In 2015, I called his office to get a comment on the anniversary of the attacks and ask how the rebuilding process was coming along. He told me the basic stuff from recent press releases. “Almost done, nearly leased out,” so on and so forth.<\/p>\n
I’m a pretty crazy dude; I’ve\u00a0stated publicly, on several occasions, that my goal is to own a skyscraper by the time I’m 40. I say this for a reason.<\/p>\n
Like Larry, I’m in business with my father.\u00a0(It didn’t start that way, but a trip to the U.S. last year made him want in.) And like many if the BP community, Larry did his first deal, OPM<\/a>-style, in 1957, syndicating funds to pick up a “derelict building” on East 23rd Street in Manhattan for $600,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n I went to meet Larry Silverstein for an interview<\/a> in his office for the singular purpose of picking his brain, unlocking some gems; perhaps somehow, somewhere learn something that would help me get closer to where he is.<\/p>\n I’m a HUGE believer in the power of the mind. Forget believer; I’m a\u00a0knower\u00a0<\/em>in the power of the mind, visualization, thinking big, and manifesting whatever you want. (And I have.)<\/p>\n One of the things that stuck with me during this conversation was how casually he spoke about dollar amounts in the billions.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0On the heels of the attack, Silverstein engaged in a battle to recoup losses. Initially granted $3.5 billion, he scoffed at the amount. I sat there as this man spoke of billions in the same vein “regular” people speak of, say, $5,000? A decent chunk of money, but nothing unrealistic; nothing\u00a0unattainable.<\/em><\/p>\n When I walked in, the first thing he did was take my coat and hang it up it in his closet. (There was an assistant present.)\u00a0Then, he humbly, offered me cake. (It was delicious.)\u00a0That stuck with me then and still does now.\u00a0This man thinks of billions like it’s nothing…and then gives me cake?!<\/em><\/p>\n So I wondered, how does one get mentally engineered to think of billions like most think of thousands? How do you become a self-made billionaire? What is the number one\u00a0secret\u00a0<\/em>to his success? Here are some highlights from our 2015 conversation.<\/p>\n You need to set your sights on a goal using intelligence, good judgment, and good reasoning with respect to choosing that goal. But once you\u2019ve chosen it, then your focus has to be total. It\u2019s important not to be swayed from it. Set your sights on it, and go for it.<\/p>\n Early on \u2014 I remember \u2014 a couple of days after 9\/11, I talked to the governor. And he said, “What do you recommend we do?” And I said, “Governor, to let it lie fallow would be a terrible tragedy.” This was an attack not on the World Trade Center, it was an attack on America \u2014 and everything America stands for. So not to put this back would be an absolute tragedy… Whatever we put back, we\u2019ve got to make it bigger and better than what was there before. Not just like \u2014 let’s go for the bigger and better.<\/p>\n I stopped everything else to get [the World Trade Center] rebuilt. That\u2019s all. [It was] the single focus of my life, because there was no way to divert my time to anything else \u2014 impossible! There may be many people who say “foolish,” and many others who say, \u201cDumb; you\u2019re crazy,\u201d or stupid, or whatever. But at the end of the day, once you\u2019ve set your sights on something that is valid, [something] that is purposeful, that is meaningful, that has substance \u2014 then by golly, go like hell to achieve it!<\/p>\n On the way, you also have to be able to take a very long view. You have to be able to take risks \u2014 that\u2019s part of it. You can\u2019t look for immediate gratification; that gratification will not come for a long period of time. If the goal is worthy, it’s going to take time to accomplish. And to overcome all the obstacles will take a lot of determination, a lot of guts, and a lot of resolve. But at the end of the day, if you really want to accomplish it, go for it, by golly. And don\u2019t stop until you achieve it. When I signed in 2001, I was 70 years of age. I signed a 99-year lease, so that took a little bit of courage, because when you\u2019re 70 years of age, you know your not going to live for another 99 years. But I said to myself, \u201cOK, this is an interesting opportunity to own the Twin Towers and to do well with it \u2014 financially well.