The Art of the Deal - Key Takeaways

Just finished reading The Art of the Deal closely for the first time and I decided to take notes and write mini essays throughout the whole reading process like I normally do for denser works. I've found that doing so helps me figure out things I'd normally just glance over. It forces me to really think about what I'm reading and make the connections.

I don't think the book gets enough credit as an insight into Trump's mind. It actually explains a lot about what got him to where he is now and why he makes some of the more confusing decisions. What I can gather from the book is this:

Trump's Motivation

For Trump, chasing and achieving greatness is an art. It's the thing that gives his existence on earth direction and meaning, and it's something he gets a kick out of personally. Whether he's building something in Manhattan or shaping history through his actions as president, Trump's ventures usually come from a place of creativity and wanting to challenge himself personally and win. Trump's love for winning is intrinsic and not necessarily even connected to a love for the goal itself.

Trump's Key to Success

Trump attributes much of his success to his genes, which might come as a surprise to some people. He believes he inherited his father's appreciation for competence and getting things done quickly, and his mother's appreciation for pomp and appearances. He believes those two things combined are what made him so successful.

Trump respects the power of perception and understands that words, packaging, and paint jobs can radically alter the world we live in. You can sell an old car for hundreds of dollars extra if you just wash it first. You can drive up the value of land instantly by announcing you're going to build the world's tallest building on it. For Trump, appearances are basically real in the most meaningful sense. What people believe might as well be true.

But Trump also understands the need to deliver, and that's where his father's practicality comes in. Dreaming of some grand project is one thing, but actually figuring out how to get it done quickly and cheaply, taking interest in every step of the project and making sure it's going well, getting the publicity, convincing others it can work and then showing them. That's another half of what set Trump apart. He's never been afraid to make the phone calls necessary to make sure the job is being done correctly. Trump deeply appreciates the little things and sees the value of small parts in the bigger picture. He doesn't let anything slide or cut corners. He never takes the easier option if it leads to a worse overall product.

Trump's Mindset

Trump always lives in the present and avoids thinking much about the past or the future. He's not too concerned with his own feelings or the way he'd like something to have happened in the past. He constantly has an outward focus. He thinks more about what things mean to others than what they mean to himself. His thought process is centered around finding out what others are thinking so he can offer them something. Trump doesn't believe in opinion polling or PR firms. He prefers talking to regular people and feeling the temperature until he gets a gut feeling for how he should move forward. Trump always trusts his gut and relies a lot on instincts.

Trump isn't afraid of others calling his bluff, most of the time they don't. He believes in having the courage to act like the person he wants to be, even if that lends itself to ballsy moves or situations that are a little uncomfortable. For Trump, being a killer is about acting like one and saying you are. Most people lack the courage to do that which is why there are so few truly remarkable people out there.

Making Deals

Trump's "love language" is being a winner for him. He doesn't care about flattery or likability or even past loyalty to himself personally. He wants the best people on his side helping him win, and isn't afraid of cutting deals to make that happen. Trump is fundamentally non-ideological. He'll hire a person who opposed him in the past if that person is a "killer." Obama could probably get himself appointed to the Supreme Court by Trump if he was willing and able to cut the right deals.

Trump loves good press but appreciates the strategic benefit of both positive and negative media attention. That said, he wants to be popular and well liked. He's not really motivated by an ideological vision for the future, rather, he likes getting a feel for what people want so he can bring it to them. DC is a weird place for Trump because it's controlled by a web of personal loyalties, ideologues and rails you're not supposed to touch. For Trump, none of this makes sense. The spirit of Trump is confused by partisanship because that's not how things are in the business world. If politics were the way Trump envisions it, everyone would be an individual actor cutting deals to benefit themselves and deliver popular changes. He prefers flexibility to any sort of fixed principled framework for how things should be.