Combining Self-Respect, Positive
Thinking, Courage, and a Constant Effort
Donald J. Trump
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A 2024 Editorial Note
The following excerpts were selected from the book
“Never Give Up”, by Donald J. Trump, with Meredith
McIver, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Copyright
2008 Trump University, 179 pp. The number of page of
each paragraph is indicated in parenthesis at the end of it.
(CCA)
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* As I went along, I realized that every project came with its own set of major challenges, and I began to learn to expect them. That was okay because I was prepared. (…) And remember, the way I see it, the bigger the problem, the bigger your chance for greatness. (p. xvi)
* One thing I’ve learned is that discouragement should not be tolerated for very long. It’s okay to get fed up a bit and maybe gripe for a minute or two. Personally, I like to go golfing when I’m stressed or just swing a club in my office. But feeling negative should be a very temporary state of mind. It’s hard, but there is a form of mental courage that can be cultivated (…). (p. xvi)
* Of course, a lot of things are just irritating – so don’t be surprised and don’t overestimate them in your mind. Learn to put them in perspective. (pp. xvi-xvii)
* What do you do when doubts continue to surface, even after you’ve committed to go forward? A lot of people mistakenly think that I stride the planet in a state of absolute certainty, all of the time. The truth is, there are times I have to wrestle with doubts after I’ve made big decisions. The challenge is what you do with doubts. Handled poorly, doubt can sap your spirit and resolve. Handled well, doubt should make you smarter and strengthen your chances for success. (pp. 83-84)
* Having confidence in yourself is key to being resilient and staring adversity in the face. (p. xvii)
* …Giving up is something that never entered my mind. Not for one second, and that’s one reason I think I confounded my critics. They were trying to skewer me, but it had the opposite effect – it just made me want to make a comeback and in a big way. I knew I could prove them wrong by being stubborn, being tenacious, and not giving in or giving up. I became a stronger person very quickly during this time. I’m not advising you to ask for the same pressure, but know that if you meet with some setbacks, refusing to give up is probably your best strategy. (pp. 2-3)
The Force of Positive Thinking
* What gave me this fortitude? I’m not sure, but being tossed aside as a “has-been” or a “wash-up” by the world press might have had something to do with it. I’d also already learned that problems are often opportunities in disguise. I began to see my situation, believe it or not, as a great opportunity. I had a big chance to show the press and my critics and enemies that I was a force to be reckoned with, not a flash-in-the pan success with no staying power. That’s heady incentive, and that’s looking at the situation positively. (p. 3)
* … That was indeed the turning point. All of us decided to focus on the solution and not the problem – right then. That’s another important lesson: Focus on the solution, not the problem! (…) I also relied on something I’d like to discuss here: positive thinking. Believe me, it works. It got me to where I am today (…). (pp. 3-4)
* I feel strongly about the importance of wholeness. It’s a combination of all the components of life that make us healthy, happy, and productive. To my mind, the opposite of wholeness is failure. If it happens, and sometimes it does, the best remedy is to move forward, to realize that failure is not permanent, and to immediately focus in the right direction. Ultimately, a solution will show up. (p. 5)
* I don’t mean to sound like a faith healer, but there is something profound and yet simple about viewing failure as a lack of wholeness. I will also add, it’s effective. Believing that a negative situation is temporary and wrong will give you the impetus to do something about it, to feel righteous and energetic about fixing it. Being unhappy and unproductive is simply not part of my game plan, and it shouldn’t be part of yours, either. See a situation as unacceptable, as taking you away from wholeness, and you will be motivated to get out of it as quickly as possible. (pp. 5-6)
* I’ve seen some people get completely swallowed up by failures. The worst thing you can do to yourself is to believe that bad luck is your due. It isn’t! It’s not just intelligence or luck that gets us places, it’s tenacity in the face of adversity. Some people see problems as bad luck, but I don’t. Problems are a part of life and a big part of business. The bigger your business, the bigger your life, the bigger your problems are likely to be. Being prepared for that will save you a lot of emotional turmoil, unnecessary deliberating, and even illness. (p. 6)
* My focus is always on the solution to whatever the problem – or challenge – might be. In contrast, I have met so many people who waste a lot of their time (and mine) talking about their problems. It becomes very clear to me that they are avoiding looking for a solution. They either like the drama of their situation or are too lazy to make the effort of using their brains to look at solutions. (p. 95)
