Business is business. For example, if you get fired, there’s usu-
ally a number behind it, and that can take the personal affront right
out of it. Businesses have to watch out for their bottom line or
they won’t be in business for very long. Don’t get worked up. If
you do, you might be taking it the wrong way. It isn’t always easy,
but try to be objective.
I learned early on that business can be completely impersonal
even when you’re dealing with human beings. One banker I was
dealing with was so indifferent that he was literally like a machine.
When a machine says no, it’s very tough. There’s no negotiating
possible. I remember writing that you’d be better off dealing with
a killer with real passion than with an institutional type who has
no emotion and just wanted to go home at 5 o’clock. Sometimes
we run into brick walls like that. Our only recourse is to find an-
other way around it, which I did. But I got a good insight into
how impersonal business can be.
I’d rather be personable. It also works better, provides more
options for everyone, and allows for more creativity. It can require
more energy, but I can tell you the results will be worth it. It still
strikes me as funny that I suddenly became very popular after I
started firing people every week on national television. People re-
ally liked me for that. Or so I thought. What it was is that they
were seeing the real person behind the famous name. They see that
I can be tough but that I try to be impartial. I’m also a bit of a
teacher. I’ve always been this way, but it was never seen before ex-
cept by my employees. I’m personable, but I can be all business.
Believe me, it’s a formidable combination.
I have to be careful not to blow people away, because if you
cross me personally and professionally, I’ll have a double whammy
waiting for you. I don’t enjoy being vicious, but sometimes in self-
defense it becomes necessary. I don’t like the double standard, as
in, whatever I do is okay and whatever you do isn’t okay, or vice
DONALD J. TRUMP