Donald Trump: How your aspirations determine the extent of your success
You can love him, you can hate him but the great charisma of this man is certainly undeniable, who often and willingly made people talk about himself. One of a kind to him, he was able to build a huge economic empire starting as a real estate developer in New York, one of the most difficult places for this kind of business. Today Donald is one of the richest men in the world with around 400 companies around the globe ranging from luxury hotels to golf courses to clothing. Donald Trump's success has a secret and it's soon revealed: he thinks big!
Donald is a guy who does not allow himself to be overwhelmed by the fear of "not being able to do it" and launches into great goals that he almost always manages to achieve. Right on the site of Models of Success we had talked about his candidacy for the American presidential elections and in those articles and in those pages we had predicted that he would win and so he did.
When Donald gets something in his head, there is no obstacle that can stand between him and what he wants to achieve.
With this article we begin the analysis of one of the most popular characters on the planet to find out what are the behavioral patterns that have made him "the most effervescent boy in America".
The (imaginary) interview with Donald Trump for Models of Success
We will begin this analysis of Trump's behavioral models with his own words (artfully mixed aphorisms taken from his books, interviews and videos on the net) and we will do it with an imaginary (mega) interview that opens to the analysis of those Trump's own and exclusive ways of thinking that made him the successful person he is today. Let's begin!
Mr. Trump you are famous for your "think big" attitude. Can you tell us about this lifestyle of him? When did he decide to have a similar approach and what did this approach bring you?
The first step in the direction of success is to go from being nobody to being someone. Many are afraid to think big […] because they can't imagine themselves doing great things. Virtually all self-made millionaires and billionaires, like Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Walt Disney, were able to think big and win.
[Personally] I've always thought big. Thinking big is a belief that I have embraced since my youth, and it has proved to be an effective principle for achieving success.
Can anyone think big or is this way of seeing life reserved for a select few? Can you give us some examples of people who have reached the top thinking big?
Are you convinced that the ability to think big is the exclusive prerogative of those who have money, academic qualifications, important connections or even just the gift of superior intelligence? It's not true. Anyone can think big. The most important thing is the size of your ambitions. It is the extent of your aspirations that determines the extent of your success. Everything else is secondary. Just thinking big sets you apart from the vast majority of people. So get started right away. Set yourself an ambitious goal and then strive to become the one who is able to achieve it. I am convinced that if you aim for the top you will get there. Some have the innate ability to get to the top. They are born champions. Other champions built themselves. Tiger Woods is one of them. But there are also Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady and Big Ben Roethlisberger. They use discipline and determination to overcome obstacles and to defeat the odds. They set out to do something extraordinary. Good results would not have been enough. They think big and aim for big goals.
What does it feel like thinking big? What are the characteristics of people who think big? How can we start thinking big too?
Those who think big draw positive conclusions. Get used to drawing positive conclusions. Start each day by thinking, “Today is an extraordinary day. I live in one of the most advanced countries in the world. Being alive is wonderful. Even today I have many opportunities for success ”. Your mind will take care of finding the reasons that make these statements true. Those who think small and draw negative conclusions will find that their mind leads them to negative thoughts. The choice is yours. Choose positively. [So] whatever you do, think big. Thinking big is the golden rule that inspired all the great achievements of modern life. Use the language of those who think big. Fear often leads to silence. Get used to speaking at business meetings and social events. Clearly formulate your ideas. Then speak loudly in a clear tone, showing that you have something important to say. Don't worry about what others think. Remember that they are never as smart as you think they are or as they think they are.
Thinking big is not synonymous with guaranteed success, quite the contrary. What can we do if, despite our thinking big, we fail to achieve our goal?
Thinking big sometimes means running into big disappointments. What really matters is how you react to them. All the great artists, the great doctors, the great lawyers, the great scientists, the great inventors, the great managers, the great entrepreneurs and the great sellers use failure to their advantage. In all fields, the great have become such by learning from failure. They analyze their own failures and discover new ways to succeed. There are no successes without difficulty. Everyone encounters disappointments. It is part of life.
Any advice on thinking big for Success Models readers?
If you want to win, you have to be tough and determined. […] You have to deal with very strong pressure. You have to think big and be creative to solve complex problems that scare almost everyone to death. Those who think big have the best of doubts. Doubts lead directly to failure. When you have to think big, you are your own worst enemies. [But] while you think, you might as well think big. The choice is yours. Whatever your specific situation, no one can stop you from thinking big.
Let's talk about personal productivity and in particular about goals. How can we define, plan and implement what we set out to do?
Make a commitment to accomplish something important, and you will find a way to do it. I don't mean the vague promise to do a certain thing who knows when. I mean a binding agreement that obliges you to act. Sign on the dotted line and you will find a flame under your feet, which will inspire you to become more active than ever. The real fun [...] lies rather in the excitement you feel when you find creative solutions to achieve the goal. Find out about your passion for doing something useful for people. With your goals set, you start looking for opportunities to make them happen. If you hesitate when an opportunity presents itself, it is probably because you fear failure. Overcome this fear, because if you get used to procrastinating, all your goals will become empty promises, destined never to be kept. Always keep the promises you made to yourself and get used to realizing your goals. [However] you have to be patient as well as enthusiastic about your goals. Think big, but be realistic. I have waited 30 years for certain things to happen. [So] after discovering what you love to do, you have to take action. You should immediately dedicate yourself to what you like, whatever the level of professional commitment required. It should be and remain fun. Stop thinking and start doing. Start small, and face increasingly complex challenges to gain confidence in your means. This is how the Olympians get to the top. More and more ambitious goals are set, one after the other.
Here indeed, ambitious goals. His are famous for being. How can you set goals as huge as his (see becoming president of the USA for example) and reach them?
What you dream is what you will do. What are the big dreams that excite you and make you feel good? Don't ask yourself if you can or can't make them happen. This doesn't count. Dreaming does not cost anything. Take the time to cultivate big dreams. Wealth comes from setting ambitious goals and a daily commitment to achieving those goals. Many start with big goals, but when they encounter problems or are distracted by other things that take their attention day by day, they lose focus. You have to act concretely day after day, for at least two hours. Nobody should care more about your money and success than you. Get your mind used to accepting ever more ambitious goals. She must be ready to take bold steps. You cannot make the leap if your mind is not ready. Let's assume that you have started a business that bills 100 euros per month and that in your plans will have to bill 10,000 euros a month. Almost no one is able to go from 100 to 10,000 euros from one day to the next. Take small steps to get your mind used to it and to build bridges between where you are and where you want to go.
