Trump: How to Get Rich

In The Art of the Deal and in my other two memoirs, I included a chapter about a typical week in my life. When I met Mark Burnett, the creator of The Apprentice, he told me it was his favorite chapter in the book, and a lot of other readers have told me the same thing. So, back by popular demand, here’s an example of what an average eventful week was like in the fall of 2003.

This chapter doesn’t have any specific advice on how to get rich, but it will show you how I have fun, and I doubt I’d be as successful as I am if I weren’t having such a good time.

MONDAY

9:00 A.M. I have a meeting with architect Costas Kondylis, an elegant way to start the week. Costas and I have worked on several very successful projects together, including the Trump World Tower at the United Nations Plaza, Trump Park Avenue (at Fifty-ninth Street and Park Avenue, just completed), and, together with Philip Johnson and Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Trump Place, my sixteen-building development along the Hudson River. Some of you might remember that site as the West Side yards, which I have been involved with since 1974, when I first secured the option to purchase them from the Penn Central Railroad. That was my first major deal in Manhattan. Close to thirty years later, here we are discussing the fifth and sixth buildings under construction. (Never give up.)

My eldest son, Don Jr., is also at the meeting. We are on schedule with construction, and the first three condominium buildings have proven to be very successful. However, neither Costas nor myself is likely to ever rest on his laurels, and we are troubleshooting, going over every detail. If Costas hadn’t been an architect, he’d have made a very good surgeon—he’s just that meticulous. We get along famously, and I’d put him up there with Philip Johnson as one of our most outstanding architects.

We are also discussing the reaction to the city park I developed and donated to the city, which is on the West Side yards property. I hate to disappoint people, but my detractors were not pleased about this twenty-five-acre gift. What can I say? Except that you can’t be all things to all people, no matter how hard you try.

I look over some kitchen and bathroom fixtures, and we decide to go with the top of the line. My name and work have become synonymous with quality, and there’s a reason for it. We don’t skimp on anything, ever or anywhere. Don Jr. mentions looking forward to the topping-out party for Building #4. That’s a big day for builders, and it’s a celebration when the frame of the building, the superstructure, is completed, and everyone involved meets at the top for a party.

9:30 A.M. Norma comes in to tell me that Oscar de la Renta is on the line, and Costas and I decide to meet again in a couple of weeks. Our new Miss Universe, Amelia Vega, is from Santo Domingo, which is also the birthplace of Oscar de la Renta. He wants to meet her, and I don’t blame him. She’s a beauty, all six feet of her. We’re proud not only of her, but of the Miss Universe contest, which has become extremely successful since I bought it seven years ago. We beat out the competition in television ratings and we are highly regarded internationally as well. Ecuador has paid millions of dollars to host the 2004 contest, and we’re looking forward to a great time there.

Back to Oscar—he’s a class act all the way. His impeccable work speaks for itself.

9:45 A.M. I make a call to some wiseguy contractors who’ve been trying to cheat me. This can be a crummy business because of the scum of the earth it attracts, but you have to do what you have to do. Screaming at them is what I have to do.

10:00 A.M. I have three calls waiting: Mark Brown, the CEO and president of my three casinos in Atlantic City; Woody Allen’s office; and Mayor Bloomberg. I take the mayor’s call first, much as I respect Woody Allen and Mark. I think the mayor is doing a great job, considering he’s got one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Running a corporation is one thing; running a city is another, especially this one.

Our wonderful mayor, Mike Bloomberg.

With another great mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, in 2000.

Woody Allen may go down to Florida and stay at the Mar-a-Lago, my club in Palm Beach. I’ve been in one Woody Allen film, and I never miss any of his movies.

10:30 A.M. I have my first Diet Coke of the day. I know I should drink mineral water, and I do sometimes, but I really like Diet Coke. Irina Dvorovenko calls in; she’s a ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. She’s not only a sensational dancer, but also an incredibly beautiful woman. I’m not exactly a ballet fan, but because of Irina, that might be a possibility.

The television crew from Neal Cavuto’s team is ready for an interview. I ask what it’s about, and then we’re ready to go. After decades of interviews, they are easy for me to do, especially with someone like Neal, who is not only personable but also very knowledgeable. He and his team are pros all the way. And he gets the best business ratings on cable TV.

11:00 A.M. I received seventeen calls during the interview, and I begin to return them, in between the incoming calls. After so many years in business, knowing how to prioritize is second nature. It’s also a key factor in keeping up your momentum, even during a typical workday, which is crucial if you intend to become or remain successful. Everyone’s heard of the New York minute, but by now that’s outdated—it’s become the New York second. That’s no exaggeration. Seconds count when you have hundreds of phone calls a day to handle. One bogged-down conversation, and your momentum could be interrupted for an hour. So when I say momentum is crucial, I mean it. You’ll know when you’ve got it, and you’ll know when it’s being disrupted.

I return Joe Cinque’s call; he’s an executive with the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, which presents the coveted Five Star Diamond award. My properties have received several of them. Joe is a high-spirited and generous man, but he’s difficult to please and discerning when it comes to giving out awards. He’s just returned from Sardinia and mentions that he still thinks the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach is the most beautiful resort he’s ever seen, worldwide. Coming from him, that’s saying something. I always liked Joe, and now I like him even more.

I return Regis Philbin’s call. He and his wife, Joy, are among my closest friends, and he’s even more fun off-screen than on-screen, if you can imagine that. I always look forward to spending time with them—they are both solid-gold people. We’re on for dinner at Jean-Georges Restaurant, which is in the Trump International Hotel & Tower and is considered to be one of the finest restaurants in the world. With Jean-Georges Vongerichten in charge, how could it not be?

I take a call from Mark Burnett, the brilliant creator and producer of the reality show called Survivor. It was his idea to do The Apprentice, and we are busy working on the details.

11:30 A.M. I take a call from Sony; they’d asked me to be a sponsor for the 150th celebration of Central Park in July, featuring rising opera stars Salvatore Licitra and Marcello Alvarez. The event was a huge success, with many thousands of New Yorkers turning out to hear some magnificent singing on a perfect night under the stars in the park. On nights like that, you have to thank your own lucky stars just to be alive. We were all proud of how successful the evening was, and I was equally proud to be a sponsor.

Mike Donovan, my trusted pilot, calls in to update me on the checkup of my 727 jet. I have both a helicopter and a jet, and they get a workout throughout the year. With my schedule, they aren’t luxury items, but necessities. Turns out the jet will be ready in two weeks.

Norma comes in to go over the media requests of the morning thus far, which include two from Holland, three from Germany, two from Canada, one from France, one from England, and seven from the United States. Handling media requests alone can require negotiation skills, and we do our best to accommodate them.

11:45 A.M. I have a meeting with Charlie Reiss, Jill Cremer, Russell Flicker, and Don Jr.—my development team. We are busy with a building in Chicago, and Don Jr. has been working very effectively and in many capacities on Trump Park Avenue. We have a lot on our plates already at The Trump Organization, but, not being a complacent type, I know there are many opportunities out there and this team tends to that. They do a great job and have some interesting projects to brief me about.

