Donald Trump

923 Words2 Pages

Donald Trump

“You’re fired!” It was the most popular phrase in reality television. The man behind the words is famous, powerful, eccentric, yet very “matter of fact” about business. Donald J. Trump, more commonly known as “The Donald,” brought the business world into millions of homes with his hit reality show “The Apprentice.” "I thought I was the biggest star before 'The Apprentice,' but now I'm bigger." In a strange way, he's down to earth, the kind of guy who buys a $350,000 Maybach by Mercedes but insists on driving it himself” (Naughton). Trump’s brash business skills, keen instincts, and flare for taking risks has propelled him into stardom. Trump is one of America’s most well-known billionaires.

This essay will discuss the characteristics of Donald Trump’s leadership.

Leadership Characteristics

Trump has never been America’s most popular television host. Years before his television debut, Trump was near personal bankruptcy. He persevered from being nearly $900 million in debt. Trump’s success has been drawn from his vast real estate holdings in Manhattan (Naughton). “Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story, continually setting the standards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, gaming, sports, and entertainment. He is the archetypal businessman – a deal-maker without peer and an ardent philanthropist” (“The Donald”).

His unconventional business style exhibits several leadership characteristics. One of the most visible characteristic is his need for personal power. This is evidenced by every piece of real estate Trump owns. Every building, golf course, and casino he owns is adorned with the Trump name. According to author Andrew DuBrin,...

... middle of paper ...

...eeting with Trump, “I would have defined his persona – a favorite Donald Trump term – as low-key, subdued, even self-effacing. Well, let’s not go too far – Donald Trump is rarely self-effacing. But he was, if I had been limited to one word, businesslike (Kepcher 17).

Works Cited

DuBrin, Andrew. Leadership. Houghton Mifflin Company: 2004.

Kepcher, Carolyn. Carolyn 101. New York: Fireside, 2004.

Naughton, Keith and Marc Peyser. ”The World According to Trump.” MSNBC. 5 December

2004. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4340708/site/newsweek/>

“Should Donald Trump be Fired?” CBS News. 5 December 2004.

<http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/22/national/main656922.shtml>

“The Donald.” NBC Online. 5 December 2004.

<http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/bio_trump.shtml>

Kepcher, Carolyn. Carolyn 101. New York: Fireside, 2004.

More about Donald Trump

Open Document