(Never give up.)
My eldest son, Don Jr., is also at the meeting. We are on schedule with construction, and the first three condominium buildings have proven to be very successful. However, neither Costas nor myself is likely to ever rest on his laurels, and we are troubleshooting, going over every detail. If Costas hadn’t been an architect, he’d have made a very good surgeon—he’s just that meticulous. We get along famously, and I’d put him up there with Philip Johnson as one of our most outstanding architects.
We are also discussing the reaction to the city park I developed and donated to the city, which is on the West Side yards property. I hate to disappoint people, but my detractors were not pleased about this twenty-five- acre gift. What can I say? Except that you can’t be all things to all people, no matter how hard you try.
I look over some kitchen and bathroom fixtures, and we decide to go with the top of the line. My name and work have become synonymous with quality, and there’s a reason for it. We don’t skimp on anything, ever or anywhere. Don Jr. mentions looking forward to the topping-out party for Building #4. That’s a big day for builders, and it’s a celebration when the frame of the building, the superstructure, is completed, and everyone involved meets at the top for a party.
9:30 A.M. Norma comes in to tell me that Oscar de la Renta is on the line, and Costas and I decide to meet again in a couple of weeks. Our new Miss Universe, Amelia Vega, is from Santo Domingo, which is also the birthplace of Oscar de la Renta. He wants to meet her, and I don’t blame him. She’s a beauty, all six feet of her. We’re proud not only of her, but of the Miss Universe contest, which has become extremely successful since I bought it seven years ago. We beat out the competition in television ratings and we are highly regarded internationally as well. Ecuador has paid millions of dollars to host the 2004 contest, and we’re looking forward to a great time there.
Back to Oscar—he’s a class act all the way. His impeccable work speaks for itself.
9:45 A.M. I make a call to some wiseguy contractors who’ve been trying to cheat me. This can be a crummy business because of the scum of the earth it attracts, but you have to do what you have to do. Screaming at them is what I have to do.
10:00 A.M. I have three calls waiting: Mark Brown, the CEO and president of my three casinos in Atlantic City; Woody Allen’s office; and Mayor Bloomberg. I take the mayor’s call first, much as I respect Woody Allen and Mark. I think the mayor is doing a great job, considering he’s got one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Running a corporation is one thing; running a city is another, especially this one.
Our wonderful mayor, Mike Bloomberg.
With another great mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, in 2000.
Woody Allen may go down to Florida and stay at the Mar-a-Lago, my club in Palm Beach. I’ve been in one Woody Allen film, and I never miss any of his movies.
10:30 A.M. I have my first Diet Coke of the day. I know I should drink mineral water, and I do sometimes, but I really like Diet Coke. Irina Dvorovenko calls in; she’s a ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. She’s not only a sensational dancer, but also an incredibly beautiful woman. I’m not exactly a ballet fan, but because of Irina, that might be a possibility.
The television crew from Neal Cavuto’s team is ready for an interview. I ask what it’s about, and then we’re ready to go. After decades of interviews, they are easy for me to do, especially with someone like Neal, who is not only personable but also very knowledgeable. He and his team are pros all the way. And he gets the best business ratings on cable TV.
11:00 A.M. I received seventeen calls during the interview, and I begin to return them, in between the incoming calls. After so many years in business, knowing how to prioritize is second nature. It’s also a key factor in keeping up your momentum, even during a typical workday, which is crucial if you intend to become or remain successful. Everyone’s heard of the New York minute, but by now that’s outdated—it’s become the New York second. That’s no exaggeration. Seconds count when you have hundreds of phone calls a day to handle. One bogged-down conversation, and your momentum could be interrupted for an hour. So when I say momentum is crucial, I mean it. You’ll know when you’ve got it, and you’ll know when it’s being disrupted.