12:30 P.M. I order lunch from our terrific new restaurant at the Trump Tower atrium, which is doing great business. Some of you may have seen the commercial I did for McDonald’s. I didn’t have to act—I like McDonald’s and am a loyal customer. Some days I have pizza, sometimes a ham and cheese, some days nothing, but I rarely go out for lunch. I still consider it an interruption in my workday. I review news clippings and articles during my lunch minute.

12:35 P.M. I speak to Bernd Lembcke, the director of the Mar-a-Lago Club. As you might remember, Mar-a-Lago was once my private home, and I restored it and turned it into a breathtaking private club. Anything that beautiful should be shared, and it has been an immense success. Bernd has tended to it, and I’ve been named to the Benefactors Board of Directors by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. It’s nice to see painstaking work being noticed and rewarded. We discuss the upcoming season and the latest improvements to the grounds.

12:45 P.M. I walk down the hall to visit George Ross. George will always tell you the way it is, which I appreciate. His thoughts are sharp and insightful, and we have a longish conversation of, perhaps, three minutes. I am thinking about putting him on The Apprentice.

12:50 P.M. Back in my office, I take a call from Hugh Grant. I had a brief role, as myself, in his movie with Sandra Bullock,Two Weeks Notice. Hugh’s an avid golfer, and my course in Westchester is at his disposal whenever he’s in New York. He’s a nice guy on top of being a gifted actor. In fact, I’m glad he lives in another country—he’s got too much on the ball to have around all the time.

1:00 P.M. Norma comes in to go over the invitations to parties and openings, and for speeches. I don’t have much time available. I decide on a party at Le Cirque.

1:30 P.M. I put in a call to Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles. This course is on the Pacific Ocean and has the potential to be better than Pebble Beach. Spectacular will be an understatement. It’s a gem, and we’re working hard on it. All is going well, but every detail is important and there are a lot of them to take care of.

2:30 P.M. I make a call to an expert on trees. I saw some beautiful ones and would like to have them on my golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. I ask a few questions and find out a lot. When I want to know something, I go for it, and only on rare occasions will I take a secondhand opinion. This tactic has served me well over the years—there’s nothing wrong with knowledge, whether it’s about trees or sinks.

3:00 P.M. Allen Weisselberg, my CFO, comes in for a meeting. He’s been with me for thirty years and keeps a handle on everything, which is not an easy job. He runs things beautifully. His team is tight and fast, and so are our meetings.

With Allen Weisselberg, my CFO.

3:30 P.M. I return the fourteen calls that came in during the meeting, which include those from lawyers, publishers, reporters, and friends. The only thing worse than having so many calls is not having any calls, so I’m not complaining.

I take a call from the concrete contractors, who have completely screwed up and are trying to tell me they haven’t screwed up. Everything they’ve done is a mess. So instead of having the nice conversation they expected, I tell it to them the way it is—that they’ve made a mess of everything and they’d better get it right. The amazing thing is that they act like they know what they’re doing. When people hear me yelling, believe me, there’s a reason why.

4:30 P.M. I go to the conference room for a photo session with Platon, a young and very accomplished photographer. The photos are for Forbes magazine. He is fast and efficient, very much like Richard Avedon was when I did a shoot with him last year. I look forward to seeing the prints.

5:00 P.M. I return the seven calls received during the shoot, including one to my sister, Maryanne. She’s still a judge and as wise as ever, and she has just returned from a trip to Rome.

5:30 P.M. Norma comes in to go over more invitations and media requests, and I read a few letters. There’s one from a nine-year-old boy in Minnesota who has a business proposal for me. After describing his business idea, he makes me a very tempting offer: And what’s in it for you, Mr. Trump? A chance for you to make millions, just by becoming my partner! He also adds that I can call him anytime, as long as it’s before 9:00 P.M. I’ll keep that in mind.

6:00 P.M. I decide to return to my apartment upstairs, where I make more calls, until 7:30 or so. At 8:00 P.M ., Melania and I meet Joy and Regis at Jean-Georges Restaurant for a perfect meal.

At the Mar-a-Lago Club with Joy and Regis Philbin.

TUESDAY

8:30 A.M. I arrive at the office. I read between five and seven newspapers every morning before I get into the office. One thing I enjoy doing is clipping articles of interest, whether they’re about me or not; then I either save or distribute them. I also receive between ten and twelve magazines a day, which I review in my apartment at the end of the day. Keeping up on things worldwide is of great importance if one is to keep the big picture in mind. Yes, I’m a New Yorker, but there’s a big world out there and I try to stay informed about it. If you see the entire planet as an emerging market—which it is—you’ll discover that you’ve got a lot of homework to do every day. It’s not an indulgence, but an absolute necessity. So I spend the next fifteen minutes of relative quiet assessing world developments. Call it multitasking, call it whatever you will, it works and it focuses me for the day ahead.

8:45 A.M. I take a call from the guy trying to jack up the prices on the fixtures for a new building. Doesn’t he know I know the market prices for everything I’m doing? These jerks think I don’t do my homework—that’s what it boils down to. Which means they’re all in for a big surprise, and if I have to yell to get my point across, that’s what I do.

9:00 A.M. I ask Rhona to call Bob Wright, the chairman and CEO of NBC. In addition to being a great admirer of his business acumen, I am friends with Bob and his wonderful wife, Suzanne. We’ve done some deals together, and in the seventeen years since he went from General Electric to NBC, the network has seen enormous improvements in quality control as well as growth in the right directions. Bob takes my call and we chat about a lot of things. Have you ever noticed that some people have a knack for enlightened conversation? Bob is one of those people. He’s never been boring for one second of his life. I’m glad he takes the time to talk to me, and, considering his schedule, it’s a good sign that maybe I don’t bore him either.

Norma comes in to remind me that I have a Police Athletic League Board of Directors meeting next week. I am active with the Police Athletic League and have been for many years. They do a great job in New York and benefit many people and neighborhoods.

9:15 A.M. I take a call from Alfons Schmidt, who is someone I hold in very high esteem, not just because he’s a great golfer and businessman, but because he’s a remarkable person. Those who know him will agree with me. We’ll meet on Friday for a round of golf at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. It’s a high for me to play on the course with someone like Alfons. We’ll be joined by former president Bill Clinton as well, who is a member. He lives nearby and likes the course, and we welcome him at any time. He’s managed to become a good golfer, and, considering the schedule he had for so many years, that’s saying something. If he keeps up this rate of improvement, he’ll get really good very fast. Joining us will also be David Granger, the editor in chief of Esquire, a dapper guy on and off the golf course. It’s a rare occasion that I take an afternoon off, but considering the company I’ll be in, it will be worth it.

callout 31

9:45 A.M. Ivanka, my beautiful daughter, calls to tell me about her most recent trip. She’s on holiday and is taking off for somewhere else tomorrow. Keeping track of her isn’t easy, but she’s good about keeping me informed, and I’m happy she’s enjoying herself. I’m a lucky guy with a daughter like this.

