By Ray Schultz
Ah, memories. Did you know that Ivanka Trump, the daughter of our next President, once spoke at a direct marketing event?
It happened on June 16, 2009 at DM Days in New York. And I covered it. Not that it was a big story—I can’t remember where, or even if, it was published. But it might be of some slight historical interest. So here’s my report, with not a word changed, not even the archaic term “DMer.”
Lessons From Ivanka Trump
With all respect, why do beleaguered DMers need lessons in living from 27 year-old Ivanka Trump?
It’s not that we disagree with any of the tips she offered this morning on how to succeed. But she’s Donald Trump’s daughter. What can she possibly know about adversity?
Granted, she’s been around enough self-made people to know what it takes (not that her dad qualifies). And she argued that it’s not easy being a Trump. “Much is given, much is expected,” she said.
She did make one pertinent observation about the downturn: “The last 18 months are the best education I’ve had to date, better than Wharton and operating in the hottest real estate marketing anyone’s seen.”
We’re still not sure why her real estate job in the Trump empire qualifies her as a speaker at DM Days. But here are some of her prescriptions:
- Make sure you love what you’re doing.
- Be resilient. Ivanka has seen many successful people become despondent during the downturn, “unable to get out of their own way.”
- Don’t be afraid to make cold calls.
We’d suggest that she collect these nostrums into a book. But she probably already has.
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