Real Estate Titans

Introduction

I really think we have a good chance to do this deal,” said Ivanka Trump with a glamorous smile, slowly tilting her head toward me.

I was surprised. I had begun to wonder what she could possibly see in these rejections that I didn't. I was sweating profusely, in this majestically decorated office on the 25th floor of Trump Tower, feeling somewhat out of my league. Myriad investors had turned us down. How would a deal possibly come together at this point?

I was not optimistic. A small frustration had grown into an overwhelming sense of apathy, and I was ready to throw in the towel. In my mind it was just too tough to make this deal happen. No matter what our proposal was or how much we were willing to add in value, the investment groups we were negotiating with did not want to go ahead.

Faced by her surprising enthusiasm and confidence, I wondered if there was something I had missed. It became obvious that Ivanka had a different mindset. It would be months before the idea dawned on me that she had the mindset of a Real Estate Titan.

Thanks to her many qualities—among them a powerful mindset, an impressive work ethic, clarity, and resourcefulness—she was indeed able to convince several investors, a few weeks later, to proceed with the investment.

It was summer 2010, and I had just been shown up. I witnessed in person the big leagues of the real estate world. This experience fueled my passion for real estate even more. I decided it was time to embark on a quest.