10:00 A.M. I have a board meeting in the conference room with Mark Brown and Bob Pickus from my Atlantic City team. John Burke and Scott Butera join us. We have these meetings every three months, to iron out any problems, to go over numbers, and to keep an eye on the future. Considering how large our operations are in Atlantic City—I have three casino hotels—our meetings are relatively brief; they rarely last more than two hours. My team knows the value of time and exactly how not to waste it. People often comment on the brevity of my meetings, but if everyone knows what they’re doing, they don’t need to be long or long-winded. Fortunately, I have experienced people on my teams, and they know how I operate, so they get to the point, and quickly.

With Bill Clinton at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

12:00 P.M. We have sandwiches from the Carnegie Deli in the boardroom. Ever had one of their ham-and-cheese or corned beef sandwiches? They’re great. When you visit New York, try one.

12:15 P.M. I’m not antisocial, but to me, fifteen minutes is a very long lunch. So I’m back in my office, getting back to business, perusing the thirty-seven phone calls that came in during the meeting. These are the phone calls that have already been screened, first by the receptionist, and then by my assistants. I get hundreds of calls a day from around the world from people who just want to say hi or to tell me something. My security team takes some of the calls as well, because the number of calls can be overwhelming. But these are thirty-seven legitimate calls that must be dealt with, and I begin returning them. First I return Bob Kraft’s call. He’d invited me to a private Elton John concert, which was terrific. Elton John just gets better and better; he’s amazing. Bob Kraft is a first-class act all the way and always a delight to talk to. It’s a good way to start the afternoon.

12:30 P.M. Joe Torre stops by for a surprise visit. He’s the manager of the New York Yankees and always a welcome guest. He takes the time to sign autographs on his way in and on his way out. A real champ.

12:45 P.M. I return Rudy Giuliani’s call. He was a great mayor, and he saw New York City through some difficult times. In addition to my respect for him professionally, we are also friends and we keep in touch. I will always wish him the best—and his wife, Judy, is tops!

1:00 P.M. The TV team from the National Geographic Channel are here for an interview. They’ve done great work, and I decide we should go up to my apartment for the interview. I don’t often do that, but they are pros, and it goes very well. For the most part, I get along very well with media people. I respect them and the jobs they do, and they usually respect me and my time limits. It works both ways, and it’s a rare occasion when we clash.

1:45 P.M. I take a call from Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods in Knightsbridge, London, and the Ritz in Paris. He’s one of a kind, a gentleman all the way, and I always make a point of visiting him when I’m in London. He’s remained a kind and loyal person despite the tragedies in his life, and I am honored when he calls.

2:00 P.M. I call my brother, Robert. He’s a great guy, and a good brother to have. We keep in close contact, and I consider myself lucky to have the brother and sisters that I’ve got.

Melania calls to remind me that we are going to see Chicago on Broadway tonight. I’ve seen it before, but Melanie Griffith is currently starring in it, and we want to see her. I already know she’ll be terrific—she’s a natural.

I return twelve calls in rapid succession, most of them concerning my different properties in New York and Florida. Each time, I ask what the problem is, and we get to it immediately. I like to keep a handle on all my properties, and the problems are to be expected. The time I worry the most is when there aren’t any problems. That’s usually the result of misinformation or wishful thinking on someone’s part.

Here’s one of my greatest wishes: I would like a computer chip that I could attach to the brains of all my contractors so they’d know exactly what I wanted, when I wanted it, and at what price. This would save me a lot of time, a lot of phoning, and a lot of yelling.

3:00 P.M. I take a walk over to Trump Park Avenue, my new superluxury building on Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street. This was the former Delmonico Hotel, which has historical merit, and the location is about as prime as you can get in New York. It’s a prize building, and I make almost daily visits to see how it’s progressing. I visit Laura Cordovano in the sales office, then check out the construction. They are taking too long, and the lobby doesn’t look up to my standards yet. They get an earful, and they deserve it. When my name is on something, it’d better be great. Could it be any simpler?

It’s funny, the reaction I get from people when I walk down the street and get recognized. Sometimes it’s a double take, sometimes there’s no acknowledgment, but often it’s a wave and a familiar and friendly Hi, Donald! from total strangers. It still takes me by surprise. Once I was stuck in a horrible traffic jam in my limousine, and I had a few members of Mark Burnett’s team with me, so I decided to try an experiment. It was one of those traffic jams where we hadn’t moved an inch in ten minutes, and tempers were red-hot, with taxi drivers yelling and everyone else as well, and every car seemed to have its horn on permanent full blast. I decided to step out of my limousine and just stand there in the middle of this chaos. The reaction? At first, dead silence. Then the fuming drivers and passengers started waving and shouting Donald! It’s The Donald! Hi, Donald! I had to laugh. At least we had some relief from the honking horns for a few minutes.

4:00 P.M. Back in my office. I make a call downstairs, as I’d noticed some of the lobby door handles weren’t as polished as I’d like them to be. I want my buildings to be impeccable, and the people who inhabit them appreciate that, even if I might seem a bit extreme at times.

I receive a letter from a U.S. serviceman overseas, Terry Simmons. His morale-building idea for his unit is to receive an autographed photograph from me. I am very touched by this request, and we send it off right away. These men and women are putting their lives on the line to protect something I cherish, which is this country. One of the great moments of my life was being honored, along with General John M. Keane, by the USO in 2002. In my speech I mentioned that accepting this honor put me in the finest company imaginable, because every member of the United States armed forces was being honored alongside me. I meant it then, and I still mean it today. We send our best to Terry Simmons.

4:30 P.M. Giuseppe Cipriani, who has one of the best restaurants in New York, calls. As someone who goes out to dinner a lot, I have very particular tastes, and Giuseppe is someone who will never let you down. I am trying to get him into my Park Avenue building.

The mysterious Jeffrey calls in. As mysterious as Jeffrey is, he’s one of the few people I know who can get by on just a first name. My staff never asks for a last name in his case, which in a way puts him up there with Elvis. Not that Elvis calls in much these days, but you never know. That’s why I have a floor for security. Sometimes we need it. We’ve had some calls you wouldn’t believe.

Norma comes in to tell me she’s had it with The Apprentice TV crew looking like ragamuffins and that if they show up tomorrow in their usual gear she’s going to send them back to their hotel to dress properly for a change. She means business and I know it, so I try to explain that they’re from California and working on a TV-show set, not in our corporate office, but she’ll have none of it. I think they’re in for it, and I don’t envy them.

I call Vinnie Stellio, a longtime employee whose wife has just had a baby boy. Vinnie could’ve been a movie star with his looks and swagger, but, fortunately, he works for us. He also could’ve written his own scripts, but he’s busy enough as it is.

