With the presidential inauguration coming on Friday, this column is devoted to a few insights from President-elect Donald Trump.
They are the kind of thoughts that, when contemplated, give each of us an opportunity to think about how we might build a better life for ourselves and a better future for the country.
Former first lady Barbara Bush is credited with saying, "Your success as a family...our success as a nation...depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house."
During a time in which America transfers presidential leadership, it is important to consider that perspective.
President-elect Donald Trump was no stranger to any of us before the election cycle began.
As a business leader, a television personality, and an author of several books, his persona has been a part of America's culture for quite some time.
And while he had help writing his various books, his name is on the cover and the words, in essence, are his.
Several quotations from those books are stand-alone gems that could serve any one of us well, and we can hope, will also serve him very well as president.
In Trump 101 The Way to Success, published in 2007, President-elect Trump articulated the following insights about learning:
"The seeds of learning," he wrote, "can grow almost anywhere, and you can never know too much about what you're doing."
He wrote of how learning is an exciting endeavor, making him want to learn more and keeping him from ever getting bored with what he does.
"Never think of learning as a burden or a chore," Trump wrote. "It may require some discipline, but it can be a stimulating and exciting adventure.... Make it a priority to keep exploring, learning, discovering, and moving forward because that is the best recipe for a successful life."
He wrote of the immense value of preparation:
"When you're prepared, there's no reason to be nervous. Treat any speech or any pitch as an opportunity to shine--and you usually will. Always deliver the goods by giving your audience valuable information, no matter how many people are in the room."
He later wrote, "Always be totally prepared so that the doubters, disbelievers, and competitors can't throw you off track."
In the same book, he wrote of the importance of ongoing learning and extensive preparation, saying that people should work hard to become a master in their given occupation.
"Become an expert and an authority," he wrote. "Keep working and learning because the more you learn, the more self-confidence you will gain."
From such preparation, Trump wrote, will come more success.
In his words: "You accumulate an incredible body of knowledge in your area of expertise and develop the uncanny ability to make the right calls consistently."
Many of us can find sterling examples of individuals at work who are gifted in this way, people who have wisdom coupled with years of experience on the job. It is good to have a boss or a teammate like that--one who seems to be able to cut through all of the incidentals and zero in on the heart of the matter with a laser-like focus.
Trump has claimed that he has developed that kind of ability in the business world. It would be beneficial to all if he can bring the same skills to the table when he runs the country.
In Trump 101 he also wrote about how a person should have a good perspective of his or her overall ambition:
"Know where you want to go," he said, "prepare and believe in yourself, and you'll get there."
At the conclusion of The Art of the Deal, first published in 1987, Trump wrote: "In my life, there are two things I've found I'm very good at: overcoming obstacles and motivating good people to do their best work. One of the challenges ahead is how to use those skills successfully in the service of others..."
How well can Trump do that? We are about to find out.
America has serious issues to address. Having someone at the helm with years and years of experience in the real world is a departure from presidents of the past.
But it just might be what the country needs.
-- David Wilson, EdD, of Springdale, is a writer, consultant and presenter, who grew up in Arkansas but worked 27 years in education in Missouri. You may e-mail him at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 01/18/2017