Trump: How to Get Rich

4:30 P.M. I take a call from Joe Cinque regarding Sardinia. That’s pretty far away but he says that next to Mar-a-Lago, it’s his favorite place, and this guy travels all over the world. I’ll have to check into it a bit.

I have a short meeting with my finance group, Allen, Jeff, and Eric. I should have a picture of these guys for you—what a crew! However, they do good work. People often ask me where I find the people who work for me. I think it must be divine intervention, if there is such a thing. But somehow, it all works. Remember how I once said that you should try to get people you like to work for you? These guys are a good example of that advice.

4:50 P.M. Rhona comes in to tell me that Jim Griffin is on the line. Ever heard of the William Morris Agency? He’s the guy to know. Jim is another example of someone who will always tell it like it is, which I appreciate. He’ll give you the facts, and fast.

5:00 P.M. I get a lot of letters from students of all ages who ask me specific things—either for school projects or for their own interest—and, while I can’t respond to them all, I like to review their letters. Sometimes the simplicity and directness of their questions can keep me aware of small and simple things. As Benjamin Franklin once said, Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. In business, nothing is ever too small to notice.

5:30 P.M. I review a pile of legal documents, making short notes on them for response by my assistants tomorrow morning. If we didn’t keep up with our correspondence several times a day, we’d be sunk. I receive requests from people in every industry under the sun, moon, and stars combined. My daily delivery includes submissions from artists, musicians, screenwriters, architects, authors, poets, comedians, chefs, designers, actors, shoemakers, and more. That’s a condensed list. I also receive bundles of cookbooks from a lady in Illinois several times a year. Why she does this is beyond me. She must know that one of the few things I don’t do is cook.

6:30 P.M. Enough ruminating. I check my faxes and go upstairs.

FRIDAY

8:30 A.M. The electrical contractors call in with some bogus claims about why they’re way off schedule. They’ve been slacking off on the job. I’ve been watching them carefully and know exactly what their problem is, and proceed to tell them so. They get the message and promise me they will get back on track. We’ll see. I believe about twenty percent of what contractors say, and that’s on a good day. They know what I mean.

9:00 A.M. I take a call from Dick Levy, a real gentleman, then I ask for a Diet Coke. Another call concerns an ad I placed about slot machines at the racetracks in New York, which I’m against. Without countless layers of security, it will not be in the public’s best interest, and I therefore mention that it is obvious the ground under our racetracks is most fertile for growing organized crime. The ad contains a photograph of Al Capone, with the caption He would have loved it. The bottom of the ad says, Paid for by a Committee of one, who may not always be right, but knows what’s wrong. I think the point is made.

Rhona asks about the Giants game next week, and I decide to go. I return calls from Bo Dietl, Vinnie Stellio, and Ivana, and place a call to Jim Griffin of the William Morris Agency. David Granger calls;Esquire magazine is using an apartment in Trump World Tower as an example of the ultimate man’s apartment, the Esquire Apartment. I have to agree with him that it’s the ideal place.

I take a call from a writer doing an article on motivation and leadership. One of the questions asked is how I handle a person who consistently makes the same mistakes. I tell them the truth: I don’t. They’re working for someone else now.

9:30 A.M. I take a moment to glance out the window, which I rarely do, even with the spectacular views from my office. There is something inspiring about New York City, and I feel fortunate to live here. Just as I’m thinking this, a call comes in from Los Angeles Confidential Magazine for a comment on their publication. I tell them that Los Angeles is as viable a cosmopolitan center as New York City, which it is, and that I think their magazine has a lot of integrity. I always enjoy my trips to California, and with my new golf course in Los Angeles, I’ll be able to spend more time there in the near future. I decide to call Jason Binn, just to catch up on things with him. He’s a successful magazine publisher, and I haven’t spoken to him for a couple of weeks. I enjoy his take on things.

Tom Fazio calls in to go over some course plans and to give me an update on my New Jersey golf course. He loves what he does and that’s made apparent by his attention to detail. John Mack of Credit Suisse calls in. Despite his great accomplishments, he remains an unassuming man—the work is what matters to him. These are two easy and informative calls. People have to understand that I’ve been dealing with all kinds of people and industries for a long time, so I can pretty readily discern who the goof-offs are and who the solid-gold people are. So if you hear me blow up in my office at someone or something, there’s usually a reason for it. It can be as clear as day to me, and I see no reason to tolerate someone being inefficient or irresponsible. I do my best, and so should they.

I heard someone who had worked with me for a long time describing me as a generator—someone who revs up, keeps going, gathers momentum, keeps going at a higher level, and all is well—except for the boiling point. Because when something causes me to explode, believe me, there will be a lot of energy behind it. But, hey, at least I can be honest about it, and his assessment is accurate. A great Palm Beach lawyer called me a reverse tornado—I build everything in my path, instead of destroying it.

Robin comes in to tell me the copies I want are delayed because our copy machine is on the blink again. I can’t believe it. With all the amazing inventions of today, can’t they design a copy machine that won’t break down every three minutes? This is one thing that can make me lose my temper. I personally call Pete Strada, our director of purchasing, and ask him when the lease is up on this terrible machine. I want it out of here.

10:00 A.M. Norma comes in and we go over the event I’m hosting with Heidi Klum and Jonathan Tisch for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. It will be held at Sotheby’s next month. We also discuss some interview requests and invitations, seeing if and how we can fit them into my schedule. Every week we think that week can’t be topped, then the next week is even more hectic, so what’s happened is that our stamina has increased. I am much busier now than I have ever been. That’s one reason I don’t complain much. I literally don’t have time to.

I take a call from Tony Senecal, the head butler and historian at Mar-a-Lago. This guy is terrific and a great asset to Mar-a-Lago. He fills me in on the latest, and I’m glad he has X-ray vision when it comes to details.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten calls in. In addition to being a genius when it comes to food, he’s also a visionary. He’s a celebrity in his own right, but I can tell you that what really matters to him is cooking—and when you visit any of his restaurants, you’ll find out what I mean.

10:30 A.M. Tina Brown, of publishing fame, calls. We weren’t always on such good terms, but we put our differences aside. I enjoy talking with her. She’s quick and insightful.

I ask George Ross and Carolyn Kepcher to come in. I’ve decided they should play themselves in pivotal roles on The Apprentice. They both agree and do not seem put out at all. There won’t be any acting involved, because to them it will be another day on the job. Maybe a longer day on the job, but just another day. Total pros.

I take a call from Jim Dowd, senior press manager at NBC, regarding The Apprentice, and one from Jay Bienstock, a producer on The Apprentice. Both guys know exactly what they’re doing, which is a relief to me. Then I yell at some contractors for a while. It’s too boring to tell you about this, but it’s something that is absolutely necessary in real estate development and construction. I spend much of my days doing this.

I take a call from Eliot Spitzer, the New York State attorney general. He is one smart guy, who has an even more brilliant future ahead of him. He is just amazing!

11:00 A.M. I go down to the large conference room to see some plans for a possible new development. Charlie, Russell, Jill, and Don Jr., my development team, go over them with me. This could be a go, but I’ll have to think about it a bit more. I don’t have a formula for making decisions—each situation is unique, and I allow my assessment to be equally unique, with no time constraints. When it’s right, it will be right. I may have the reputation of being brash, but I am very restrained in regard to making decisions. People don’t see the process— they only see the results.