5:00 P.M. I call Arnold Schwarzenegger to congratulate him on his recent decision to run for governor of California. I’ve also received several media calls asking me for my opinion on his decision. I’ve always liked Arnold, and I think he’ll make a great governor, not just because I like him but because he’s got the smarts and energy to run a state like California.

I read an article by a journalist who spent a day with me a few months ago. I remember him saying that he felt one day wouldn’t be sufficient, and I remember telling him that most people felt that one day with me was enough. At the end of the article, he admits I was right—that one day with me was enough—he was completely exhausted. It’s funny, because to me it seemed like a more relaxing and low-key day than I usually have, and I was certainly on my best behavior. Anyway, it’s nice to be right.

5:30 P.M. Norma comes in to review media requests, charity requests, and invitations. Since September 11, requests for charity have increased sharply, and we do what we can. We comment on how we receive a consistently high number of letters from Canada. One letter is from two ladies in Saskatchewan who have invited me to have a cup of coffee with them at their local coffeehouse, which has two tables. If I decide to accept, they will do their best to reserve a table for me. Due to my schedule, I have to decline, but their offer is genuine and kind, and if I had the time, I’d go.

Sometimes I answer media requests myself, when I have time. Once I called a guy named Phil Grande in Florida. He has a small radio program,Stock Trading & Money Talk, and he had faxed me an interview request. I picked up the phone and called him myself. When he asked who was calling, I said, Donald Trump, and he said, Yeah, and I’m J. P. Morgan. It took some convincing on my part, but he finally believed me, and we chatted for some time. Afterward, he called my assistants to verify that I had indeed called him, and to this day he sends them flowers every Christmas. People like Phil can make our jobs a lot of fun.

6:00 P.M. Asprey, the jewelers who occupy the corner of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, are expanding, and they’ve invited me down to see the renovations. They will have three floors, and it will be stunning—much like their jewelry. They are the jewelers to the royal family in England, and their new space will reflect that status when it’s done. I also decide to check on my new tenants, Mark Burnett Productions, on the way down to the lobby, to see that everything is up to par. I have a great management team, but I like to check things out for myself as much as possible. I make a quick call to Melania to check on dinner plans before the theater, and I leave the office.

WEDNESDAY

9:00 A.M. Melanie Griffith was terrific in Chicago last night, and we visited her afterward to tell her so.

I take a call regarding placing antennas on The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street. Since the World Trade Towers are gone, 40 Wall Street is once again the tallest building in lower Manhattan. It’s not a fact that particularly appeals to me, but it is a fact. Whatever will best serve the Financial District is fine with me.

I have to say one thing about New Yorkers, and that is that after September 11, they just continued to move forward and do their best. That took courage, and I think it shows what makes New York City such a great place.

I place a call to Governor Pataki, and take a call from John Myers, president of GE Asset Management. We’ve done some deals together and he’s a great guy—and a very smart one.

9:30 A.M. Kevin Harris, a supervising producer for Mark Burnett, is ready to take me on a tour of the sets built in Trump Tower for The Apprentice. He has on some sort of a new vintage bowling shirt, deconstructed jeans with more holes than fabric, and some very original footwear that I can’t begin to describe. This guy could make Helmut Lang look old hat, but we make a quick getaway before Norma can see him.

The construction site also includes living quarters for the sixteen contestants, which is an incredibly stylish ten-thousand-square-foot loft, probably the only such living space in midtown. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the work, and my trust in Mark Burnett is again confirmed.

10:00 A.M. Back in my office, I begin returning calls. People are surprised at how many hours I put in at my office each week, since I seem to have a busy social life as well. I also like to plan my business trips for the weekends whenever possible, to avoid missing office time. I love what I do, so it doesn’t seem like I’m missing out on any fun. Last year I took a transatlantic weekend business trip that included breakfast in London with Mohamed Al Fayed and dinner in Slovenia with Melania’s parents before flying back to New York. We were back in time for me to be in the office by 9:00 A.M. Monday.

I talk to Jay Goldberg, a brilliant lawyer and an old friend. He and his wife, Rema, will join me in my box at the U.S. Open.

This is a good one: The pushiest broker in New York calls in for a chat about the availability of some of my prime apartments, as if I couldn’t guess why she was calling me in the first place. She tries to tell me what my apartments are worth, and I try to control my temper, but she’s full of bullshit. Finally, I ask her if she realizes who she’s talking to and, surprisingly, she immediately becomes reasonable. Almost every day, I have to remind someone that maybe I know what I’m doing, and while that may sound like I’m tooting my own horn, believe me, it saves a lot of yelling time.

10:30 A.M. The German TV team is ready for an interview in the conference room. They’d done a wonderful job in covering Mar-a-Lago a few months ago, which I appreciate, and so we’re doing a New York interview. They are professional and enthusiastic, and all goes well. You see, I’ve done so many interviews that at times they can be boring for me, so if the people are interesting, it helps a lot. Just this year, both of my sons did their first TV interviews, and that was exciting. The Today show did a Father’s Day program, and Matt Lauer interviewed Don Jr. and myself, which was great fun. Both Matt Lauer and Katie Couric have a knack for making anything entertaining, and I enjoy them tremendously.48 Hours interviewed my younger son, Eric, and myself, and aside from some slumping on his part, Eric did a great job. The media really isn’t anything new to my kids, although they’ve been protected from it to a certain extent.

11:00 A.M. I receive an invitation to attend the show of Oscar de la Renta’s new collection, and I call Melania. We decide to attend. I’ve never gotten tired of fashion or fashion shows. To me, it’s an unbeatable combination—beautiful women and beautiful clothes, especially Oscar’s.

My agency, Trump Model Management, has managed to put itself on the fashion map in a relatively short time. I started it about five years ago. We’ve got some top models, and I enjoy watching this business become more and more successful. I call John Tutolo for an update, and we discuss a few things that we think could be improved.

I call Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, to go over a few things with her. An interviewer recently asked me what motivated me to buy the rights to the Miss Universe pageant. My answer was that I love beautiful women and I’m also a businessman, so it seemed like a good idea, which it has turned out to be. Sometimes things are that simple. I realized early on that I was an aesthete by nature, being attracted to beauty in both people and buildings. My work has shown that some early self-knowledge was right on target.

I take a call from Ricardo Bellino, a businessman in Brazil. We are working on the Villa Trump together in Brazil, and he’s also asking me some questions for his upcoming book on the power of ideas. I mention that ideas are door openers, the first step. Without a first step, there won’t be any other steps to take you where you want to go. It’s a visual process. Perhaps that’s why I’m a visionary, but a well-grounded one. When it comes to great ideas, the first questions I ask myself are:Yeah, but is it possible? Will this be feasible? If I can see something being accomplished, I know it is a possibility. I guess that’s why I’m a builder. I start from the ground and go up from there.

