Think big and kick ass
Think big and kick ass
Even with a bizarre hairdo, Donald Trump became the most recognised businessman in the world, creating spectacular brands that represent the gold standard around the globe.
He is the archetypal businessman and an icon of New York with a diversity of interests that set new paradigms in the world of business. As developer of quality real estate, his acumen is unrivalled, his commitment to excellence legendary, and his work as a philanthropist a fundamental part of his ethos.
Trump became even more eminent as host in NBC’s reality television program produced by Mark Burnett, The Apprentice. With his recurrent expression of, “You’re fired,” Trump most certainly knows how important it is to say, “You’re hired” to the right person for a particular job.
One of the best decisions he ever made was hiring George Ross, the now Executive Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Trump Organisation who became popular in his own right as one of Trump’s two advisors on The Apprentice with Carolyn Kepcher being the other.
Ross was about to retire as senior partner of a major law firm in 1996 when Trump roared, “You’re hired. Join me in business, we’ll develop buildings and have some real fun.”
Trump needed to bounce off ideas onto someone he could trust with a voice of reason and honest opinions. Today Ross is confidante, business and legal advisor to Trump, responsible for developing foreign investments, supervising leasing and operations of several Trump properties, and for licensing, promoting, and marketing of Trump products.
As lawyer, Ross represented Trump in several major real estate deals since the 1970s and therefore a natural choice. Jumping from being lawyer to senior counsel doesn’t happen overnight though, but Ross knew Trump’s businesses well, being intricately involved in several of his investments and development deals. Most of all, he knew Trump’s mind.
Ross was also adjunct professor of the New York University School of Professional Studies and Continuing Education where he taught a course in negotiation for more than 15 years. He recently started teaching at a community college and is speaker on various subjects at motivational seminars throughout the world, including South Africa.
On his last trip to South Africa during February 2015, accompanied by wealth coach JT Foxx, Ross said in his interview with Leadership, “What I see in South Africa I like. It’s a vibrant economy, surely with a lot of problems, but with a tremendous amount of possibilities equal to anywhere else in the world. What is difficult though, is developing that potential.”
South Africa has a lot of resources, the leadership unfortunately leaves something to be desired recons Ross, but the opportunities are waiting for people with foresight, “South Africa’s economic growth depends on entrepreneurship and better leadership, which would take some time to develop with adequate training and overcoming a lot of challenges.”
Entrepreneurship and leadership is to do something higher than yourself and to make a contribution to the country, explains Ross. It’s about finding something that interests you, and advancing that to make money, or change your life, whatever your objectives are. What must happen is to say with a vigorous spirit, “I’m ready for change, I’m ready to create.”
“The more you want to succeed as entrepreneur, the more you need to gather a group of people to assist you. And the more people you hire, the more you need to be a competent leader to lead that group.”
Referring to Trump’s style of leadership Ross says, “Trump is aggressive in business. If he thinks he can do it, then he can do it. Then we just need to figure out how exactly.”
The Apprentice reality show had been very successful with millions of viewers watching, “Which I found very exciting because I never realised the power of television,” admits Ross, who had been in radio for a big chunk of his career. He was co-founder of Beck-Ross Communications, which successfully owned and operated a group of several radio stations in the United States.
His biggest motivation for joining Trump, was to become involved with mammoth projects, bringing to life Trump’s visions and ideas, and to help create unusual things most people said couldn’t be done.
Ross is very proud of being part of the Trump Organisation and its thriving energy. “If Trump says I want a new brand, whether in clothing like the Donald Trump Suit, or another prominent New York skyscraper – done. When Donald says, create merchandise with a new brand and make it extremely popular – done.”
If the market for a certain product does not exist, Trump will simply create one and then put his name to it. “Only Trump can do that,” says Ross. “Some challenges are greater than others, but it’s always exciting, and the more challenging the undertaking, the better the rewards. It’s invigorating and keeps my mind active.”
Ross authored two widely acclaimed and best-selling books, ‘Trump Strategies for Real Estate: Billionaire Lessons for the Small Investor’ and ‘Trump-Style Negotiation: Powerful Strategies and Tactics for Mastering Every Deal’.
In ‘Trump-Style Negotiation’ Ross explains the tactics that took Trump to the top and how you can use those same tactics and strategies in your daily negotiations.
“Negotiating is something we’ve done since birth. Everything is negotiating. Understanding negotiation, is about understanding human nature. You’re successful when you can convince people you’re trustworthy and the right person they should be dealing with,” adds Ross.
Trump doesn’t negotiate though. He knows what he wants and how to get it. He only asks, “What’s this going to cost?” And when the answer is agreeable, demands, “Do it.”
