Want to Get Rich? Donald Trump is Here to Help You
Written: Mar 03 '08 (Updated Mar 03 '08)
Product Rating:
Pros: Direct advice; No holds- barred approach
Cons: Some material is controversial; Bill Zanker's input
The Bottom Line: This is a pretty good book about motivation and success. It has its share of controversy, but what do you expect in a book by The Donald?
Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Donald J. Trump and Bill Zanker - Think Big and Ki...
Business books can often be quite boring, and this is particularly true when a business book is based on theories and research. But there are some business topics that are more exciting than others and some of the better ones include those that are motivational in scope and those that are written by a proven success. Put these two qualities together and you have Think Big and Kick A-s, a book by businessman and television personality Donald Trump with additional input from Bill Zanker.
Basic Contents of This Book:
This 370- page book contains the following chapters:
Foreword
Introduction: From Small to Big 1. Do You Have What it Takes?
2. Passion, Passion, Passion
3. Basic Instincts
4. Creating Luck
5. Fear Factor
6. Revenge
7. Big Mo!
8. Never Take Your Eye Off the Ball
9. I Love You, Sign This
10. Think Big and Kick A-s in Business and Life Appendix
Index
Trump begins his book with the chapter “Do You Have What it Takes?” and in the opener, Trump talks about the trials and tribulations of success, pointing out what it takes to achieve success and why so few people have the attitude necessary to achieve riches. Chapter two continues the career path talk, with some motivational words about passion and why it is so important to love what you do.
Chapter three is focused on following one’s instincts and Trump feels that your “gut” feeling, your intuition, is correct more often than not and for this reason, it is obviously something you should pay attention to. Chapter four is all about the subject of luck and Trump admits that luck does play a role in a person’s success in business and life. However, he also feels that hard work can overcome the limitations that “bad luck” have placed on an individual and led to great success regardless.
In chapter five, Trump talks about a subject in which he is well- versed: Coping with celebrity and success and knowing who to trust and who not to trust. Trump accurately states that a person who has reached the top is almost certain to be a target of others who are envious of the success. He also feels that people cannot be trusted, and that includes the very people you hire to work for you. This leads into chapter six with Trump talking about strongly he feels about getting even. When someone has done you wrong, Trump feels it is very important to strike back as forcefully as possible.
Chapter seven returns to business motivational talk with Trump delivering his sermon on the importance of staying motivated. Once momentum is lost, it is only a matter of time until business or life goals begin to collapse. Chapter eight then talks about staying focused and not developing the mindset that one can never fail. Optimism is good, but once an individual thinks he/she is invincible, the guard will be let down and the chances for failure increase.
In chapter nine, Trump talks about a topic that is a little unusual for a book like this: Insisting on a prenuptial agreement. Trump feels that one’s success is too important to risk losing it all at the hands of an ex- spouse, so he recommends a prenuptial. Chapter ten then summarizes the book with some final words on thinking big.
Final Thoughts:
Donald Trump has one of the most recognizable names in business. A successful real estate buyer and developer, Trump has spent many years buying, renovating, and selling buildings, homes, golf courses, and other large, expensive assets. He is also well- known for his stint on television’s Apprentice, and his name and likeness exist on many different pieces of merchandise.
With so much success to offer, Trump seems anxious to share the secrets of his successful climb to the top, and that is exactly what he does in “Think Big and Kick A-s”. Trump doesn’t intend this book as a history lesson about his life and times, even though he does make mention of some of the ups and downs in his life- especially his low point in the early 1990’s when he almost lost everything. Rather, he uses a few examples of things that have happened to him and points out how they helped him learn to avoid the same mistakes in the future. For the remainder of the book, Trump offers his tips for overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness in business and in life.
Trump does have a successful track record, and he is quick to offer many ideas that he feels will lead to great success. Many of these are obvious and many other people have stated the same things. Staying positive, maintaining focus, keeping a step ahead of the competition, aiming for the top, etc., are all pretty common pieces of advice that most authors would agree are important ingredients to success. Trump has his own unique way of saying things, but the basics of most of this advice are pretty clear, and pretty ordinary.
Where Trump offers some more unique words of wisdom are in the chapters that cover fear and distrust, seeking revenge, and demanding a prenuptial agreement. The chapter on trust isn’t too far out of the ordinary, but it is still a little different and some of what it says took me by surprise. Trump feels that you can never completely trust anyone, and that includes people you have known for a long time. His bottom line when it comes to employees is “Get the Best People, and Don’t Trust Them”. Trump has witnessed too many backstabbers and too many shenanigans to put his trust in people again.
The chapter about seeking revenge is probably the most controversial of all. Here, Trump recommends something that many would find reprehensible: Getting even with those who have insulted you or damaged you in any way. When someone does you wrong or in any way proves themselves disloyal, you should fight back directly and with such great force that the person will never mess with you again. Trump offers many examples of feuds he has had with other people and former friends who are no longer on his buddy list. In each instance, Trump has fought back tooth and nail. He feels that revenge is sweet and that anyone who avoids getting even is a schmuck who deserves any bad treatment he/she receives. This chapter is certain to cause controversy among readers and many will likely dismiss it outright, even though I cannot really say that Trump is completely wrong in his assessments.
The other chapter that is controversial is the one on prenuptial agreements. Here you are, reading a motivational book about business when suddenly bam!- A chapter on, of all things, getting a prenuptial agreement when you decide to marry. Trump agrees that a prenup is about as unromantic as anything could possibly be, but he feels very strongly about getting one because he feels there is too much at risk if you do not. It is interesting to note that Trump doesn’t recommend prenups only for the highly successful who own a business and don’t want to lose it. He seems to be aiming his advice at all men and women, even though, in the absence of any wealth, a prenup doesn’t seem that important.
Bill Zanker is the co- writer of this book and Zanker offers his own writing segment at the end of each chapter. Zanker’s claim to fame is The Learning Annex and he considers Donald Trump to be one of his mentors. His contributions to this book are not very useful, because in every instance, all he does is reaffirm what Trump said earlier in the chapter. He plays the role of the supportive cheerleader, chanting out Trump’s name and pointing out how correct Trump is in his pronouncements on business and life. It gets a little boring after a while because you already know what you are going to read before you get there.
To help organize the book, there is a “To Sum it Up” paragraph at the end of each chapter that quickly talks about the key points. Following that is a bulleted list of key points mentioned in the previous chapter. I liked this approach at the end of each chapter because it helps to reiterate what was already stated and provides the reader with a listing of the most important tips from each chapter. Some of the material in the appendix is good, too. There is a set of FAQ, testimonials, and a list of recommended books.
Overall, Think Big and Kick A-s is a good book from Mr. Donald Trump and his sidekick/head cheerleader, Bill Zanker. This book has been referred to by some as a self- help guide but it is really an empowerment book and it is a marked improvement over some of Trump’s recent efforts, like “How to Get Rich” and “Think Like a Billionaire”. Donald Trump has many successes to share and many mistakes that he has learned from and he is anxious to share them with the reader. You may not become mega- rich, but Trump feels the potential for great success is within all of us and he encourages anyone with a desire to better themselves financially to read his book and take its words to heart. Trump has been there and done that, and he wants you, the reader, to enjoy the great taste of success, just like he has been doing for nearly three decades.
Donald J. Trump is an icon: the very definition of the American success story. The star of The Apprentice and developer of some of the planet s most p...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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