\u201d<\/p>\n Determination. Above all else, you\u2019ve got<\/em> to keep going. And don\u2019t get dissuaded. So you\u2019ll find on the road to that goal many bumps. Many changing currents. Many obstacles. Lots of naysayers. Don\u2019t be dissuaded by them [or] by any of that. Set your sights on what you want to achieve \u2014 and go like hell to accomplish it. Which is essentially what we\u2019ve been doing here the last 14 years in rebuilding the World Trade Center. Simple. Very simple.<\/p>\n How did I keep from burning out? I had a great senior partner right by my side in my wife. She was the best. She was terrific. I tell young people all the time, the most important decision you make in your life is to marry the right spouse. Because the wrong one is a disaster. With the right one? There isn\u2019t anything you can’t do with your life when you\u2019ve got a solid relationship with your partner. Because together, whatever it is you\u2019re going to do, you\u2019re going to do together.<\/p>\n You\u2019re totally dependent upon her, and she\u2019s totally dependent upon you. And together is the way you function. And you know she\u2019s always there for you, and she knows I\u2019m always there for her. So it\u2019s a togetherness; it’s solid as a rock.<\/p>\n Also, you have to understand that nothing worthwhile comes easily in life; the harder the goal, the more difficult it is, the longer it’s going to take, the greater the obstacles. But you have to be willing to accept challenges and succeed.<\/p>\n I look back now, and I realize I\u2019ve been through all kinds of very difficult times \u2014 a recession in the late ’50s, and then in the ’60s we had economic problems in the City of New York, and in the country. And then in the ’70s \u2013 1973 \u2014 the Arab oil embargo and the world changed. And it meant you couldn\u2019t get money; it was an extremely difficult time.<\/p>\n Once that happened, prices of everything began to rise, terrible inflation, so the prime rate \u2014 the borrowing rate \u2014 went to 17 percent, to 18 percent. It was unbelievable.\u00a0So that was in the ’70s. Then in the early ’80s, there were some problems. Financial problems.<\/p>\n One of the ways we survived [downturns] is that we developed a superb name and reputation for integrity. Absolute integrity. You gave your word to somebody, and you stuck to your word. You made a commitment, you fulfill your commitment.<\/p>\n Once you blow your name \u2014 your reputation \u2014 to try to get it back is almost impossible. Because everybody becomes disappointed in you. And as a result of that disappointment, you\u2019re chopped liver. You\u2019ve had it. You\u2019re done!<\/p>\n So, I realize I\u2019ve spent a lifetime building a solid name \u2014\u00a0building a solid reputation \u2014\u00a0based on absolute integrity. Never, never screw that. Never change that. Don\u2019t play with that. And people said, \u201cWell, how do you know you\u2019re making a mistake? How do you know you\u2019re not making a mistake?\u201d<\/p>\n I always tell them \u2014 I learned a long time ago \u2014 if you can put what you\u2019re about to do on the front pages of the New York Times<\/em> in bold print \u2014 and not be embarrassed about it \u2014 go ahead and do it! But if you put it on the front page of the New York Times,<\/em>\u00a0and ask yourself, Would I be embarrassed if I saw that?<\/em> If the answer is yes, don\u2019t do it. If you have any question at all, don’t do it. That\u2019s how you protect your name.<\/p>\n
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\nRelated:<\/strong> Warren Buffett is My Mentor | Failing to Heed THIS Advice About Simplicity Cost Me a Small Fortune<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/phil-n-larry-2-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHow to Achieve Goals<\/h2>\n
On Recovering From 9\/11 Attacks & Desire to Rebuild World Trade Center<\/h2>\n
Not Giving in to Naysayers & Distractions<\/h2>\n
Keeping Eyes on That Goal, in Spite of Major Obstacles<\/h2>\n
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\nRelated:<\/strong> The Best Advice I\u2019ve Ever Gotten (For Life and Business)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nMaintaining Drive When Things Are Tough<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/1-wtc-america-architecture-374710.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nAvoiding Burnout & The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make<\/h2>\n
Overcoming Obstacles<\/h2>\n
Advice For Overcoming Struggles & Coming Out on the Other Side<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/blog_ads-02.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n