ROGERS : Trump brings hair, flair to town
Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/225154/
ROGERS — Successful people use their resources, trust their gut and do what they love, real-estate mogul Donald Trump told Northwest Arkansas business leaders Thursday.
“No matter what you do, no matter where you go, these elements will never change,” he said.
Economics Arkansas, a nonprofit education organization, called upon Trump’s big name and big hair to raise money and awareness of its mission.
Trump sold out a 500-seat lunch with tickets starting at $ 100 each at the John Q. Hammons Center, sharing his perspectives on success in business and weathering the storms of public perception.
Success is equal parts hard work, “stick-to-itiveness” and good luck, he said.
“They say, ‘There’s no such thing as luck. You make your own luck, ’” Trump said. “I say, ‘ Really ? You were born to wealthy parents. You were born smart. You were born in this country.’”
Trump spoke with the crass honesty that has become his trademark as a real-estate developer, author, financial guru and host of NBC’s The Apprentice.
Before speaking, he admitted to waking up Thursday morning, asking his assistant where he was going, and wondering “how did I end up going to Arkansas ?”
Peppered throughout his advice related to sustaining a successful business were tips about obtaining prenuptial agreements and remaining hesitant to trust employees.
“If somebody screws you, screw them back 15 times harder than they ever did,” Trump told the laughing audience.
Trump and personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki recently co-wrote a book called Why We Want You to be Rich. The two have promoted the greater inclusion of economics in the American education system, although Trump didn’t mention the book in the speech.
Economics Arkansas is a nonprofit organization committed to incorporating economics education into public schools. The state Department of Education does not include economics in its required curriculum, Executive Director Sue Owens said. Board member Jim Walton, president of Arvest Bank and a son of late Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, said the lessons are vital for children bound for an increasingly competitive work force. “Our children deserve to understand the economy and the world in which they will be living and competing,” he said.
Economics Arkansas encourages teachers to include economic principles in all subject areas through professional development seminars held at the state’s six public universities.
“It’s a multiplier effect,” Owens said. “You teach one teacher, and they’re in a classroom for 20 or 30 years.”
Economics Arkansas has an $ 825, 000 annual budget. The Education Department provides 40 percent of the budget, with private donations funding the rest.
Trump, on his first visit to Northwest Arkansas, spoke after having received an invitation from H. Lee Scott, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Trump has earned as much as $ 1. 5 million for speaking engagements. Owens said she didn’t know if Scott had paid Trump for his visit.
A three-night trip to New York and a stay in the Trump International Hotel & Tower was the highest bid item at an auction following Trump’s remarks, selling for $ 10, 000.
Owens had not calculated the total amount raised Thursday, but she said the event was likely the largest fundraiser in the organization’s history.
In addition to raising funds, the event raised awareness, Owens said. Many attendees, drawn to Trump’s name, were unfamiliar with the organization’s mission.
“We really needed to do this in Northwest Arkansas to recruit new donors,” she said. On the 2008 Forbes list of the world’s richest people, Jim Walton ranked 26 th with a net worth of $ 19. 2 billion. Trump ranked 368 th with a net worth of $ 3 billion. Trump sat between Scott and Walton, calling it a humbling experience. “This is not necessarily good for my ego,” Trump said.
To contact this reporter: eblad@arkansasonline. com