Ah, President Trump.
Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.
A great portion of life and business involves acting. Life is a performance art, no matter what field you are in. I’ve come to understand that fact over the years, and it’s a helpful thing to realize. It includes people skills, negotiation skills, public relations, salesmanship, and the ability to read your audience, whether that audience is four people in your office or forty thousand at a speech. The same technique applies.
I recently spoke to an audience of about 40,000 people. Afterwards, a member of my staff asked me if I ever got nervous. I said that I had finally realized that a large part of life was acting, and public speaking was just a part of that. I also thought about the people who would be in the audience instead of my own performance. That perspective frees you from nervousness to allow you to focus on and know your audience.
Save yourself from some unnecessary learning experiences and realize that life is a performance art. Understand that as a performer, you have a responsibility to your audience to perform to the best of your ability. You also have the goods to hold your audience, no matter what the size may be. Performers prepare for every performance. That’s showmanship, and that’s life. Prepare yourself every day. Learn, know, and show.
Intuition is perception via the unconscious.
Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.
It is a curious fact that people are never so trivial as when they take themselves seriously.
If you see every day as an important day for your future and a special day just because you have it, you will be amazed at how productive and energetic you will be. It’s the best way to be at your best at all times. Ever say to yourself, “what a great day!”? Say it to yourself today, right now, and see how your enthusiasm level begins to improve.
Learning without thought is labor lost.
I have a friend who is extremely accomplished and also extremely wealthy. Uber-wealthy, as they say. But one day he called me up to see if I could get him reservation at Jean Georges Restaurant and I had to ask myself, “What’s the point of his immense success if he can’t get a reservation in New York?” The only reason he can’t is because no one has ever heard about him. He’s shy about using his name, to the extent that it serves him no good. He has to call other people, like me, to help him out.
That got me to thinking about the toot-your-horn theory, which is something I believe in. Here’s a perfect example of why I believe in. This poor rich guy might as well be just a poor guy when trying to get in the right places. The power of a name can be incredible. It can open doors like nothing else. I’ve mentioned before that one of the perks of being famous is being able to get restaurant reservations without any problem. My uberrich friend has not entitled himself to very many perks.
Ever notice if you introduce someone and then later add on something like, “as you know, he won the Pulitzer prize,” that the reaction to the person becomes entirely different? It goes from polite to excited in no time flat. Suddenly the nobody is a somebody. Suddenly their PR power, or their buzz effect, has escalated. But unless you have someone around to toot your horn for you, you’ll have to get accustomed to doing it for yourself. The well-established brand name literally speaks for itself.
It’s very important to be your own best friend. As Mark Twain put it, be comfortable with your own approval. A lot of times, people will enjoy belittling your accomplishments as well as your ambitions. If you are steadfast in your self-respect, that will not even bother you because you will be able to see those people as the small fries that they are. Critics serve their own purpose, and that’s fine, because you’ll be smart enough to serve your own purpose, too. Think about it: If you can’t say great things about yourself, who do you think will? So don’t be afraid to toot your own horn when you’ve done something worth tooting about.
Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.
The ask the right question is already half the solution of a problem.
I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.
Experience teaches only the teachable.
Art is a lie which makes us see the truth.
Picasso was not only a great artist, he was also a good businessman. He knew the value of his work and he didn’t make excuses for it. He told a story once about someone who visited his studio, stood in front of a painting, and asked him, “What does this represent?” Picasso’s response was, “Two hundred thousand dollars.” He was telling the truth and in no uncertain terms, Picasso obviously viewed his art as a business, which it was. I view my business as an art, which it is.
They also wanted to achieve something special. Ordinary wouldn’t be enough for someone who has the mindset of a champion. Champions think big. Champions work in a big-time way. Champions are focused. Champions are disciplined. Come to think of it, champions think like champions. As Jack Dempsey said, “A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.”
Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing.
A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised.
There are a lot of hidden aspects in every industry, and you will find out how complex seemingly simple things can be. For example, to get a building built in New York City requires knowledge of zoning, contractors, architects, air rights, tax laws, unions, and about a thousand other things. I had a lot to learn and no one else could learn it for me. But every day I would learn something, apply it, and make progress.
Never think of learning as being a burden or studying as being boring. It may require some discipline, but it can be an adventure. It can also prepare you for a new beginning.