There has been a lot of talk of Donald Trump in the news lately about his possible Presidential bid. After watching ~10 seasons of the Apprentice and reading about him in the newspaper my entire life I decided to read something penned by his own hand – The Art of the Deal, released in 1987.
What I found in The Art of the Deal greatly surprised me. While it was released more than 20 years ago the man I found in the pages of the book had familiar qualities to the man I see today. I cannot say that I whole heartedly endorse Mr. Trump as a business man, a husband, a father, or even a Presidential candidate, but I can say I’ve come to appreciate him and his accomplishments more having read the book.
As I read the book I kept thinking of what King Solomon penned in Proverbs. Proverbs 12:27 says “Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get his precious wealth.” There are many other passages from Proverbs that I could’ve plugged in that speak of diligence leading to abundance, wealth, power, influence, and fame.
Mr. Trump’s life has been an interesting mix of personal discipline and smarts. He is one of the few men that has blended an exceptional work ethic with ingenuity. He is a man that has achieved significant stature in life because he’s been Faithful, Accountable, and Teachable. Faithful to the values and learnings his father passed onto him at an early age. Accountable to the public, business partners, and municipalities he’s made deals with. And in all things Mr. Trump exhibits a willingness to learn and grow in his field. These qualities have allowed him to achieve things the average man could not even dream of.
Since 1987 he has made some poor choices in business and in his personal life – buckling to “sin that is common to all men” the book of James says. But in all Mr. Trump has exhibited qualities that make him “known.” What you see is what you get with him. From a public facing perspective he has not changed his stance on things like foreign policy (America first), fiscal responsibility (live within your means), and growth fueled by entrepreneurism (creative destruction). Where he has publicly changed on issues like abortion, going from Pro-Choice to Pro-Life, it was brought about by a close friends pregnancy.
This write up is not an endorsement for Mr. Trump for President, rather it’s a call to each reader to learn the lessons of Proverbs through the life of Donald Trump. Be diligent in your work. Have a willingness to roll up your sleeves and work hard. Educate yourself on your craft. Never stop learning. Combine these things together, along with great people who share similar qualities. Doing these things over a lifetime can lead to abundance, generational wealth, and a Presidency.
One personal side thought. My pastor, James MacDonald often talks about Discipline-Desire-Delight as it relates to spending quality time with Jesus Christ. I think these principles apply with our work as well. The shear discipline of working each day, to the best of our ability, will lead to a desire to continue working hard, and ultimately end with a delight in the work itself. God, having given us work before the “Fall”, will receive the glory when a person is able revel in the work of their mind and hands.
Get to work!