I return Joe Cinque’s call; he’s an executive with the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, which presents the coveted Five Star Diamond award. My properties have received several of them. Joe is a high-spirited and generous man, but he’s difficult to please and discerning when it comes to giving out awards. He’s just returned from Sardinia and mentions that he still thinks the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach is the most beautiful resort he’s ever seen, worldwide. Coming from him, that’s saying something. I always liked Joe, and now I like him even more.
I return Regis Philbin’s call. He and his wife, Joy, are among my closest friends, and he’s even more fun off-screen than on-screen, if you can imagine that. I always look forward to spending time with them—they are both solid-gold people. We’re on for dinner at Jean-Georges Restaurant, which is in the Trump International Hotel & Tower and is considered to be one of the finest restaurants in the world. With Jean-Georges Vongerichten in charge, how could it not be?
I take a call from Mark Burnett, the brilliant creator and producer of the reality show called
11:30 A.M. I take a call from Sony; they’d asked me to be a sponsor for the 150th celebration of Central Park in July, featuring rising opera stars Salvatore Licitra and Marcello Alvarez. The event was a huge success, with many thousands of New Yorkers turning out to hear some magnificent singing on a perfect night under the stars in the park. On nights like that, you have to thank your own lucky stars just to be alive. We were all proud of how successful the evening was, and I was equally proud to be a sponsor.
Mike Donovan, my trusted pilot, calls in to update me on the checkup of my 727 jet. I have both a helicopter and a jet, and they get a workout throughout the year. With my schedule, they aren’t luxury items, but necessities. Turns out the jet will be ready in two weeks.
Norma comes in to go over the media requests of the morning thus far, which include two from Holland, three from Germany, two from Canada, one from France, one from England, and seven from the United States. Handling media requests alone can require negotiation skills, and we do our best to accommodate them.
11:45 A.M. I have a meeting with Charlie Reiss, Jill Cremer, Russell Flicker, and Don Jr.—my development team. We are busy with a building in Chicago, and Don Jr. has been working very effectively and in many capacities on Trump Park Avenue. We have a lot on our plates already at The Trump Organization, but, not being a complacent type, I know there are many opportunities out there and this team tends to that. They do a great job and have some interesting projects to brief me about.
12:30 P.M. I order lunch from our terrific new restaurant at the Trump Tower atrium, which is doing great business. Some of you may have seen the commercial I did for McDonald’s. I didn’t have to act—I like McDonald’s and am a loyal customer. Some days I have pizza, sometimes a ham and cheese, some days nothing, but I rarely go out for lunch. I still consider it an interruption in my workday. I review news clippings and articles during my lunch minute.
12:35 P.M. I speak to Bernd Lembcke, the director of the Mar-a-Lago Club. As you might remember, Mar- a-Lago was once my private home, and I restored it and turned it into a breathtaking private club. Anything that beautiful should be shared, and it has been an immense success. Bernd has tended to it, and I’ve been named to the Benefactors Board of Directors by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. It’s nice to see painstaking work being noticed and rewarded. We discuss the upcoming season and the latest improvements to the grounds.
12:45 P.M. I walk down the hall to visit George Ross. George will always tell you the way it is, which I appreciate. His thoughts are sharp and insightful, and we have a longish conversation of, perhaps, three minutes. I am thinking about putting him on
12:50 P.M. Back in my office, I take a call from Hugh Grant. I had a brief role, as myself, in his movie with Sandra Bullock,Two Weeks Notice. Hugh’s an avid golfer, and my course in Westchester is at his disposal whenever he’s in New York. He’s a nice guy on top of being a gifted actor. In fact, I’m glad he lives in another country—he’s got too much on the ball to have around all the time.
1:00 P.M. Norma comes in to go over the invitations to parties and openings, and for speeches. I don’t have much time available. I decide on a party at Le Cirque.
1:30 P.M. I put in a call to Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles. This course is on the Pacific Ocean and has the potential to be better than Pebble Beach. Spectacular will be an understatement. It’s a gem, and we’re
