Ten Questions With Donald Trump

Donald J. Trump is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance and started his business career in an office he shared with his father. In August of 2006, Mr. Trump was voted by BusinessWeek magazine as “the world’s most competitive businessperson.”

In New York City, the Trump signature is synonymous with the most prestigious of addresses, among them the world-renowned Fifth Avenue skyscraper, Trump Tower, the Trump International Hotel & Tower, voted the best U.S. Hotel by Conde Nast Traveler, Trump World Tower at the United Nations Plaza, 40 Wall Street, and Trump Park Avenue.

In a departure from his real estate acquisitions, Mr. Trump and the NBC Television Network are partners in the ownership and broadcast rights for the three largest beauty competitions in the world: the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants. He is also the star and executive producer of the hit television series, “The Apprentice,” which has received national and worldwide attention. In the summer of 2004, his radio program on Clear Channel made its debut and broke all syndication records.

Mr. Trump has authored seven books, all of which became bestsellers. Trump Magazine was launched in 2004, Trump University Online in 2005, and the Donald J. Trump licensing program. In 2006, GoTrump.com, an online travel agency, made its debut, as did Trump Productions in Los Angeles.

1. Question: If you, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Herb Kelleher and Larry Ellison got marooned on a desert island, who would end up running the place and who would end up as dinner?

   Answer: We would find a way to order in and have a productive meeting at the same time.

2. Question: How long would Larry and Sergei, the co-founders of Google, last on your show?

   Answer: That would depend on whether they were good team players and if they had an original idea or two.

3. Question: Would you fire your son or daughter?

   Answer: Yes, if they deserved it, but fortunately they are well prepared for their positions, so I doubt they would ever merit being fired.

4. Question: What do you do to chill out?

   Answer: Playing golf provides me with my version of chilling out, plus I develop golf courses, so it’s a productive way to spend my chill time.

5. Question: At the end of our life, what do you want to be remembered for?

   Answer: As a builder who has enhanced the cities and communities where I have built and/or developed.

6. Question: What’s the difference between the Donald Trump on “The Apprentice” and the Donald Trump in every day business meetings?

   Answer: Business meetings are more about negotiation skills whereas “The Apprentice” falls into the job interview or audition category. I have business meetings with people who are looking to do business, not people who are looking for a job. My attitude on “The Apprentice” is as an employer looking at possible future employees. I don’t look to mold any of my business associates.

7. Question: If you could apprentice with anyone in history, who would it be?

   Answer: My father was a great mentor. He’d be hard to replace.

8. Question: Not many people make billions, lose billions, and then make billions all over again. How did you pull this off?

   Answer: To me it was a blip, not a catastrophe. I knew I was destined to succeed, and I kept focused on that belief. I’m very tenacious...and I don’t give up.

9. Question: If you graduated from Wharton in 2006 instead of in the 1960s, what industry would you go into?

   Answer: Real estate. I love it and it still exists as a career and as a viable passion.

10. Question: What do you think of two guys in a garage showing amateur videos selling out for $1.7 billion?

    Answer: I’d say they had a great idea—my hat’s off to them.

11. Question: TV is TV, real life is real life: What’s the most important real-life advice you can give to an entrepreneur?

    Answer: You have to love what you do. Without passion, great success is hard to come by. An entrepreneur will have tough times if he or she isn’t passionate about what they’re doing. People who love what they’re doing don’t give up. It’s never even a consideration. It’s a pretty simple formula.

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Comments

[MJ]

Guy, I've always really liked your blog, but Donald Trump? How "Parade Magazine." You can do so much better.

[Graeme Thickins]

Guy, you didn't ask him how he props up that bad combover! Or if he wants to play hockey some time... :-)

[Neil McDonnell]

While Trump and any of his success doesn't interest me, you still do Guy. :) Today you've inspired me to start my own Ten Questions with... series on my blog. Living out in the DC area, there must be folks here that have answers we'd all like to hear. Now the challenge is creating a good list of questions.

Neil McDonnell
http://sften.blogspot.com

[DM]

Guy, your stock just dropped a few point...

Donald Trump is a sorry excuse for a human-being.

Regardless of his "success" (only monetary, and somewhat iffy in that regard), his contradicts most of what you have ever said in your books.

One word: slime.

[Guy Salesman]

As a senior-level sales executive, I've always found Trump's style to be a bit self aggrandizing. While he's no doubt an expert at promoting the Trump brand (I need some brand evangelists like him on my team), he's a little less skilled at the day-to-day operations of managing a global organization.

[Bill Gammell]

Guy,

You asked The Donald some great questions. His talk about never giving up is very interesting after last week’s contestant on The Apprentice rolled over and simply gave up.

[Adee Feinstein]

Nowhere does Guy says that this was an interview, only "Ten Questions with..." As such, it may be conducted via SMS for all we know. BTW, question 11 (and its great answer) are the important takeaway's here. Naturally, starting out with Daddy's cash can't hurt...

[Torley]

This is WAY COOL! I've been waiting for this for a long time... two of my heroes meet! (Excluding previous meetings I'm unaware of.)

I like how The Donald gives forthright, simple, and often obvious questions — but not as obvious as they could be recognized in society, because of layers of BS. Donald cuts right to the core and says it. That's it.

I wanna know how you guys got together, tho! =)

[joe]

"For your next task, you will design and launch a viral Web 2.0 widget. Whichever team has the most number of pageviews, backlinks, and Techcrunch comments at the end of the week wins. The losing team, as usual, will be back in the boardroom where someone will be fired"

People claim they can build web 2.0 apps in 24 hours right? :) The next Apprentice season should be in silicon valley so that we internet entrepreneurs can play

[joe]

I would like to see Guy Kawasaki being Trump's right-hand man in the boardroom (ala George Ross). Next season of the Apprentice, Guy!

[Rory]

Good question, Lawrence. I, too, was wondering how this interview was conducted.

The answers do seem straight to the point and not very conversational. Maybe he would only allow a set of written questions.

'Fess up, Mr Kawasaki.

[Preston]

I think Trump is real smart about his business, real savvy. I'm not a die-hard for Trump, but I've read a few of his books, and from what I've seen, he's making a positive difference in the business of real estate. We can all learn a lot from the guy. Plus, who didn't have a blip at the time he did? Those were tough real estate times.

[Kimber]

I love the distinction he made between the Apprentice candidates being potential employees, not business partners. That is a huge difference.

[Harry J. Chong]

I wonder if you were on that island Guy? What would happen?

[Lawrence]

Nice Interview Guy.

I wish his answer were a little more controversial. I guess I just expect more from "The Donald".

Was this interview in person or over the phone?