Ross doesn’t want to be a billionaire like Trump (although he is). He says, “Making enough money to support the lifestyle you want is enough. Having the support of your close family and friends to create the balance, is what’s most important.”
“One of my greatest pleasures in life, is to be able to buy a Rolls Royce and then not buy it, as I don’t really want it. Cars are only meant for transport, and it comes down to utilising your resources in the most efficient manner.”
Ross says the legacy he will leave to his children and grandchildren is them knowing he made the world a better place while he was in it. His contribution measured in outstanding leadership, teaching, supporting and giving. “We are all part of one big world and should learn how to live together, learn how to survive in a constantly changing world, and leave the world a better place.”
Ross assists a lot of people shifting from the academic world to the business world, which is very difficult for some. “Nothing is easy anymore; either you survive, or excel, or you just get lost by the wayside – and then you’ll be very unhappy because you know you could have done more. One needs to use given talents the best you can.”
What is concerning, says Ross, is the lack of real leadership in handling the problems of the world, and to be able to communicate properly as technology changes traditional ways of engagement.
“What’s needed most in South Africa, is quality leadership,” advises Ross. “The solution is simple: negotiate better. Figure out what each party wants, find a convergence point and develop things further with a mutual understanding.”
Ross says people can accomplish more than what they think they can, “It’s all about developing talent and finding out what works. Figure out who and what you want to be, have some goals and a clear game-plan. Take stock over time, fill in the gaps and improve. Success is merely failure plus perseverance.”
Being at Trump’s side is exciting and Ross loves it. Although he didn’t expect to remain with Trump so long, he still has no plans to retire. “As long as my mind is sharp I will not retire. I work three days a week, I have a family which I love. I am involved in a lot of teaching and giving money to children’s hospitals, so why retire?”
“When I’m with my family at home in Long Island, I feel a very-very happy man, having been married for 62 years. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life and I am satisfied.”
But when will Trump be satisfied? It’s said he’s running for president in 2016. Doesn’t look like Ross will be able to retire at all. “Trump is a powerful person and you can’t say no to him,” confesses Ross. “But I don’t mind, as the opportunity to be with Donald keeps me young and alive.”
Before joining the Trump Organisation, Ross was a real estate attorney and private investor for more than 50 years and, as the senior partner of a major law firm, served as general counsel, consultant, and negotiator for renowned real estate investors. He went to Clemson University and Brooklyn College, earning his law degree from Brooklyn Law School and passed the New York State Bar in 1953.
SIDEBAR
Trump for President: “Obama you’re fired.”
Whether you like Trump or not, he’s without doubt a very successful man. He constantly gets publicity along with the recognition he loves so much with aggressive progression towards the next endeavour.
And even though ‘picking a fight’ is as much part of competing in The Apprentice and business everywhere, contentiousness it’s a signature approach of Trump.
He frequently expresses his opinions in public and even tweets on it. On 16 October 2014 he tweeted on Obama’s handling of the Ebola crisis, “I’m starting to think there’s something seriously wrong with President Obama’s mental health. Why won’t he stop the flights? Psycho!”
When ruling on Oscar Pistorius case in September last year, Trump tweeted about Judge Masipa, “The judge in the Oscar Pistorius case is a total moron. She said he didn’t act like a killer. This is another OJ disaster!”
But outspoken Trump for president? We’ll have to wait and see. Bloomberg recently reported Trump had been booked as the keynote speaker at the Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 15 in Pottawattamie County Iowa, which is another sign he’s seriously considering hopping into what could prove a crowded Republican presidential field.
Although Trump toyed with the prospect of running in 2000 as an independent candidate, and again in 2012 as a Republican, he never did, and still did not actually mount a campaign.
However, Trump had been consistent with this notion since first flirting with running for president in the 1980s when criticising the political establishment for its handling of gulf oil states and Japan, saying he might join the fray.
So it’s with no surprise when Trump told Reuters recently, running for the presidency in 2016 is something he would certainly look at, as he’s totally unhappy with the way things are going in America. “We used to be the smart ones on the block, now we’re the dummies,” he said.
Speaking at the Iowa Freedom Summit on February 24th this year, he said, “Our country is in such trouble and it would be so easy to fix. If I run for president, and if I win, I would totally succeed in creating jobs, defeating ISIS and stopping the Islamic terrorists. I know what needs to be done to make America great again.”
Funding a campaign with a war chest of $200 million should make competing well enough no problem, and he just may be a candidate to consider.
Being blunt and as assertive as Trump, could just be the type of props leaders and entrepreneurs are aspiring for.
But what’s fine for Trump, might not be fine for others.
[Written by Rizél Delano]
[Feb 2015]
[Words 1939]