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dad said to me years ago, “The definition of an oil man is a liar standing next to a hole in the ground.” You can also substitute gold miner for oil man.

      Today, although I make a lot of money from my books and games, most of my wealth comes from my gold mine in China, my silver mine in South America, and my real estate companies and oil partnerships in the United States.

      Every time a reporter asks me, “Isn’t the best way to get rich to write a book about getting rich?” I chuckle. In reply, I simply say, “If you think writing an internationally best-selling book and creating an educational board game is easy, why don’t you do it?” In my opinion, it is much easier to find oil or gold than to write a best-selling book.

      Donald Trump and I write books because we are very concerned. Our message is, with the proper financial education and preparation, you can increase your financial IQ and ride the rough waters to become richer rather than poorer.

       Donald’s View

       Education Replaces Fear

      Robert’s and my message is, with the proper financial education and planning you can ride out the turbulence of what is happening in our financial world today and through this education you can become richer by finding ways to solve the problems.

      I am reminded of a simple example of problem solving. When Robert came to my office recently to talk about the book, I had a red chair in the middle of my office. I asked him how he liked the new chair and how much he thought it cost.

      He was standing there looking at this elegant, fabric-covered dining-room chair and finally said, “I have no idea.” I loved it.

      “Mike, my golf course manager in California called and said he needed 150 chairs for the restaurant, and that he had been quoted $1,500 for each chair. That sounded very expensive to me, so instead of simply agreeing, I made a few calls.

      “It cost me $90,” I said quite proudly. “It’s a fabulous chair. It’s the best. Here, sit on it. And it’s a better chair than the $1,500 one. Do you know how much money I saved, just by making a few phone calls?”

      It’s a matter of leadership and the ability to solve problems. If my staff thinks I spend money carelessly, then they will spend money carelessly. So I do this not only to preserve capital, but also to set an example for my team. You see, I am not afraid of spending money. I like buying the best. But I do not like wasting money. So many people struggle financially because they think cheap and buy cheap. You can get rich by being cheap, but who wants to be a rich cheap person?

      Even when I was having financial difficulties, I was never cheap. When my company was struggling, I still paid my employees well. And that is why I buy the best chair at the best price. I don’t like being ripped off, especially when I can get the best for less. I expect my staff to do the same.

      One thing we all need to remember is that a little effort is the best replacement for excuses. If we were all to make an effort to understand what’s going on around us, to make that quantum leap to using our higher, non-complacent minds, some lucid thinking might result. Problem solving is education at its best. Just as understanding can replace hatred, education can replace fear.

      Ignorance can be easier, but it is often the result of fear. As Robert Frost said, “There’s nothing I’m afraid of like scared people.” Reduce your fear and fuel your courage.

      I like Robert’s diagrams and when I look at his wealth and energy arrows, I think of how our individual energy can create wealth. If you have the perseverance to move forward with momentum, that is a great force of energy in itself. And with the right focus, it’s likely you will succeed. I always liked Alexander Graham Bell’s statement: Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus. If you can control your energy then you stand a good chance of creating and controlling your own wealth. Your arrows will both be pointing in the right direction.

      I have learned that what is essential can sometimes be invisible to the eye. That’s where discernment comes in. Leaders are those people who have replaced fear with discernment, which means they can predict the inevitable. Their education has resulted in an insight that can effectively replace fear, and which greatly enhances their chances of success.

      Problem solving is made much easier if you think of problems as challenges. You might as well view them that way, since problems are a part of life. Taking a positive spin on problems will inevitably give you more energy. I say ‘inevitably’ with confidence because I know that’s a fact and I know it from experience. Confidence is a big step toward courage, and fear will evaporate when confronted with it.

      Robert has said that a problem can create an opportunity. Well said, and I agree. If you will begin to view your problems in that light, I can guarantee you will be on the road to solving them. I’ve had some big problems, to the tune of billions of dollars of debt, but I never went bankrupt and I’m more successful today than ever before, so I am speaking from experience.

      I have learned that what is essential can sometimes be invisible to the eye. That’s where discernment comes in.

       – Donald J. Trump

      Trump Tower has been on the map as a destination site for so long now that people forget that it didn’t just appear one day on the skyline of Manhattan. I had a lot of obstacles to consider and overcome when I decided I wanted ‘the Tiffany location’ for my new building. I had to solve a lot of problems. First, I wanted to buy the Bonwit Teller store and building, but they thought I was crazy. I didn’t give up, but it was three years before I got anywhere with them. Then, I wanted to buy the air rights above Tiffany’s. Purchasing those rights would give me the ability to build a much bigger building. Once I got those rights, I still needed a tiny parcel of land that was critical because of zoning laws that required a minimum of thirty feet of open space behind any building. That took more investigating and negotiating. In addition, my architect, Der Scutt, and I went over at least four dozen designs, finding the best elements of each and incorporating them into the final design. Then we had to have the final design approved by the city and get zoning variances.

      That’s just part of the story of Trump Tower. None of those steps were easy, but I saw each step as a challenge and enjoyed working out the details. If I didn’t see it that way, it could have been very easy to become discouraged. But instead I have a beautiful building that has become world famous. Was it worth it? Yes! And it’s a great example of problem solving.

      Another interesting story about Trump Tower is the name itself. I was initially going to name it Tiffany Tower because of the location. A friend asked me why I would use another famous name to describe a building that I had envisioned and built, and his question hit home. Trump Tower it became.

      Robert and I realize that problems can be complex and, at times, seemingly endless but we want to encourage you to see them as challenges that will give you a chance for great achievement. Remember, nothing is easy. But who wants nothing? Your financial intelligence is greater than that!

       Robert and Donald checking out the course at Trump National Golf Club/Los Angeles

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