Another tactic for being your own bridge-builder is to visu-
alize how much time is saved when you cross a bridge, versus ford-
ing a river or traversing a canyon. It’s also a safeguard for falling
into a gap that might take you weeks or months to get yourself
out of. We are not omniscient, and sometimes things work out for
a reason in a different way than we had planned, but take the time
to prepare yourself for your goals. I work at that every single day.
I’ve learned that things don’t just automatically fall into line be-
cause I want them to. Be proactive in your pursuit of knowledge.
As I write this, I remind myself that if you are reading it, you
are most likely someone intent on improving your intelligence
quota and someone who is already motivated. So I want you to
ask yourself: What is it that you are aiming for? What precisely is
your motivation? What’s the point of building a bridge if you’re
not sure you want to get to other side, or if you don’t know what
you’ll do once you get there? A bridge must serve a specific pur-
pose, and your goals have to be just that specific. Visualization is a
powerful tool for bringing your intentions into focus.
I was having a conversation a few years ago with a few peo-
ple when one guy mentioned that the Trump name had become
a famous brand around the world and then added, “What’s in a
name?” He then sort of laughed and said to me, “in your case, a lot!”
I noticed that one guy seemed out of the loop about the quip. So
I said “That’s Shakespeare. ‘What’s in a name’ is a famous line from
Shakespeare.” So he still looked perplexed and asked “From what?”
And although I knew it was from Romeo and Juliet, I said, “Look it
up. You might learn some interesting things along the way.”
I’m not proposing that you spend years studying Shakespeare,
but a topical knowledge of certain things will greatly enhance your
capabilities for dealing in the major leagues with people who are
well educated in a variety of subjects. Don’t be left out! Take a few
THINK LIKE A CHAMPION