What was your first job?
I accompanied my father to his sites and would collect soda bottles with my brother for the deposit money. That was my first income. Later, I went around with the rent collectors to see how that worked. I learned to stand out of the doorway to avoid the possibility of being shot.
How much did you make?
Not much. It was probably equal to a below-average allowance.
What did you learn?
I found that collecting soda bottles was safer than collecting rent.
Who was your best, or worst, boss and why?
My father was the best boss. He was tough but fair. He set a great example for being diligent and disciplined.
What was your big break?
It was coming from the family that I came from. I had a solid family life and an example to follow from an early age.
What has been your biggest failure?
It hasn’t happened yet, and hopefully it won’t.
How many hours do you work in an average week now?
Around 85.
What is the worst thing about work?
Small annoyances, like when the copy machine keeps breaking down. Things like that.
What is the best thing about work?
The challenge and the sense of accomplishment that each day can bring.
Donald Trump is a real estate investor and host of the hit NBC television show The Apprentice.
