have any more options left.
I apologize for taking your precious time and if I could provide you
with
any extra details please do let me know.
Regards
Pallav Barah
7 - Elle
Mr. Trump,
I am wondering if you are willing to help the little guy make a business stand above all the rest?
I know it can be done and we have broken the 1 year mark out of the hole.
We need some help like yourself could give us to see the online auction place prosper.
Ebay is too greedy that is a given we do have a site that is 1 year old and is a part of a new online auction network.
If you can see the possibilities, please contact us and lets get this thing moving where we know it can be.
Thank you
8 - Aaman
THis thread deserves an award for the weirdest comments ever - next to the Mean Girls, the Mike Phelps and the other threads of its ilk - so sad, really
9 - Joe
How many are walking the streets, now, mumbling under their breath,"That bastard, Trump! He never got back to me..."?
10 - Bob
How does one find an address to write to Donald Trump?
11 - Anita Campbell
Donald Trump is blogging -- sort of.
Go over to his Trump University site. If you are a member you can even submit a question for him to answer:
http://donaldtrump.trumpuniversity.com/
12 - carol
Will you please send to me Mr. Trump's snail mail address or e-mail address? I'd like to send an employment resume to him. Thank you.
13 - E.Z.Street
Music for you to listen to. Click on the web address follow the links and hear more. Hope you enjoy my creations.
E.Z. Street
14 - Susan S.
Hi Mr. Trump I like your show its cool..
I have some ideas for your show they are pretty good. Email me please and ill tell you in private dont want to give my idea away to all. Anyways I hope you read this and I want to say congrats on your wedding you make a cute couple.. Be safe..
15 - Bobby
You guys are all idiots!
1) If you look at the post, it was not written by Donald Trump. It was written by Anita Campbell. When it says "leave a message for the author" it's talking about Anita.
2) Even if Donald was going to read your comments, he is not going to give some random stranger money. You're a moron to even think he might. If you need money, get a job. If you're foreign and can't work in the US, get a job that pays under the table or if you can't do that, then go back home and save up some money yourself. Everyone is capable of making their own way. Unless you are an unwed teenage mother or something, there is no excuse for relying on others to support you. If you're a student, go to your financial aid office and see if you can get a loan or a grant to help you survive while you are in school. Asking a celebrity to just throw money at you is absurd.
3) Those of you who are trying to get Donald to invest money in some business venture, he's not going to bite on that either, especially in this type of forum. There are thousands, maybe millions of banks/investors who actually MIGHT loan you the money if you know what you're doing. Do the damn thing yourself. Why let some stranger make all the money off your idea?
16 - PaulaTaylor
Yes I have read the emails on this page. I am disabled single mother 45 years old with a 10 year old son. all I am trying to do is get my truck fixed . so it will be safe for Me and my Son and everyone else . I have a oil leak but the safe part is . I have a electrical short somewhere and my turning signals keep shorting out. I never planned on being disabled at age 42. I am willing to pay and let Mr Trump hold my title. until i can pay back the money it takes to get it fixed. i can pay 25 a month and we can still survive. Unless you know of some goverment service that i have not found. I well know that there is nothing in this world free . I have worked since age 14. and now i am not able to . and not handling it very well. I Live in Indiana. and 20 inches of snow last yr . and my truck was the only thing that would get around. If i am asking something absurd. Please tell me . I dont; know what else to do . Thank you for your time. Ms Paula Taylor .. Petersburg Indiana.
17 - Hafiz
Will you please send to me Mr. Trump's snail mail address or e-mail address? did he have friendster account? i want to be his friends
18 - Debi
I just wanted to say I admire you Donald Trump -- Having the guts to take chances and making it through just so perfectly.
I worked most of my life, saved a lot of money (well to me anyway) had a future in my mind... Then I got married, still married, and then it all went crazy... had to give up my future, his x sent the kids to live with us, I became fully responsible, she gave no support just what I call nastygrams and sent people constantly after me, my 4 year old was molested, but the support went the wrong way not to her, my lot which was not suppose to be touched has dwindled, but I was trying to hold onto for an emergency. But now I have two kids going to College, one getting a little help, and I'm so afraid I have reached my limit, people keep pulling but I'm all stretched out.
But I look at you, and I admire you for taking the right chances, good luck and good fortune.
19 - Walt
Donold Trump doesn't have an email address because he doesn't even use a PC. There isn't a PC in his office.
As to snail mail, try Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
20 - tran le dong quan
Dear Mr Trump,
I am from Vietnam, i was Air traffic controller in 7 years before I myself have stopped this job to do my own business.
In Present, Vietnam is potential market for all investor in around the world ( Japanese, Chinese, Korea, Germany, Uk, Australia....)
I think you are richman and also need to invest your money to where can obtain benifit and profit...
I have a idea for you at Vietnam, Please give me 300,000.00 USD then i will tell you about this secret business idea.
I hope to see your considering on this and wait for your reply soon.
Yours respecfully,
Quan
21 - irene devore
Dear Donald Trump,
My five year old son is a Big fan of yours. Ever since he saw you in Home Alone 2 (the movie). He just loves you.
Anyway, I promised him that I would write to you and invite you to his 6th Birthday Party. He is celebrating it in White Plains at the Cinema 15, next to your Luxury Apartments.
I know that you will not be able to come. But I promised that I would at least ask you.
Thanks,
Irene Devore
22 - MISTIE EVE *MODEL*
DONALD TRUMP~ SWEETHEART, WHEN CAN I START *MODELING* FOR YOU? I AM VERY INTERESTED. *MODEL* OF 6 YEARS. I DON'T KNOW WHERELSE TO CONTACT YOU SO I ENDED UP RIGHT HERE! LOL PLEASE GET BACK TO ME.
FOR PORT'......
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT,
MISTIE~EVE
23 - Karen in Bucks County, PA
Dear Donald Trump
I have to see another specialist for my incurbale disease that has my organs in my abdomin all fused together. No one in PA was willing to handle this so I have to have my 4th operation half way accross the country. I am so afraid of airplanes but would like to beg you if my family can come to my surgery with me by private jet so I will not get all panicy and stop the plane if I go commerial. Please I beg of you , I know I can go if I have my family with me by a private jet , so it will be just us and the pilots. I need this surgery to save my life. I am afraid of long distance traveling and I have to get this risky surgery. Please call me . I left message with my phone number for Gail last week. I beg you or anyone you know that can help get me there safe. All I ask is the plane ride. Karen
24 - laiese
hi donaid i an a 25 year old mother of two i am hoping that you have time one day to please lisen to my story i have know job and the holidays are around the corner i nothing to give to my girls and it so sad because they caunt on me to get them everything but i cant i just wanted to know if you could help me to give them a christmas they would never forget please ps may god always bless you and your family [Personal contact info deleted]
25 - Raji
Dear Trump,
I sent an email to Trump orgainzation this morning about expanding my Indian restaurant. If you could respond to that I really appreciate it. I have many business ideas. Hoping to hear from you.
Thanks
Raji