I write a congratulatory note to Kitty Carlisle Hart for her ninety-third birthday. In addition to being multitalented, she’s been a true philanthropist, and New York is lucky to have her. I always liked to watch her on television. Those of you who remember the television show To Tell the Truth will know what I’m talking about.

I write another note to a high school that has asked me for advice, and also asked who my favorite U.S. president might be. I decide to start with a quote by Abraham Lincoln, who would have to be my first choice: I will study and prepare, and perhaps my chance will come. Always humble, always hardworking, always studying, Lincoln is a great example for high school kids.

11:30 A.M. The Entertainment Channel is ready for an interview regarding The Apprentice. It goes quickly and well, and we’re done in five minutes.

12:00 P.M. I call an employee at a large property who has not been as attentive as his position demands. I tell him that his bad performance is not his fault, but mine: I simply hired the wrong person by overestimating his capabilities. I add that if he’d like to change my mind about my initial mistake, it’s up to him. He promises to take care of things right away, and I think he means it.

I ask Andy Weiss to come in. His office is about 110 feet down the hall, but he can hear me. The reason we don’t have an intercom system is because we don’t need one. This often startles visitors, but, as I see it, why have more gadgets than necessary? Andy’s been with me a long time, and we get right to the point. The meeting’s over in less than five minutes.

I call Beverly Sills, one of the most wonderful opera singers of all time, and an equally wonderful person. I may not enjoy sitting through an opera, but I have always respected opera singers and enjoy the highlights of opera. Beverly is remarkable in every way, and I always enjoy talking to her.

12:30 P.M. I decide to have a slice of pizza for lunch, and I read a few of the letters that have come in. Here’s one from a young man in the Bay Area of San Francisco who writes, This letter is in appreciation for inspiring us in hard times. Please continue writing your books and influencing people to live their dreams. He’ll be happy to know that’s exactly what I’m doing, even as I eat my pizza and read his letter. Here’s another one from a family in Germany, who thinks I should run for president and invites me to stay at their home. A business proposal comes from a group in Wales who would like me to work on a housing development with them.

12:45 P.M. I call Brian Baudreau, my executive of security, and tell him I want to go over to Trump Place, my development along the Hudson River. We go over to the West Side and check out what’s going on with construction. We meet with Paul Davis, the CEO of the Hudson Waterfront Associates, and take a walk around. I get daily reports, but there’s nothing like seeing things for yourself. Paul has a big project on his hands, and he’s doing a terrific job.

I’ve encountered a lot of opposition from staunch West Siders about this development, but gradually they are beginning to see that these buildings will be an enhancement to their neighborhood. The West Side is thriving like never before, and even as an East Sider, I’ve got to admit that the West Side is a great place to be.

2:00 P.M. Back in the office, I start returning the twenty-two calls that came in. That’s another reason I don’t like to be out of the office too much—the backlog of calls can get out of hand. The first call I return is to United Cerebral Palsy, as I’m on the advisory board. One of the biggest perks of being financially successful is being able to be generous. I like giving money to good causes like United Way and the Police Athletic League. It really is a great feeling every time I can be of help, and, for the most part, that’s a private part of my life. Some of my charities are public knowledge, and some of them aren’t.

2:30 P.M. Robin Leach and his team are here for an interview. Robin is well known for a reason. We have a great time, and it’s a job well and quickly done.

3:15 P.M. I have a meeting with Carolyn Kepcher, executive vice president and director of Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff. We are building some magnificent villas on the grounds, and there are a lot of details to attend to. Fortunately, both of us are perfectionists, and our meetings never have to be long.

3:30 P.M. I take a call from David Schner, president of Leaders magazine. I’d been interviewed a few months back and we still keep in touch.

Craig Semandl, the director of Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles, calls in. He gives me an update on what’s happening, and we go over some details. I will visit California later this month to see the progress for myself. It helps to have people you can trust when you’re three thousand miles away.

This is something that still amazes me: Here’s another person requesting my autograph on the March 1990 issue of Playboy magazine, which featured an interview and a cover photo of me. To this day, thirteen years later, I receive several requests a month for my autograph on this issue, and, granted, the girl I’m photographed with is a beauty, but I never thought this interview would remain so popular with people who follow my career. I’ll have to reread it one of these days. Meanwhile, I sign the cover and it’s sent back to the owner, and I sign a few books that have been sent in as well.

I make a call to Tiffany, my youngest daughter, who is giving me an update on her latest activities. She has enough going on for five people. She must take after me. She is excited about her upcoming birthday and her plans to have a party aboard theQueen Mary in Long Beach, California.

I write a note to the Veterans of Vietnam of Ward 4CD of Valley Forge General Hospital. I am cochairman and builder of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and still continue to do what I can for these brave people.

4:00 P.M. I take a call from Susan James, director of sales for Trump International Hotel and Tower on Central Park West. She has a great job—this is one of the most successful condominium towers ever built and the top-rated luxury hotel in New York City, all in one building. This is also where Jean-Georges Restaurant is located. All in all, it’s a gem, and I’m proud of it. It’s near Lincoln Center on Columbus Circle, and those of you who know architecture will find it interesting that Philip Johnson designed both this building and the State Theatre at Lincoln Center, home of the New York City Ballet. I’m sort of young to be considered historical, but some things point in that direction, and this building is one of those things.

I go over the invitations and requests of the day with Norma. I decide on an event given by Anna Wintour of Vogue magazine and leave the other decisions until later, when I can give them more time and consideration.

Charlie Reiss comes in and we go over current project developments in Chicago, Toronto, and London. Bernie Diamond and Jason Greenblatt, my terrific in-house attorneys, are in on the meeting as well. Contrary to what people may think, I listen to and take advice from a lot of people before I make a final decision on anything. I like to be as well informed as possible. However, when it comes to making a decision, I am aware that the full responsibility for that decision is, and will always remain, mine. That is why I proceed with caution, even if my image may be more flamboyant.

4:30 P.M. I have a meeting with Matthew Calamari, my chief of operations. He’s always a busy guy, but with The Apprentice starting up soon, he’s busier than ever. I’m not concerned, because after knowing Matthew for more than twenty years, I am certain he can handle anything.

My son Eric stops by to say hello. He’s in college now but is visiting New York City for a couple of days. He sits in on my meeting with Matthew and then we chat for a bit. He’s got a great grin. I love it when my kids visit, and we decide to have dinner together tonight.

5:15 P.M. I write a welcome-back letter to the members of the Mar-a-Lago Club. We are finishing a new ballroom, and it will be magnificent. One visitor to the Mar-a-Lago Club remarked that F. Scott Fitzgerald and his friends would feel right at home there. I had to agree. I’m looking forward to the new season, and I fly down most weekends during the winter.

I return a few calls, including one to Larry King, one of the sharpest interviewers of all time; another to a reporter for the Star-Ledger in New Jersey; and one to a reporter doing a story on the wonderful and very smart Russell Simmons.

