Donald Trump: It’s All About the Energy, Stupid!

Here’s what to look for while watching Wednesday night’s GOP Presidential debate: ENERGY. Keep a scorecard.

I’ve spent my life preaching the importance of energy for achieving success. My new book, “The Power of RELENTLESS,” is all about the #1 trait of success: RELENTLESS ENERGY.

And it works – my relentless energy, enthusiasm and excitement led to “The Power of RELENTLESS” being ranked the #1 best-selling business book in America.

Energy works. Energy is at the root (excuse the pun) of all success.

The saying that defines politics should be- “It’s all about the energy, stupid.” 

Great politicians have bigger than life energy – from JFK, to Ronald Reagan, to Bill Clinton, to Sarah Palin, to Barack Obama.

Energy fuels leadership. If you have energy, people want to plug into your electric socket. People want what you have. They’ll follow you anywhere- just to feel that energy, electricity and excitement. Just to feel ALIVE. Show me great energy…and I’ll show you a great leader.

The GOP has lost the last two elections because we have an energy shortage. Republican candidates lack energy. That’s the “It” factor of American politics. You either have “it” or you don’t.

Energy is precisely why Donald Trump, against all odds, is the leading GOP Presidential candidate. Donald has a level of energy that the others don’t.

The media-branded “frontrunner,” Jeb Bush, has gone nowhere. He’s actually sitting near the bottom of most polls. That’s no surprise. Bush has zero energy or excitement. He’s dull, boring and milquetoast. No one wants to plug into Jeb Bush…unless you’re in need of a nap!

The rest of the GOP field is not much better. They all have one thing in common – they are immensely talented, but devoid of energy. In today’s media-centered world both talent and great ideas go to waste without energy and electricity. You don’t become president anymore because you have great ideas. You become president because you are “the American Idol” who lights up the TV set in American voters’ living room.

John Kasich isn’t “the American Idol.” He is dull and boring.

Rand Paul isn’t “the American Idol.” He just isn’t exciting.

Scott Walker is so boring, his own aides have to check his pulse to be sure he’s alive.

George Pataki? Who? He’s so low energy, even his wife is unaware he’s running.

Bobby Jindal recently viciously attacked Donald Trump – it didn’t matter, no one was listening. If you have no energy, the media doesn’t bother to listen to what you’re saying.

Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee are all eloquent speakers, but they just don’t get voters excited. They don’t light up a TV screen.

The list goes on and on. What’s missing is energy and electricity.

On the other hand, Donald Trump has enough energy to go around. Trump is a tornado. He’s a human energizer bunny. He’s a nuclear bomb. Trump has so much energy, it’s felt 10,000 miles away in South Africa. Think I’m kidding? I’m not, and it’s important to hear why.

I was in Johannesburg, South Africa last week giving a speech about what else? RELENTLESS ENERGY.

I taught my audience that in both business and life success and achievement is fueled by energy. As I began my return trip (24 hours of flying), a taxi took me from my hotel to the Johannesburg airport. The taxi driver started chit-chatting with me on our forty minute drive. When he heard I was American, his response shocked me. This black African taxi driver in the middle of South Africa said and I quote, “I love Donald Trump. He’s your next President. What a blessing for America.”

My mouth dropped open. I asked how he knows the name Donald Trump? He replied, “But of course, from watching ‘The Apprentice.’” So I asked him why he liked Trump and why he thought he’d make such a great President? His reply shocked me again.

He said, “Because when I watch ‘The Apprentice’ I see a bunch of hungry nobodies who want to be somebodies. And, over several weeks Trump turns them into business superstars. It’s an amazing transformation. Mr. Trump is a leader. That’s what we all need- someone to teach us how to be successful. That’s exactly what America needs. He’ll make a great president. You are blessed.”

I rattled off the names Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, Scott Walker. I even threw in Mitt Romney. My taxi driver never heard of any of them. I asked him if he knew the name Hillary Clinton. “No” he replied. But Donald Trump is his hero. 10,000 miles away, on the opposite side of the world, in sub-Saharan Africa, taxi drivers know and value the name Donald Trump. That says it all.

To be a superstar success in both show business and sales you must have energy and electricity. Politics is the perfect combination of show business and sales. At the highest levels of power where politics and media intersect, all the charm, brains, and talent in the world is wasted and powerless without energy and electricity. Ask Bobby Jindal. Without energy, even a candidate with all the money in the world is anonymous and invisible Ask Jeb Bush.

That’s why Donald Trump is leading the GOP Presidential race. So far he’s the only candidate with that “it” factor. The “it” is RELENTLESS ENERGY.

Yes he is being pushed by two candidates- Dr. Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina. But can they bring the energy and electricity of Trump? The only way someone beats Trump is if they match his world-class levels of energy, excitement, intensity and chutzpah. Short of that, Donald Trump is the GOP’s next Presidential nominee.

That’s why your scorecard while watching Wednesday night’s debate on CNN should be built around one thing only- who brings the energy and electricity.

Wayne Allyn Root is known as “the Capitalist Evangelist.” Wayne’s latest book is: “The Power of RELENTLESS!” Wayne is a former Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee, bestselling author, international business speaker, serial entrepreneur and conservative media personality – appearing on over 5,000 interviews in the past five years. 

Wayne’s web site: ROOTforAmerica.com.