working there. I have always been wary of the stock market. It’s a
gamble, but it can be lucrative, which is the lure.
In short, there are no guarantees. That means being alert to na-
tional and world markets. Do your homework daily. I shouldn’t
need to emphasize this if you’ve paid attention to what’s transpired
in the United States from 2006 until now, which is late 2008. There
was an implosion in the financial sector that was unprecedented
in our history. I see it as a wake-up call.
Robert and I tried to warn people back in 2006. Now I’m
back to tell you loud and clear that this area of your life is of
great importance. Yes, study your specific area of interest dili-
gently, but realize that if there is no money for scholarships,
whether you are studying anthropology or literature or law, you
might be out of luck. Everyone will be affected. Whatever your
emphasis of study is, be aware of what is going on financially
around the world.
We are all businessmen and women, whether you see it that
way yet or not. If you like art and can’t make money at it, you
eventually realize that everything is business, even your art. That’s
why I like Warhol’s statement about good business being the best
art. It’s a fact. That’s also another reason I see my business as an art
and so I work at it passionately.
We all have opinions. Due diligence means finding out the dif-
ference between opinions and facts. I was astounded to find out
how many people don’t know how the financial world is set up.
Equities, emerging markets, asset management, commodities, mu-
tual funds, hedge funds, annuities, stocks, bonds, and mortgages
should be common knowledge by the time you are in high school.
That’s a big oversight in our educational system. Every student
should know how they all work and never expect a financial “ex-
pert” to give them the whole story. You have to know it yourself.
DONALD J. TRUMP