John Myers, the president and CEO of GE Asset Management, calls in. He’s a terrific guy in every sense of the word, and we are active together with the Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation, along with Dale Frey, who preceded John at GE and likewise did an absolutely fantastic job. These are two guys worth knowing. Over the years, General Electric has been my partner in a number of my developments, including the very successful Trump International Hotel and Tower at 1 Central Park West.

6:00 P.M. I call Melania to see where we should take Eric for dinner. We decide on the 21 Club.

Norma comes in and we review some details of my deals, invitations, letters, and media requests, including those from a surprising number of international television programs and publications. Last year I did an interview for the number one program in China, which drew a huge audience. These facts continue to surprise me, probably because I am so focused on my immediate and daily responsibilities. I never found myself to be particularly fascinating.

The phones have quieted down, so I decide to go through a box I keep beside my desk where I put articles and letters of interest to me. Sometimes I’ll keep certain articles for years if I like them. I also keep letters and quotes, such as Hope is not a strategy. I saved an invitation from a speech I gave to the Wharton Business School Club about the future of New York City. I am always honored to speak to Wharton students and alumni.

I find nice notes from Dr. Jerry Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, one terrific guy; Ed Malloy, an old friend I call Blue Eyes; and Harrison Tucker LeFrak, the next generation in a remarkable real estate family. Richard LeFrak, the son of Sam LeFrak, has done an amazing job in the real estate business. Likewise, his son Harrison will be one of the really great young people to watch. I have no doubt he will go right to the top.

There’s a clipping from Liza Minnelli and David Gest’s wedding, which I was honored to attend, even though I didn’t think the marriage had a chance, and letters from John F. Kennedy Jr. and Howard Schultz of Starbucks, as well as one from Clint Eastwood, a great guy and golfer. He was my guest at Mar-a-Lago. He liked my course in Florida and wrote to tell me that.

I come across a fax from Roger Ailes of Fox Network News. What a job he’s done, taking them to heights they’d probably never dreamed of.

During the march toward war in Iraq, someone sent me this joke: You know the world has changed when you realize the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, and Germany doesn’t want to go to war.

A review to savor, from Rick Remsnyder upon the opening of Trump National Golf Course: Trump National’s par 3 thirteenth hole, which features a breathtaking 100-foot man-made waterfall behind the green, is one of the most challenging and spectacular holes in the world. Music to my ears.

I love sports. I have one of Shaquille O’Neal’s oversized sneakers on display in my office and a signed baseball from my favorite team, the New York Yankees. I keep it near Tiffany’s drawing of a house. She’s already into real estate.

To Donald Trump—‘I wanna be like you when I grow up.’ Shaq.

Speaking of real estate: I’ve saved an article about how I sold the land under the Empire State Building for $57.5 million in March 2002. New York real estate can be a wonderful business. I’ve also clipped a profile of another great success story, developer Steve Witkoff, who owns the Woolworth Building and the News Building, in addition to valuable property in London. In an interview with a London newspaper, Steve described me as the only real estate person in this world who can brand his name individually. In my opinion, it’s not going to happen again. Donald is a master at marketing. But you can’t market and be a master at marketing unless you’ve got great product—it doesn’t work like that. They say ‘Coke are masters at marketing Coke,’ or ‘Nike, they’re masters at marketing Nike.’ You know what? They’ve got the best drink and the best sneakers. Well, Donald develops the best buildings. It’s a fact of life. He’s a great developer. No one wants to give him credit for that.

Finally, I come across a postcard from my gorgeous daughter Ivanka and an old postcard from my parents. I miss them. I still have two-thirds of the box to go through, but I’m on for dinner with Eric and Melania and I don’t want to be late.

7:00 P.M. I pick up a large pile of documents to take with me, say good night to Norma, turn off the lights, leave my office, and head up to my apartment. It’s been a good day. Business tip: Keep a box by your desk for mementos of the people and events that matter in your life and career. Reviewing the contents every now and then will keep you aware of your good fortune.

THURSDAY

8:30 A.M. This morning I have an interview with the legendary Barbara Walters, regarding the upcoming anniversary of September 11. All goes well; she’s professional and to the point, which always helps. I am also planning a surprise visit this morning to Barbara’s show,The View, as I have been the center of their discussions for a few days. They’ve been waiting for me to call them, which I haven’t done, as I think a personal appearance might be more fun, although they don’t know about it yet. If someone challenges you, always try to take the challenge and run with it.

9:15 A.M. I have a meeting with Elaine Diratz, the director of sales at Trump World Tower at the United Nations Plaza. This condominium tower experienced a lot of opposition while it was being built, but it has literally been a triumph, both nationally and internationally. Even though Herbert Muschamp of The New York Times has lauded it and it has recently won a coveted European award for design, that doesn’t mean we sit back in wonder at our good fortune. Everything requires upkeep, especially something of this caliber—plus it is in constant demand as a location site for films and television shows. Elaine and I troubleshoot the latest details.

9:45 A.M. Don Jr. comes in to update me on his work. He’s sharp and has some good insights on a few of our developments. It makes me think that maybe he’s paid attention all these years after all. Norma comes in to tell me I should get going.

10:00 A.M. Brian and I go over to the ABC studios on the West Side, to tape a special segment with Regis Philbin. It’s a beautiful day and the city is sparkling—and as ever, so are Regis and Kelly.

11:00 A.M. I am lurking in the studios of Barbara Walters’s show The View, where I see Sharon Stone, who is a scheduled guest. At the top of the program, they are still discussing my hair and why I haven’t called them back. Joy Behar mentions that here she is, still waiting for some guy to call, and Meredith Vieira mentions that expecting Donald Trump to call her back might be expecting too much. This conversation continues for a while—will he call?, won’t he call?—and then I decide to just walk out onto the set. The audience shrieks when they see me, and Joy is, well, not exactly overjoyed but certainly surprised. I receive a very warm welcome from Barbara, Star, and Meredith, and I think Joy is relieved to know that I’m not at all in a huff over her remarks. I even let her touch and rearrange my hair and explain that while it may not be great hair, it’s mine, and it’s fine with me. We have a good time, and I think we’ll all have to agree that a visit is better than a phone call.

12:00 P.M. Steve Wynn is here to visit me. We chat for a while and then I take him on a tour of The Apprentice sets being built downstairs. Steve and I are close friends—again!

12:30 P.M. This is an unusual day, even for me. Sandra Bullock is here to visit, so she comes into the conference room where I’m having a meeting, just to say hi. I think the guys in the room are very impressed, and so am I, but I try to act cool. After all, my life isn’t exactly dull, but getting a visit from Sandra is a highlight for everyone—especially the contractors, who cannot believe that it is actually her.

1:00 P.M. Robin, one of my assistants, is eating a great-looking salad, so I ask her to order one for me. Then I start returning calls that came in while I was out, including one to Bob Tisch, owner of the Giants and Loews Hotels. The Tisch family has been a tremendous force for good in New York City, and I like Bob a lot. Most of the people I know don’t take lunch hours, so when I return calls at lunchtime it means I actually want to talk to them.

