Can Trump Teach Us Anything?
GQ India|May 2017

Yes, as terrifying a question as that is, El Donald is both the US president and a billionaire businessman. So, we look to him to see if any of his professional play can help you get ahead seriously.

David Halliday
Can Trump Teach Us Anything?

FORGET GOALS; FORM HABITS

Shatter well-worn professional wisdom about goal-setting to achieve increased levels of daily productivity and success

Each morning Donald Trump – multibillionaire businessman, reality TV star and now leader of the free world – wakes up at 6am and is presented with a pile of articles about himself carefully cut out from the day’s newspapers by his assistant.

It’s a habit he’s practised for decades, in part to help keep abreast of what the world is saying about him and, according to his biographer Professor Michael D’Antonio, to provide an early morning ego boost.

“In one way it’s a strange routine, but it gets him going and keeps him sustained,” D’Antonio says.

Whatever you think of the man himself – and in this case GQ’s opting out of that debate – forming habits, however unusual, rather than simply meeting one-off goals, is a trait of many a successful man.

Since school it’s always been about setting and meeting targets. Think about where you want to be and what you want to achieve – list those goals, break them down, then, one day, enjoy the fact that this hard work led to a backyard pool with a swim-up bar.

If only it were that simple. That said, it mightn’t be the best way to achieve desired levels of professional success.

This rather strong play against ingrained, goal-led convention is central to the work of Jay Papasan, a business executive and co-author of The New York Times bestseller The One Thing.

Papasan believes that the key to success is to build better habits.

This story is from the May 2017 edition of GQ India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2017 edition of GQ India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GQ INDIAView All
The 30 Best Watches Of 2024
GQ India

The 30 Best Watches Of 2024

Rounding up the best shapes, materials, complications and sizes from this year's horological novelty treasure chest.

time-read
10+ mins  |
October - November 2024
Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...
GQ India

Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...

Last month, LA-based artist Wes Lang unveiled The Black Paintings, a monumental series of works that play like storyboards to a raucous midnight horror movieand a spiritual quest. Here, GQ collaborates with the artist on a fashion story that brings his stylish characters off the canvas.

time-read
8 mins  |
October - November 2024
The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame
GQ India

The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame

In 2019, a fire nearly destroyed the crown jewel of France-and the nation set a breakneck five-year deadline to bring it back from the ashes. This is the story of how an army of artisans turned back centuries to restore Notre-Dame by hand, and wound up reviving something even greater than the cathedral itself.

time-read
10+ mins  |
October - November 2024
"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."
GQ India

"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter talks business, legacy, art, and family

time-read
10+ mins  |
October - November 2024
The Wedding Singers
GQ India

The Wedding Singers

Madboy Mink's dynamic duo, Saba Azad and Imaad Shah, redefine festive style.

time-read
5 mins  |
October - November 2024
A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face
GQ India

A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face

As collectors look to make their grail watches stand out, they're turning to unique vintage bracelets and paying thousands on thousands for straps on the secondary market.

time-read
3 mins  |
October - November 2024
The Fluidity of Cartier
GQ India

The Fluidity of Cartier

Why Gen Z stars are obsessed with this historic maison.

time-read
2 mins  |
October - November 2024
A Princess with Passion
GQ India

A Princess with Passion

From restoring monuments to reviving hereditary crafts, Bhavnagar's Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has her sights on the future.

time-read
6 mins  |
October - November 2024
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
GQ India

THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ

The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.

time-read
10 mins  |
August - September 2024
DEMNA UNMASKED
GQ India

DEMNA UNMASKED

He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August - September 2024