***Open the Door to Knowledge

The beginning of every government starts with the education of our youth.

--Pythagoras

Pythagoras interpreted the universe through numbers. As a businessman, that always appealed to me. It makes sense. He was a philosopher and a mathematician and he knew the importance of learning. Pythagoras lived a long time ago, but a lot of things have remained the same, like the importance of education for both individuals and society.

Whenever I start something new, I know I have a lot to learn. This does not discourage me. In fact it gives me energy. It feels like a fresh start. When I started building golf courses, I had a tremendous amount to learn, but it was fantastic to be doing something brand new and I loved learning the details of golf course design. If someone had told me 20 years ago that I'd be developing golf courses, I would have thought they were joking. But it's something I've truly enjoyed doing.

It's important to remain open to new ideas and new information. Being a know-it-all is like shutting the door to great discoveries and opportunities. Keep your door open every day to something new and energizing. Sometimes I wonder what will show up, which is a terrific way to start every day. Other times I might have to search a bit on my own, which is why books and educational tools can be wonderful and should be readily available. Maybe I'm just fortunate, but I'm never bored. In fact, I think that's a big reason behind my success.

At least once in awhile you should ask yourself this question: What do I need to know more about? Maybe it's world history. With the events of today being what they are, it's probably a good idea to know a little about how different cultures have evolved and are operating. Maybe it's something else. I make an effort to read newspapers like The Financial Times with ample international coverage on a daily basis, because it's important to my business to know what's going on worldwide. That alone can require serious attention every day. For you, it may be something else.

These days, we have few excuses for maintaining a blind spot. We all have easy access to information. Going back to the ancient Greeks, Socrates famously said, "There is only one thing I know, and that is I know nothing." Pretty tough words coming from an esteemed philosopher, but it opened him up to more knowledge every day. In other words, start every day with a clean slate. Give yourself a fresh start by opening up your mind.

If I had started in business thinking I knew everything, I'd have been finished before I got started. Don't make that mistake. There are a lot of hidden aspects in every industry, and you will find out how complex seemingly simple things can be. For example, to get a building built in New York City requires knowledge of zoning, contractors, architects, air rights, tax laws, unions, and about a thousand other things. I had a lot to learn and no one else could learn it for me. But every day I would learn something, apply it, and make progress. Believe me, being a developer didn't happen overnight.

When I started as co-producer of The Apprentice, I had some knowledge of the entertainment industry, but not an in-depth knowledge, especially when it came to the particulars of reality TV. I had to learn about it. I read, I paid attention, I listened, and I applied everything I learned. It was like a crash course. But it was new, it was fascinating, and since I had just jumped in, I knew I'd better learn how to swim in new waters, so I did. It was a great experience, and it continues to be a great experience.

Never think of learning as being a burden or studying as being boring. It may require some discipline, but it can be an adventure. It can also prepare you for a new beginning. Notice the first word in my "Think Big" credo: think. That's the first step. Use everything in your power to utilize and develop that capability, and you'll be in for some great surprises.