What Donald Trump Can Teach Us About Business
For some, he’s public enemy number one right now. For others, he represents the voice of the ‘new’ America. Whether you love or loathe Donald Trump, one thing can’t be argued, and that’s his business success. Long before he announced he was running for President, Trump was already a household name in business. What he has accomplished in the business world is something to be respected regardless of political allegiance.
There are a lot of things we can learn from Donald when it comes to running a business. Many of the techniques Trump has used throughout his Presidential campaign are things he perfected in business. So, make sure you take a look at these brilliant ways Donald Trump can help us, and what he can teach us about running a business.
Believe in Yourself
Nobody ever got anywhere without believing in themselves and thinking they could do it. The man himself once famously said ‘…having a healthy ego, or high opinion of yourself is a real positive’. And this encapsulates Trump’s approach to the business world, as well as why self-belief matters so much. People need to trust you with their money and be sure that you make the right decisions. And, if you’re unsure of yourself then they’re also going to be unsure. Make sure you are confident and you believe in your vision and your abilities.
Be Thick Skinned
One of the key things in business is being thick skinned and not letting things get you down. There are going to be failures in business, and this is part of the process. You also may have to deal with quite a few unpleasant people. But, the idea is to make sure you develop a thick skin over time. This will make you more driven, and means you can shake off your worries much more easily. A lot of running a business is about being able to take the rough with the smooth, and roll with the punches. And this is something that Donald Trump has shown us in spades over the years. Even now, as a political candidate, there’s no denying that he has a thick skin.
You Are a Brand
It’s important to bear in mind that, as a business owner, you are a brand. Everything you do reflects on you as a person. So, try to do the best you can to work on making yourself the best and strongest brand you possibly can. Take a look at all the ways Trump has expanded and grown his name and ‘brand-Trump’ over the years. If you look at his ventures outside of real estate he has developed Trump Tower quite considerably. He has also developed many golf resorts, bought football teams, and created Trump University. All of these have been done under his Trump moniker. This shows you how powerful a name can be in the corporate world. So, you have to make sure you work on making your brand as perfect as possible.
Ambition is the Most Important Thing
Anyone who wants to be successful in the business world should look to be as ambitious as possible. You need to have a vision and a goal for where you want to be in your career. It’s only through ambition that you can achieve success, and make a name for yourself and the business. Consider Donald’s quote ‘In the end, you’re measured… by what you finally achieve’. The end, as it always does, justifies the means. And, as an entrepreneur, you’re going to be judged by your achievements above anything else. That’s why it’s important to make sure you are as ambitious as you can possibly be moving forward.
People Matter
You might not think it from some of his more recent comments, but Trump knows that in business people matter. He once said, ‘your business and your brand must first let people know what you care about, and that you care about them’. And this should be true of your staff as well as your customers. You have to make sure you introduce TUPE regulations to safeguard the jobs of your employees. This shows you value them as people and as business assets. It’s also important to make sure your customers are satisfied, and that you’ve gone out of your way to give them the best possible service.
You Can Move on to Bigger Things
You’ve got to understand that Donald Trump has developed a lot of success over the years. He moved his business onto bigger and better things from where he started. This is important in the business world because you need to look at how to expand and grow. The world is changing, and if you can evolve with it, then you’re in danger of being left behind and experiencing business failure. Look at how Trump has consistently moved on to bigger and better things. First within business and developing his brand. And now, more recently, he’s moved from a business tycoon to Presidential hopeful. And, come November, he could even have advanced from Republican nominee to President of the United States!
Bouncebackability
The key to business success is being able to bounce back as much as you can. Donald Trump is known as a business phenomenon, and one of the richest people in the world. But, you may not know that Trump has been bankrupt no less than four times in his life! And this shows the importance of bouncebackability within the business world. ‘Sometimes by losing a battle, you find a new way to win the war’, said Donald. And this is an important lesson that we could all learn from when trying to develop our companies. It’s okay to fall on hard times and to experience failure. The fact is that problems are going to occur in business. It’s how you deal with these problems that matters; that’s when you find out about your mettle and the strength of your brand.
If you want business success, you need to make sure you have role models to base your business around. And Donald Trump, love or hate him, has had huge success as a businessman. You may not want him as Leader of the Free World, but, you can certainly learn a lot from him about running a business.