In his 1997 book The Art of the Comeback, Donald Trump outlines his top ten tips for staging a successful recovery, drawing from his own experience rebounding from a financial downturn in the early 1990s. Among these, Trump emphasizes the importance of staying focused, advising readers to maintain the intense work ethic that initially brought success, as he believes his own complacency during the late 1980s contributed to his financial struggles. Another key tip is to be paranoid, a mindset Trump credits for the success of many high achievers, suggesting that a guarded approach helps protect against those who might covet your achievements. He also encourages going against the tide, as he did by keeping 40 Wall Street as an office building while others converted to residential spaces, a decision that paid off with higher-than-expected rents. These tips reflect Trump’s belief in resilience, strategic risk-taking, and a proactive defense of one’s position, which he sees as critical to overcoming adversity.
 

The number one tip in Trump’s list, however, is to play golf, a recommendation that might seem surprising but reveals his perspective on the sport’s role in success. Trump explains that golf helped him relax and concentrate during his toughest times, taking his mind off his problems and allowing him to focus solely on the game—putting the ball in the hole. More importantly, he highlights the irony that he made significant money on the golf course, not through the sport itself, but by forging valuable contacts, striking deals, and generating ideas in the casual, high-stakes environment of the fairways. For Trump, golf was a strategic tool, blending leisure with opportunity, as the golf course became a natural setting for networking with influential figures who could help him rebuild his empire.
 

This top tip underscores Trump’s broader philosophy of success: the importance of combining mental clarity with opportunistic networking. Golf, in his view, isn’t just a game but a platform for building relationships and maintaining a sharp mind under pressure, which he found essential during his comeback. While some might see this advice as elitist or impractical—golf being an expensive and time-consuming activity—Trump’s experience suggests it worked for him because of the unique access it provided to power players in business. His emphasis on golf reflects a belief that success often hinges on who you know as much as what you know, and for Trump, the golf course was the perfect arena to blend relaxation with deal-making, setting the stage for his financial resurgence.