Any views or opinions expressed in this column are of the individual, group, or entity who submitted it and not the publication, owner(s), its advertisers, or affiliates.
I learned early-on that it is better to make friends than enemies. Likewise, it is better to treat others like the important part of your life that they are. Taking anyone for granted or treating them with disdain comes around and bites like a snake.
My kids were taught this lesson. You don’t call friends names, talk about them negatively behind their backs, or treat them with anything less than respect. It is simply a bad idea to attack or embarrass others.
Otherwise your ability to network falls flat. When it comes to business you can no longer make deals based on trust and a handshake.
Think about Donald Trump.
He posts negatively about everyone with whom he disagrees, rather than sitting down to work things out. His leadership style boils down to pushing, threats, intimidation and coercion. This is all so true as exemplified by the current government shut-down.
In the election this past week, the majority of American voters rejected him, his party, and those he supported. As a result precious few Republicans won the election. Trump’s style and lack of empathy for those who voted him into office finally caught up with him. But this election is not his first failure. In fact failure is the story of his life.
Trump Airlines – Business failed – Trump borrowed $245 million to purchase Eastern Air Shuttle, rebranded it Trump Airlines, then could not cover interest payments on his loan.
Trump Beverages – Business failed – Trump touted his water as “one of the purest natural spring waters bottled in the world”, but the truth was the water was simply bottled by a third party.
Trump Game – Business failed – He could not sell the game.
Trump Casinos – Business failed, again, again and again – Trump filed for bankruptcy three times on his casinos including Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Marina, Trump Plaza New Jersey, and Trump Casino Indiana. Trump stuck creditors with $3 Billion the first time. Trump stuck creditors with $1.8 Billion the second time. Trump stuck creditors with multi-million dollar bonds the third time.
Trump Magazine; Trump Style; Trump World – Business failed – He could not sell the advertising.
Trump Mortgage – Business failed – He never paid $298,274 judgement owed a former employee, nor did he pay the $3,555 that was owed in unpaid taxes.
Trump Steaks – Business failed – He could not sell the steaks. Trump stuck Buckhead Beef with $715,000.
Trump’s Travel Site – Business failed – He could not pay the bills.
Trumpnet – Business failed – Trump abandoned the trademark. He could not pay the bills.
Trump Tower Tampa – Business failed – Trump received $2,000,000 then the project went belly-up with only $3,500 left in the company. Individual condo buyers lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Trump University; Trump Entrepreneur Initiative – Business failed – Trump staged wealth-building seminars costing up to $34,995. Lawsuits and criminal investigations abound.
Trump Vodka – Business failed – He could not sell the vodka.
Trump Fragrances; Success by Trump; Empire by Trump; Donald Trump Fragrance – Business failed – He could not sell the fragrances.
Trump Mattress – Business failed – Serta stopped offering Trump-branded mattresses due to a lack of sales.
That is near two dozen serial failures that have left investors, contractors, employees and others holding the short end of the stick. While in some cases Trump allegedly marched off with the cash.
Now American farmers are experiencing the results of Trump’s poor decisions, braggadocio and over extension that caused Trump’s own businesses to fail. Misunderstanding of market conditions, not knowing how to sell, purposeful labor market disruptions, mistreatment of customers, over-stating market position and general mismanagement.
The impact of Trump’s trade war cannot be overstated. Sinking commodity prices. Huge tariffs we pay on products from Mexico, China and other buyers of American farm products. Midwestern farmers are filing the highest number of bankruptcies in many years. Farmers in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana are declaring bankruptcy at a head-spinning rate.
Of course, bankruptcies are something Trump understands all too well.
If a person cannot be successful in business, cannot be civil in negotiations, cannot treat customers with respect, does not understand how to build a labor market, has a long history of serial business failures, relies on bankruptcies to avoid paying bills… then how and why would any of us expect a different outcome when it comes to understanding how government can aid in the success of farm interests?
Or any other interests for that matter?
And the question of all questions, why has it taken so long for our fellow Americans, with whom we place our respect and trust, to speak-up loud and clear at the election box?
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, former Shippensburg University Trustee, awarded numerous patents, as well as Founder and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx provides cloud-software for automated sourcing and managing of mail marketing, swag, packaging, and all things print. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com.
