I know some of my hippy, anti-establishment, anti-capitalist mates might not agree with me here, but Donald Trump – what a guy. You seriously couldn’t make him up if you tried. I reckon he’d be a pretty interesting person to have dinner with – just think of the one-liners you’d walk away with? Not to mention the fabulous decor he has in his penthouse? Not my style for sure, but you’ve got to admire the garishness. Anyway, I bought Steve “Think Like a Billionaire”and as it has remained on his bedside table gathering dust for nearly a year, I thought I’d give it a crack. I’m glad I did.
Being a huge fan of The Apprentice – his, the Aussie one, the British one, the Celebrity Apprentice and soon, the Asian Apprentice – this book gives you a little bit of access to his no nonsense headspace. The chapters are short, you’ll rip right through it, and while I know I will never be a billionaire – crikey surviving on four hours sleep a night is definitely not me – it was definitely a book that got me focused and motivated. He’s a never-give-up-kind-of-guy, he’s positive and passionate, and he walks the talk – not a common trait I’ve discovered. Somehow he got lucky early in his life – not because his family had money, but because he found his path to true success – he really loves what he does and while the billions certainly come (and go) with the role, what comes through most is his love of the game – as well as a love for a few nice luxury brands within the mix, and beautiful women of course.
His advice isn’t typical and it isn’t a highbrow repetition of the motivation books out there. It’s a case of find what you love, get stuck into it, don’t accept no for an answer, and whatever you do, don’t listen to other people if it sits right in your gut – well that’s my interpretation of his philosophy. Essentially if you’ve got an idea, go for it and go fast, because great ideas, when not acted upon, die. Aint’ that the truth. He also recommends getting pre-nups and signing all of your own checks. I’ve missed both opportunities – oh well.
All in all, it was a cracking yarn and well worth a read. He’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but he sure has learnt some interesting stuff in this life. What makes him interesting to me is he’s experienced the world in a way I will probably never experience, and that’s fascinating. I like him. I’m not striving to be a billionaire – millionaire maybe – but he’s one of the most intriguing people because under all the bluff, there’s something charming about him. I couldn’t explain it if you paid me. Two qualities I know I like – he doesn’t apologize for anything, and he can laugh at himself – a good quality.
Just in case you’re interested, there are now 1,210 billionaires on the planet, with a combined net-worth of $4.5 trillion according to Forbes. However we can expect a new list out soon, and with Rolls Royce having its most successful year in its 100+ year history, I reckon there might be a few more on the billionaire list come March.
Yours, without the bollocks
Andrea
PS: the new Season of Celebrity Apprentice is coming up and the original Hulk – Lou Ferrigno is in it this year – cool!!!
PPS: Follow me on Twitter @withoutbollocks
