It’s that old fine line between bravery and stupidity. Know the tides
before you dive in. There’s always a certain amount of danger, dan-
ger meaning the unknown, even in shallow waters. Riptides and
sharks exist. Sometimes you don’t see them until it’s too late. Keep
that in mind no matter how sensational or foolproof you think
your idea might be.
Charles de Gaulle is a figure of historic importance, especially
as it pertains to World War II, and he came from a family of his-
torians and writers. In fact, his father taught literature and philos-
ophy. But the young Charles de Gaulle had a passionate interest
in military matters, and he was determined in every respect to pur-
sue this unexpected passion. He was a force in world history
known for his extraordinary stubbornness. He became known as
“the man who said no” when he refused to accept the terms of
the armistice with Nazi Germany. When he said no, he meant it.
There was no equivocating. I don’t know all the details of his early
life, but I can imagine a boy from a family of intellectuals might
have experienced some scrutiny when he displayed an intense in-
terest in all things military. But heknew what he wanted to do, and
he followed his own path.
It’s a good idea to take your own pulse once in awhile instead
of just focusing on what the masses are doing. Take a break from
expectations, from the media, and plug into yourself. You might
find that your electricity is better suited to another socket. You
might have to exert yourself, but look at the alternatives that re-
main. Get out of your so-called comfort zone. I call it compla-
cency, and it’s a good way to get nowhere.
I remember firing someone who once said “I think it’s
good enough” when referring to project he was working on. Good
enough? It wasn’t good enough for me, and if it was good enough
for him, he shouldn’t be working for me. I want people who
will go the extra mile to make it the best. Don’t be so easily
DONALD J. TRUMP