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Business Rule #8:
Be Prepared to Hold a Grudge
October 30, 2004
(PAGE 3 of 3)
I decided to help him out because soldiers give their lives to defend this great country of ours. They are incredibly courageous and all too often become wounded and maimed in the course of their duties.
I provided over a million dollars in matching grants, and almost as importantly, I helped secure the best contractors in the city for the job. I also got unions, to make sure that the hospital wing was constructed swiftly, properly, and cost effectively. At the grand opening, “The General” took all the credit.
Many years later, he was working as a high-ranking executive at Citibank when I called him up to ask him for a very small favor. All I needed was for him to find out something for me. What I was asking of him was, of course, completely legal, and it didn’t break any non-compete or disclosure laws. He didn’t respond for a while, so I called him two more times. Finally he said, “I really can’t do it for you, LaVelle, and I really don’t want to get involved.” I was furious. I told him that the article written about him was completely true. I yelled and screamed into the phone so loudly that people from surrounding offices came out to see at whom I was yelling. I called him a lousy person and one of the most disloyal people that I had ever met, and I finished by telling him that he could go straight to hell. To this day I’ve never spoken to him again and refuse to give any of my biggest financing to Citibank. They now clamor to give me great rates.
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I will say this, however. His wife is a beautiful woman and a great teacher and inspirational speaker. It’s not her fault that her husband is a loser.
Sometimes you have to hold a grudge.
Now onto Trump. My column is late again, because I had to fly to New York and meet with members of The Trump Organization. I went to Trump National Golf Course and had lunch looking out over the 13th hole which, by the way, is even more beautiful in person than you could possibly imagine.
I’m working on a deal to purchase a property from the Trump portfolio. Because negotiations are suspected to go on for a while, I can’t go into details. What I will say though is that Trump apparently was impressed that I simply called his office and said, “I want to purchase one of your properties.” That very weekend I was meeting with executives from his company and getting down to business.
Watch this space for pictures from my incredible meeting with Carolyn Kepcher, the “Ice Queen” herself! Who in actuality is a very kind and funny woman. She doesn’t mind how she is perceived, just like I don’t mind either.
Remember, it’s not personal, it’s business.
Until next time,
LaVelle Ward
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I’m working on a deal to purchase a property from the Trump portfolio.
