Page 198 - Midas Touch

crew shoots right inside my office. We’re used to film crews by now, so
it’s business as usual in the office.

There are small things that require time and thought that most viewers
wouldn’t even be aware of, unless they are in the industry. With New York
as a backdrop, we have a wonderful selection of sites, but there are many

factors to be considered, such as permits, weather, traffic, transportation,
and the list goes on. I don’t just appear, but deal with many details
throughout the shooting season and work closely with Mark Burnett. When
the season begins, there is publicity to be considered with television
appearances and interviews. It’s an ongoing process, and once again, no
detail is too small for consideration.

One lesson I learned about the small things was when I was en route to
give a speech to about ten thousand people. This was fairly early in my
speaking career, and I remember casually asking my driver what I was
going to be talking about. He was startled by my question and said, “Boss,
don’t you know? There are thousands of people waiting for you.” I told
him that I was sure it would come to me. He didn’t seem relieved at my

answer.

What I decided to do was to think about the audience as individuals
instead of a huge mass of people, and what they might like to hear about.
Instead of thinking big, I was actually thinking small. Sure enough,
everything became clear and the speech was a great success. I focused on
where the audience was coming from, not where I was coming from, and
the rapport was tangible. It was a good formula to keep for future

engagements and a very good visual aid for those of you who are wary of
public speaking.

Trying to Fly the Flag
When I’d finished my golf course in California, Trump National Golf Club
Los Angeles which fronts the Pacific Ocean, I decided to fly the American
flag on the property. I thought it was the perfect setting for our flag, which

it was. The community didn’t think so. They said it was too big. “Too big
for what?” was my response. “It faces the Pacific Ocean!” Eventually
everyone rallied to my side, and the flag now flies proudly on the site.
Here was a case of big versus small and small versus big, in the most
classical sense possible.