Page 112 - Midas Touch

In one early season during a boardroom meeting, a conflict between
several players came up that required me to ask the already-dismissed
team to return to the boardroom. Quite honestly, I can’t remember what it
was, but it was something we couldn’t leave just hanging out there. We

had to clear up the issue, which took several hours to sort out. Of course, it
was edited for television to just a few minutes, but it was a long process.
There was no way we could have moved forward without solving the issue,
so we took the time. I would have preferred to go home and have dinner,
but there’s no way I could have ignored the situation. There we were for
hours, sorting through the mess, the crew as well as everyone else, just
doing their jobs and remaining tuned in. Everything we do we do with

care, with an understanding that the show must be entertaining while
remaining true to itself and its purpose. What many critics fail to realize is
that there is an educational subtext to our show, which gives it a resonance
lacking in many other reality shows. Education is and remains a vital tenet
of the show, and we receive many letters from schools who use the show as
a business class tool.

Man on a Mission
People often ask me if I had a mission in mind when I began The Trump
Organization. I don’t know if I would have called it a mission at that point,
but I knew I wanted a sound base from which to operate. I knew it would
be an important aspect of my success, as it would enable me to work as

effectively as possible. In the early days, if I had had a mission statement,
it would have been concise: “To be the best—in every way.” That includes
my buildings, my television shows, my golf courses, everything. It has
been my personal goal, my focus, and it requires daily application.

Just as having a firm foundation for your brand is important, and a mission
statement helps, having the best people surrounding your brand is just as
important. When Robert talks about his partners, I think of my employees

as well as my business partners and how they have helped the Trump
brand become synonymous with the best.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that for a brand to build, the people
surrounding it have to work exceptionally well together. Longevity doesn’t
hurt, either. I’ve had people who have been with me for 30 years. My
organization became larger as my brand expanded, and despite my fame