***Don't Be Satisfied - Do more!

No person who is enthusiastic about his work has anything to fear from life.

--Samuel Goldwyn

If you see each day as an important day for your future and a special day just because you have it, you will be amazed at how productive and energetic you can be. It’s the best way to be at your best at all times. Have you ever said to yourself, “What a great day!” and felt a renewed drive to make things happen? Say it to yourself right now, and feel the enthusiasm that positive thinking generates.

That’s the first step, and it helps if you’re already doing something you love doing. You won’t have to work as hard at gaining momentum or generating enthusiasm. No matter what the job is, you can always do more and do better. That’s how I avoid complacency.

For example, after I had finished Trump Tower and it became a great success, I knew I was just starting. I kept moving forward and built Trump World Tower at the United Nations Plaza, which was a sensational success, both critically and personally. Don’t be satisfied with your best--do more!

Maybe I thrive on challenges, but the best challenges are the ones you give to yourself. I don’t need to impress anyone at this point, but I do need to satisfy my own goals and ideals. When I was asked to host Saturday Night Live, I really didn’t need more exposure, but it presented a new challenge. I knew I wasn’t a seasoned comedy pro, but why should I decline an opportunity for some fun and a new experience? Just this week I announced a deal in Dubai where I will be building a 50-story, tulip-shaped hotel on a man-made island. Dubai is one of the world’s fastest growing cities, so why not?

Don’t ever think you’ve done it all already or that you’ve done your best. That’s just a short cut to undermining your own potential. Unless you’ve already kicked the bucket, there’s still a lot more you can do. We’ve all been around know-it-alls who, like the cynics, know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Avoid that trap by realizing your own potential and the intrinsic value of things, including your own efforts to make the day a great one for yourself.

I’m a cautious optimist. Believe me, it’s a good way to be. I zap negativity while remaining aware that negatives exist. I just refuse to dwell on them. Acknowledge the negatives, move on, and rest on a positive plane of thought. When I had some financial troubles in the 1990s, I resolved to remain positive about my circumstances. I knew they would change for the better. They certainly have, but I had to be tough in adversity. I can honestly say that things are better now than my best day back then. I bettered my best.

Do more, be more, give more. Best of all, better your best every day. Give yourself a chance to do your best, and everyone will benefit. Know that today is full of possibility and opportunities to prove yourself are there for you. Be the best!