Page 29 - How To Get Rich

as a person and as a professional, which is a remarkable accomplishment
in the entertainment industry.
On the other hand, I’ve met people that I have an aversion to for no
particular reason, and while I try not to be judgmental, I have reason by

now to trust my gut. Carl Jung said our conscious minds use only five
percent of our brain power for daily functioning. If we can learn to tap into
that unconscious, subconscious, and dormant ninety-five percent, the
results can be amazing.

Be Optimistic, but Always Be Prepared for the Worst
There are a lot of ups and downs, but you can ride them out if you’re

prepared for them.
Learning to expect problems saved me from a lot of wasted energy, and
it will save you from unexpected surprises. It’s like Wall Street; it’s like
life. The ups and downs are inevitable, so simply try to be prepared for
them.
Sometimes I’ll ask myself why I want to take on some new, big

challenge. A substantial loss is always a possibility. Can I handle it if it
doesn’t go well? Will I be asking myself later,Why did I ever do that?
What was I thinking? I’m actually a very cautious person, which is
different from being a pessimistic person. Call it positive thinking with a
lot of reality checks.

Look Closely Before Changing Careers

In 2000, I thought about running for president of the United States as a
third-party candidate. I proposed some sensible ideas: tax cuts for the
middle class, tougher trade deals, a ban on unregulated soft money in
campaigns, comprehensive health care reform. I formed an exploratory
committee and met with Reform Party leaders, but in the end I realized I

was enjoying my business too much to run for office.
Remember the rule I mentioned earlier about how you shouldn’t
equivocate? That may work for business, but in politics, you usually have
to watch your words. I’m too blunt to be a politician. Then, there’s my
long-held aversion to shaking hands. (More on this in a moment.) Had I
entered the race, I wouldn’t have been very popular. Even during the few
months I was considering candidacy, I noticed that people began to treat
me differently—in a more reserved, less friendly way. Before, I had been