I talk to Ashley Cooper, director of Trump National Golf Club at Bedminster, New Jersey, for an update on progress. I’ll visit next week by helicopter to check things out for myself.

I call Sirio Maccioni, the owner of Le Cirque, one of my favorite restaurants in New York. We’ve decided to have a business dinner there tonight; while getting a table isn’t a problem, I like to talk to Sirio just to catch up on things. He has the instincts required to run a great restaurant, as well as the manners. I always look forward to seeing him.

1:30 P.M. I see Norma in the small conference room, meeting with the Bank One executives about a credit card, the Trump card, which I am starting. Everyone tells me this will be a great success, and it is going very well.

Aretha Franklin’s assistant calls to see if I can attend her concert at Radio City later in the month. Aretha is one of the all-time greats, but, unfortunately, I will be out of town on business. That’s one of the downsides of having a busy schedule, but it’s flattering to hear from Aretha.

One of the things I think about when my schedule gets a little crazy is a labyrinth. Labyrinths date back to the ancient Greeks and usually imply something intricate or complex. Thinking about them helps me, because my schedule can make a labyrinth look like tic-tac-toe, so it becomes a soothing visual for me. That may be some convoluted psychology, but it works. Later on, I learned that there are some famous labyrinths still around today, such as the one at Chartres Cathedral, in France, and that they serve some meditative purpose, but the motive for me has always been to gain perspective on my own agenda.

As they say, whatever works.

2:00 P.M. I attend the board meeting for one of my residential properties in the small conference room. I think anyone who lives in any of my buildings is fortunate, not just to be in a great building, but because we take pride in upkeep and service. We try to cater to the people living and working in my buildings in every way possible, so these meetings are important to me, and here’s the reason: Past, pres-ent, and future tenants and owners have one very important quality in common. They all want the best for their money, which allows me to give you a simple formula for success: Deliver the goods.

A lady in a building across from one of mine actually called in to complain to us. Her complaint? The constant cleaning and polishing of my building was making her crazy. Every time she looked outside and across the street, someone was cleaning something, which she thought was excessive and unnecessary, and that I must have some sort of a problem that should be taken care of. Ever hear of New York stories? The funny part is that we don’t have to make them up.

2:45 P.M. I decide to take a tour of the office. First I visit Bernie Diamond, my general counsel, who is conferring with Sonja Talesnik. Then I see Andy Weiss and Don Jr. about something they’re working on. I pass Scott Etess, who is on the phone, and see Charlie, Jill, and Russell in the conference room. I stop by to visit Micha Koeppel, VP of construction, and notice that Nathan Nelson and Anna DeVincentis are both busy on their phones. I ask my accounting team, Jeff McConney and Eric Sacher, to meet with me and Allen Weisselberg at 4:30. I see Ramon dealing with an enormous pile of mail, which we get plenty of around here. Everyone looks busy to me, and there’s a nice hum to all the activity. On my way back, I stop to chat with George Ross and Jason Greenblatt. I notice some doorknobs need polishing and that the copy room needs to be cleaned up a bit, but on the whole, the office is looking good. We’ve been in our Trump Tower offices for twenty years, and they still look brand-new.

3:00 P.M. I agree to go to Ferragamo’s new store opening and the Luca Luca fashion show at Bryant Park, and we’re trying to arrange my weekend schedule, which at this point is a whirlwind, even with a helicopter. It’s a good thing I’m an active type, or this might tire me out.

Reggie Jackson stops by for a quick visit. He is always welcome here, and my staff loves it when he visits. We chat for a few minutes, and I remember all the incredible moments he has given us as a Yankee. Truly a great.

I return calls to Jay Neveloff, David Scharf, and my brother Robert, and make a call to Wollman Rink to see how we did with our summer attraction, Victorian Gardens. We used the ice rink space as an upscale amusement park for children during the summer months, and since this is our first season doing so, I’m interested in a firsthand account.

3:30 P.M. I take a walk over to Trump Park Avenue, at Park and Fifty-ninth. As I said, I like to keep my eye on things, and I never find property checks tedious. This is such a beautiful building. I remember being interviewed last year by The New York Times about both the building itself and the real estate market in New York. I told them People would rather invest in real estate than in Enron and WorldCom. You can touch it, feel it, smell it. As opposed to Enron, which you can only smell. Costas Kondylis mentioned that this building also had an advantage over properties that boast of being prewar-like, in that this building is definitely not prewar-like. It is prewar. Anyway, the work is coming along and it’s looking good.

I guess someone saw The View on TV this morning, because, as I’m walking back, a lady says Hey, Donald! Your hair looks great! Whoever you are, thanks.

4:30 P.M. I take a call from Joe Cinque regarding Sardinia. That’s pretty far away but he says that next to Mar-a-Lago, it’s his favorite place, and this guy travels all over the world. I’ll have to check into it a bit.

I have a short meeting with my finance group, Allen, Jeff, and Eric. I should have a picture of these guys for you—what a crew! However, they do good work. People often ask me where I find the people who work for me. I think it must be divine intervention, if there is such a thing. But somehow, it all works. Remember how I once said that you should try to get people you like to work for you? These guys are a good example of that advice.

4:50 P.M. Rhona comes in to tell me that Jim Griffin is on the line. Ever heard of the William Morris Agency? He’s the guy to know. Jim is another example of someone who will always tell it like it is, which I appreciate. He’ll give you the facts, and fast.

5:00 P.M. I get a lot of letters from students of all ages who ask me specific things—either for school projects or for their own interest—and, while I can’t respond to them all, I like to review their letters. Sometimes the simplicity and directness of their questions can keep me aware of small and simple things. As Benjamin Franklin once said, Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. In business, nothing is ever too small to notice.

5:30 P.M. I review a pile of legal documents, making short notes on them for response by my assistants tomorrow morning. If we didn’t keep up with our correspondence several times a day, we’d be sunk. I receive requests from people in every industry under the sun, moon, and stars combined. My daily delivery includes submissions from artists, musicians, screenwriters, architects, authors, poets, comedians, chefs, designers, actors, shoemakers, and more. That’s a condensed list. I also receive bundles of cookbooks from a lady in Illinois several times a year. Why she does this is beyond me. She must know that one of the few things I don’t do is cook.

6:30 P.M. Enough ruminating. I check my faxes and go upstairs.

FRIDAY

8:30 A.M. The electrical contractors call in with some bogus claims about why they’re way off schedule. They’ve been slacking off on the job. I’ve been watching them carefully and know exactly what their problem is, and proceed to tell them so. They get the message and promise me they will get back on track. We’ll see. I believe about twenty percent of what contractors say, and that’s on a good day. They know what I mean.