* Thinking takes energy and it shouldn’t be wasted dwelling on the wrong things. For every problem there is a solution, and capable people will look for that solution. Make sure you’re one of the capable people. (p. 96)
* I’ve known people who have come back not just from adversity but from tragedy. There’s adversity and then there’s tragedy. Thinking about both is a good way to get an objective view of what you may think your problems are. Your situation may be tough, but you can bet others have had far worse things to deal with. One way to pave your way for a comeback (or for a first victory) is to read about people who have been courageous against long odds. My guess is they felt they had an obligation to succeed, and in some cases, an obligation to survive. That’s how I feel. (…) (p. 6)
* You can have the same attitude, no matter what your situation or background. When failure comes your way, you must believe that you matter, that you can overcome it, and most importantly, that success is what is expected of you. You’d be surprised at what you can accomplish when that’s your attitude. It’s not just survival, it’s not just success, it is your obligation. A sense of duty toward wholeness [1] will go a long way toward your personal and professional success. (p. 7)
* What I learned at the time of my worst financial problems is that I was resilient and that I had this indomitable sense of success that couldn’t be taken from me. (…) That brings me to another level of thought, which is faith. Faith is a bit like wisdom. People can help you along the way with it but above all you have to develop it yourself. Faith in yourself can prove to be a very powerful force. Work on it daily. Sometimes when you’re fighting a lonely battle, keeping yourself company with positive reinforcement and faith in yourself can be the invisible power that separates the winners from the losers. Losers give up. (p. 7)
* In summary: Strive for wholeness, believe in yourself, keep your momentum at full throttle, and be strong and tough in your resilience. Don’t expect anything less than that from yourself, and I can assure you that success will become a permanent situation for you, even when your external circumstances may not show it. Never Give Up! (p. 7)
Coach Trump
* Expect problems and setbacks. It’s all part of the game. If you’re not running into major challenges, you’re doing something easy, and probably not very valuable (…). A big problem often signals a big opportunity. Be prepared to work long and hard for it. Don’t be afraid to pursue multiple options, or multiple people, at the same time. If one thing doesn’t work out, you’ve got back-up options. I promise you, not everything is going to work. In fact, you may have to try a lot of things to get just one thing to work. That’s tenacity, and it’s critical to success. (pp. 67-68)
The Power of Laughter
* People are surprised sometimes when they visit our offices and hear laughter coming from mine. I’m a serious businessman but I also know the value of laughter. That’s why I smile when I see those serious faces in ads and commercials that are supposed to represent serious business being done. There’s no reason you can’t have some fun. In fact, if you are not having fun, you know by now that I would advise you to find something else to do. Your job is probably not brain surgery, so lighten up a little. (p. 89)
* It pays to have a sense of humor about yourself. I did a commercial for VISA a few years ago that required me to grovel around (or appear to be groveling around) in a dumpster to retrieve my VISA card. I was filmed on top of Trump Tower showing my card, when a gust of wind blows it out of my hand and onto the street below. A passerby notes when I crawl out of the dumpster, “And I thought he was doing so well!” I didn’t mind – I had a great time and the commercial was a big success. If I took myself too seriously, I would have missed out on a lot of fun and a nice paycheck. Business at its best should have both.[2] (p. 90)
NOTES:
[1] “A sense of duty toward wholeness”. The notion of “integrity” or “wholeness” means a strong contact with one’s spiritual soul, the higher self, and sense of inner unity with other points in time, other places, and other beings. Thus, a sense of duty toward the wholeness relates to the sense of duty to our own soul. And that will help us a lot in the short term and in the long term. (CCA)
[2] Regarding the importance of laughter along the spiritual path, see the article “The Science of Laughing”. (CCA)
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The article “Turning a Defeat into Victory” was published in the websites of the Independent Lodge of Theosophists on 23 July 2024.
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Read more:
* Articles by Carlos Cardoso Aveline.
* Some writings by Jean des Vignes Rouges.
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Print the texts you study from the websites of the Independent Lodge. Reading on paper helps us attain a deeper view of philosophical texts. When studying a printed text, the reader can underline sentences and make handwritten comments in the margins that link the ideas to his personal reality.
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Helena Blavatsky (photo) wrote these words: “Deserve, then desire”.
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