Trump is a guy a lot of people dislike. How many times have I read comments on FR about Trump being "full of himself", "an ego maniac", a "blowhard bragger", and so forth.
And yet his fans see the opposite. They enjoy listened to Trump talk about his accomplishments and at the rallies they laugh with him about his braggadocious ways. They enjoy seeing his handsome family, his opulent apartment, the Trump jet, the helicopter -- even the Darth Trump parody which makes fun of Trump's bragging style.
So what's going on? What do Trump's fans see that his haters don't?
Well, let's see what Trump himself says about this and why he thinks it's a good strategy to talk about yourself.
Here then are two snippets from Trump's pocket-sized book Think Like a Champion.
They Thought I was Doing Well
Soon after Apprentice premiered and was a hit show, I became a popular choice for television commercials. I turned a lot of them down, and I did a few, but one for Visa always remains in my memory. It was funny and I was allowed to display a self deprecating attitude that I think took people by surprise. The surprising thing is that I'm more humble than people think. I'm humble enough to be grateful, for one thing, and I have a sense of humor about myself.
In this commercial, called "Rooftop", I am shown on top of Trump Tower holding my Visa card with a gust of wind blows it out of my hand and down many scores of floors to the street below, which happens to be Fifth Avenue. Then I'm seen rummaging through a Dumpster in search of my lost card, and when a well-dressed passer-by on Fifth Avenue sees me emerge from the bottom of the Dumpster, she indignantly remarks, "and I thought he was doing so well!"
Don't be afraid of taking chances. Go for having a good time, because in the process a lot of other people just might have a good time, too.
My theory is: Take your work seriously, take yourself less seriously. It's a great recipe for some good times and great memories.
And here is the commercial itself on YouTube...
Tell People About Your Success
The power of a name can be incredible. It can open doors like nothing else. A name can speak volumes, but until you have a "household name" you might do well to tell people what your are and what you have done. It's a start.
Having an ego and acknowledging it is a healthy choice. Out ego is the center of our consciousness and gives us a sense of purpose. Your ego can serve to keep your momentum moving forward. It can keep your focus where it should be, which is on your work. After awhile, you won't have to tell people about your success because they'll already about it. Do not disregard your ego.
It's very important to be your best friend. As Mark Twain put it, be comfortable with your own approval.
So don't be afraid to toot your own horn when you've done something worth tooting about.