9:00 A.M. I take a call from Dick Levy, a real gentleman, then I ask for a Diet Coke. Another call concerns an ad I placed about slot machines at the racetracks in New York, which I’m against. Without countless layers of security, it will not be in the public’s best interest, and I therefore mention that it is obvious the ground under our racetracks is most fertile for growing organized crime. The ad contains a photograph of Al Capone, with the caption He would have loved it. The bottom of the ad says, Paid for by a Committee of one, who may not always be right, but knows what’s wrong. I think the point is made.

Rhona asks about the Giants game next week, and I decide to go. I return calls from Bo Dietl, Vinnie Stellio, and Ivana, and place a call to Jim Griffin of the William Morris Agency. David Granger calls;Esquire magazine is using an apartment in Trump World Tower as an example of the ultimate man’s apartment, the Esquire Apartment. I have to agree with him that it’s the ideal place.

I take a call from a writer doing an article on motivation and leadership. One of the questions asked is how I handle a person who consistently makes the same mistakes. I tell them the truth: I don’t. They’re working for someone else now.

9:30 A.M. I take a moment to glance out the window, which I rarely do, even with the spectacular views from my office. There is something inspiring about New York City, and I feel fortunate to live here. Just as I’m thinking this, a call comes in from Los Angeles Confidential Magazine for a comment on their publication. I tell them that Los Angeles is as viable a cosmopolitan center as New York City, which it is, and that I think their magazine has a lot of integrity. I always enjoy my trips to California, and with my new golf course in Los Angeles, I’ll be able to spend more time there in the near future. I decide to call Jason Binn, just to catch up on things with him. He’s a successful magazine publisher, and I haven’t spoken to him for a couple of weeks. I enjoy his take on things.

Tom Fazio calls in to go over some course plans and to give me an update on my New Jersey golf course. He loves what he does and that’s made apparent by his attention to detail. John Mack of Credit Suisse calls in. Despite his great accomplishments, he remains an unassuming man—the work is what matters to him. These are two easy and informative calls. People have to understand that I’ve been dealing with all kinds of people and industries for a long time, so I can pretty readily discern who the goof-offs are and who the solid-gold people are. So if you hear me blow up in my office at someone or something, there’s usually a reason for it. It can be as clear as day to me, and I see no reason to tolerate someone being inefficient or irresponsible. I do my best, and so should they.

I heard someone who had worked with me for a long time describing me as a generator—someone who revs up, keeps going, gathers momentum, keeps going at a higher level, and all is well—except for the boiling point. Because when something causes me to explode, believe me, there will be a lot of energy behind it. But, hey, at least I can be honest about it, and his assessment is accurate. A great Palm Beach lawyer called me a reverse tornado—I build everything in my path, instead of destroying it.

Robin comes in to tell me the copies I want are delayed because our copy machine is on the blink again. I can’t believe it. With all the amazing inventions of today, can’t they design a copy machine that won’t break down every three minutes? This is one thing that can make me lose my temper. I personally call Pete Strada, our director of purchasing, and ask him when the lease is up on this terrible machine. I want it out of here.

10:00 A.M. Norma comes in and we go over the event I’m hosting with Heidi Klum and Jonathan Tisch for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. It will be held at Sotheby’s next month. We also discuss some interview requests and invitations, seeing if and how we can fit them into my schedule. Every week we think that week can’t be topped, then the next week is even more hectic, so what’s happened is that our stamina has increased. I am much busier now than I have ever been. That’s one reason I don’t complain much. I literally don’t have time to.

I take a call from Tony Senecal, the head butler and historian at Mar-a-Lago. This guy is terrific and a great asset to Mar-a-Lago. He fills me in on the latest, and I’m glad he has X-ray vision when it comes to details.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten calls in. In addition to being a genius when it comes to food, he’s also a visionary. He’s a celebrity in his own right, but I can tell you that what really matters to him is cooking—and when you visit any of his restaurants, you’ll find out what I mean.

10:30 A.M. Tina Brown, of publishing fame, calls. We weren’t always on such good terms, but we put our differences aside. I enjoy talking with her. She’s quick and insightful.

I ask George Ross and Carolyn Kepcher to come in. I’ve decided they should play themselves in pivotal roles on The Apprentice. They both agree and do not seem put out at all. There won’t be any acting involved, because to them it will be another day on the job. Maybe a longer day on the job, but just another day. Total pros.

I take a call from Jim Dowd, senior press manager at NBC, regarding The Apprentice, and one from Jay Bienstock, a producer on The Apprentice. Both guys know exactly what they’re doing, which is a relief to me. Then I yell at some contractors for a while. It’s too boring to tell you about this, but it’s something that is absolutely necessary in real estate development and construction. I spend much of my days doing this.

I take a call from Eliot Spitzer, the New York State attorney general. He is one smart guy, who has an even more brilliant future ahead of him. He is just amazing!

11:00 A.M. I go down to the large conference room to see some plans for a possible new development. Charlie, Russell, Jill, and Don Jr., my development team, go over them with me. This could be a go, but I’ll have to think about it a bit more. I don’t have a formula for making decisions—each situation is unique, and I allow my assessment to be equally unique, with no time constraints. When it’s right, it will be right. I may have the reputation of being brash, but I am very restrained in regard to making decisions. People don’t see the process—they only see the results.

11:30 A.M. I return nine calls and realize I’m looking forward to having lunch at the golf club and a round of golf with Bill Clinton, David Granger, and Alfons. It’s a beautiful day, and I love checking out the course. That’s one reason I don’t feel too guilty about taking a Friday afternoon off—I’ll still be working.

Someone sends in a big box of Godiva chocolates. This will be tough, but I’ll just look at them for a while and then put them outside for my staff. Who says I’m not a nice guy? Ditto for those Belgian truffles. Life can be tough.

12:00 P.M. I ask George Ross to come in, and we go over a few things. George brings the word laconic to life. Five minutes with him equals one hour with your average lawyer.

12:05 P.M. I decide to call Mike Donovan. I want to see how the work is going on my 727. He says it will be ready next week, which is good news, as I want to visit my golf course in California.

12:15 P.M. Mark Burnett and his two producers, Jay Bienstock and Kevin Harris, come in for a meeting, to go over the assignments to be given to the sixteen candidates on The Apprentice. This is an interesting process. We want to make sure that each assignment has a purpose beyond entertainment. These guys are not only nice, they’re intelligent. I really feel they’ve got their bases covered. Any apprehensions I had about the TV show have evaporated.

12:45 P.M. I go through twenty-seven requests, including invitations from Norway, Peru, and India. Norma tells me I should view the video made for Trump Park Avenue before I leave, which has some beautiful footage. It’s a great video.

1:00 P.M. I collect my papers and faxes and ask Rhona to call the elevator and to tell Eddie to have the car ready in fifteen minutes.

I make my exit. It’s been a great week. I just hope the car is ready. Otherwise, Eddie’s in for it—big time.

Here I am with Mark Burnett, creator of The Apprentice, and Jeff Zucker, president of NBC Entertainment.