Work with People You Like | Think Like a Champion Chapter Review
Book: Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life Author: Donald J. Trump ISBN: 978-0-78674-757-3
Trump remembers a saying. If you are going to live in the river, better make friends with the crocodiles. He wants to help people avoid the bad version of that.
Many of his employees have stayed twenty, twenty five, even thirty years. They get along. They respect each other and get work done. Management is easier when you pick people you actually like.
The people around him work fast. His CFO, assistants, lawyers, and COO can explain complex things in ten words or less. He values that brevity because his days are packed. They still talk on a personal level, but they know how to move.
Finding the right core group is key. Interviews can mislead. Credentials do not always mean the person will fit. Give people a chance to show what they can do. It helps if you like having them around from the start.
He says to look for the hidden talents. People are not one dimensional. A good manager finds what they like in the team. No one is perfect. If you do not like the people you manage, take a look at your own attitude first.
Most of us spend huge amounts of time at work. That alone makes the choice of coworkers important. His kids understand the goals and contribute daily. They work well as a team and on their own.
Set the example. You will draw the right people in.
The long term team part makes sense. When you get along and move at the same speed, things run smoother. The note about looking past resumes and finding strengths is practical.
What feels limited is the assumption that you can just pick people you like. In many jobs you inherit a team or have little say in hiring. The advice to “set the example” works when you have power. When you are low on the ladder, it is harder to change the vibe.
The “work fast like me” standard also assumes everyone has the same energy and role. Not all roles reward speed the same way. Still, the basic idea that you should try to make your work circle decent to be around is solid. Life is too short to spend it with people you dread.
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