clicked with—and he was a banker. The chemistry for great things
was there, and it was the last thing I had expected to happen. I had
been in a negative mindset, but my disciplined side took over, and
without any expectations on my part, things took a decidedly bet-
ter turn just because I showed up.
Second, you have to remain determined. If you have a big pic-
ture in mind, you will need big determination to go with it. The
old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is an apt one. There is no
easy way—much as I’d like to tell you otherwise. But if you are
doing something you love doing, it should not present too much
hardship. Most of us are aware of the tremendous difficulties that
faced people like Michelangelo and Beethoven, yet they prevailed
and they’re still with us centuries later. It helps to know what other
people have faced in accomplishing their goals. A lot of times we
don’t know how much work is required until we get into some-
thing, no matter how much research we’ve done, so fortitude is
absolutely necessary.
Then we come to the unexpected—events that happen that
can thoroughly alter our plans, such as earthquakes, wars, natural
disasters, and so forth. Here’s when the theory of adaptability
comes in. Are you able to remain flexible enough to handle ca-
tastrophes? Disasters happen, and they aren’t always foreseen. Sud-
denly our big picture has a new script attached to it! Well, believe
me, you can handle it if you go with the flow and remain deter-
mined at the same time.The best thing to remember here is Win-
ston Churchill’s advice to never give up: “Never, never, never, never,
never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in, ex-
cept to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force;
never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
We may not be experiencing the blitz, but sometimes when prob-
lems start up, it can feel like it. Prepare yourself with strength of
character to withstand discouragements as well as disasters.
DONALD J. TRUMP