Donald Trump Jr., the 45th and 47th returning President of the United States, is at the peak of his powers. His confrontational approach to governance is generating controversy. The Economist (London) has aptly dubbed him Donald the Deporter for his threat to deport all illegal immigrants from America.
At least 5,000 individuals of Nigerian descent are anxiously awaiting in America, fearing deportation by Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies.
Tariffs are a key element in his trade wars. On 1 February, Reuters reported that Trump was expected to sign an order that day imposing 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10 percent on imports from China, potentially disrupting more than $2.1 trillion worth of annual trade.
Trump boasted that there was little the three countries could do to change the situation. He wants them to take decisive action to halt the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals into the U.S. from China via Mexico and Canada, as well as stop illegal immigrants from crossing southern and northern U.S. borders.
However, during a lengthy White House exchange with reporters, Trump brushed aside the notion that his tariff threats were merely bargaining tools.
“No, it’s not … we have big (trade) deficits with, as you know, with all three of them.”
Trump wants to take on the world.
The Art of The Deal
Books serve as a repository of history. History’s vast and complex realm offers insights into how our world has developed and the forces that have influenced our present.
Mr Trump readied himself for his leadership role by recording his thoughts. Deals are the language of the American President. Everything revolves around deals. America itself is a deal, as are its citizens, politics, laws, and relationship with the world.
I first read Trump’s book as the General Editor of BUSINESS magazine.
The Art of the Deal is a 1987 book co-authored by Donald J. Trump and journalist Tony Schwartz. It blends autobiography with business advice and chronicles Trump’s early life, rise in the real estate industry, and approach to deal-making.
The book is structured around Trump’s experiences and significant business deals, particularly in New York City. It begins with his childhood in Jamaica Estates, Queens, and outlines his initial work in Brooklyn before he relocated to Manhattan, where he established The Trump Organization. Key projects discussed include the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower, which highlight Trump’s aggressive negotiation style and business acumen.
Key Themes
Business Principles: Trump outlines 11 principles for success, emphasising negotiation tactics, leveraging power, and maintaining a strong position in deals. He stresses the importance of location in real estate but challenges conventional wisdom by suggesting that leverage is more critical.
Aggressive Tactics: The narrative reveals Trump’s confrontational style, including his willingness to use lawsuits as a negotiation tool. He reflects on how boldness can lead to significant opportunities and acknowledges the risks.
Personal Insights: Trump shares anecdotes from his life that shaped his business philosophy, including lessons learned from his father, Fred Trump, a successful real estate developer. This background provided Donald with insights into managing costs and maximising profits.
Bestseller
Upon its release, The Art of the Deal became a bestseller, remaining on The New York Times list for 48 weeks. It was crucial in establishing Trump’s public persona as a shrewd businessman. However, Schwartz later regretted his involvement in the project, suggesting that Trump may not have played a significant role in the writing process. Overall, The Art of the Deal serves as both a memoir and a guide for aspiring entrepreneurs, illustrating Trump’s unique approach to business through personal anecdotes and practical advice.
The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump, while ostensibly a business book, revolves around a central theme: pursuing success and power through strategic deal-making. This theme is explored through various sub-themes and principles that Trump outlines throughout the book.
Here are some of the key thematic elements:
The Power of Positive Thinking (with a Trumpian twist): Trump emphasises the importance of a positive mindset and self-belief, combining this with ruthless pragmatism. Success is not just about believing in it but also about aggressively pursuing it and using every advantage.
Thinking Big: Trump advocates for ambitious goals and large-scale projects. He believes that big thinking attracts attention, generates excitement, and leads to more significant rewards.
Aggressive Negotiation: The book details Trump’s aggressive negotiation tactics, including leveraging, bluffing, and sometimes even intimidation. He portrays deal-making as a battle where winning is the ultimate objective.
Image and Branding: Trump highlights the importance of cultivating a strong image and brand. He emphasises the need to project success and confidence, even if it means exaggerating or embellishing the truth (what he calls “truthful hyperbole”).
Adaptability and Flexibility: Trump stresses the need to be adaptable and flexible in negotiations. He emphasises the importance of being able to change tactics and strategies as needed to achieve the desired outcome.
Attention to Detail: While advocating for thinking big, Trump also emphasises the importance of paying attention to detail. He believes even minor details can make a big difference in a deal’s success.
The Art of the Deal as a Game: Trump frequently depicts deal-making as a game with winners and losers. He presents himself as a master player, expertly manoeuvring through the complexities of negotiations to secure victory.
Winning Negotiation Tactics
Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal outlines several key principles that he believes are essential for successful deal-making. Here are the 11 winning negotiation tactics highlighted in the book:
Think Big: Trump emphasises the importance of ambitious thinking, stating, “If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”
Protect the Downside: He advises anticipating worst-case scenarios to ensure that one can handle them and allow the positive outcomes to take care of themselves: “If you plan for the worst, the good will always take care of itself.”
Maximise Options: Trump suggests keeping multiple deals in play, as many may fall through, stating, “I never get too attached to one deal or one approach”.
Know Your Market: He relies on personal instincts over traditional market research, noting that he prefers to conduct assessments rather than trust surveys.
Use Your Leverage: Trump warns against appearing desperate in negotiations, which can weaken one’s position: “The worst thing you can do in a deal is seem desperate”.
Enhance Your Location: He challenges the conventional wisdom of “location, location, location,” arguing that having the best deal is more important than having the best location.
Get the Word Out: Trump believes in leveraging media attention and creating sensational stories to promote deals: “If you are a little different…the press is going to write about you”.
Fight Back: He advocates for a strong response to unfair treatment, asserting that he has always been willing to “fight back very hard” when wronged.
Deliver the Goods: Trump emphasises the necessity of fulfilling promises and delivering quality, stating that one cannot deceive people for long without consequences.
Contain Costs: He believes in prudent spending and advises against overspending, saying, “I believe in spending what you have to…but not spending more than you should”
Have Fun: Finally, Trump highlights the importance of enjoying the deal-making process, viewing money as a scorekeeper rather than a primary motivation: “The real excitement is playing the game.”
Watch out for the “Truthful hyperbole” in all that Trump does in the days ahead.
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