This newsletter is going to be different.
Whether you love him, hate him, or just enjoy the spectacle, there’s no denying that Donald Trump is one of the most fascinating figures in modern history. He’s not just a politician. He’s a brand, a movement, a force of nature.
And if you strip away the noise—the politics, the scandals, the larger-than-life persona—you’re left with something undeniably interesting: a personal growth strategy that has propelled him from real estate mogul to reality TV star to President of the United States… and back to the political arena again.
Now, before you throw your phone across the room or start composing an angry tweet, let me be clear: this is NOT an endorsement or a takedown. This is an exploration. A deep dive into the four rules that have shaped Trump’s worldview and, in turn, his success.
So let’s step back from politics for a moment.
What if, instead of judging, we simply observed? What if we looked at Trump—not as a politician—but as a case study in personal growth, influence, and the psychology of success?
What if we examined his mindset?
Because here’s the truth: The man has defied every expectation, broken every rule of conventional leadership, and still remains one of the most influential figures on the planet. He has lost and won, been written off and resurrected, faced scandals and indictments—and yet, his grip on his followers is unshakable.
So, what’s his secret?
What guiding principles have shaped him into the force he is today?
And perhaps most importantly—is there anything we can learn from them?
Visiting Mar-a-Lago & the movie The Apprentice
I got a firsthand glimpse into Trump’s world when I was invited to Mar-a-Lago a few months ago. I also have friends who have worked with him, been in meetings with him, and even done business deals with him. The insights they’ve shared with me paint a fascinating picture.
But what really sparked this letter was watching the film The Apprentice. The movie explores Trump’s relationship with the infamous American lawyer Roy Cohn, a man who once defended the mafia and was an ally of Senator Joseph McCarthy during the communist Red Scare in America.
The acting in the film was phenomenal— and the actors Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn delivered Oscar-worthy performances.
But what struck me the most about the movie wasn’t just the acting—it was how it depicted Trump’s evolution. It showed his transformation from an eager, sweet, and somewhat naïve young man into the relentless, larger-than-life force he eventually became.
At the heart of it all were three laws that Roy Cohn imparted to Trump. These three rules—plus a fourth one that I picked up from reading The Art of the Deal years ago—form the foundation of Trump’s personal growth philosophy.
Are you ready? Buckle up.
Who was Roy Cohn?
To understand Trump’s personal growth philosophy, you need to understand Roy Cohn. If Trump is the ultimate showman-turned-politician, Cohn was the mastermind behind the curtain.
Cohn first rose to prominence as Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel during the infamous Red Scare, where he helped orchestrate the anti-communist witch hunts of the 1950s. He was ruthless, unapologetic, and had a simple rule—never admit defeat, never apologize, and always attack.
When McCarthy fell from grace, Cohn reinvented himself as a power broker in New York, working as a mob lawyer and rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful. It was during this time that he became Donald Trump’s mentor.
Cohn taught Trump how to weaponize the legal system, how to manipulate the press, and—most importantly—how to create an untouchable personal brand. He wasn’t just Trump’s lawyer; he was his strategist, consigliere, and attack dog all rolled into one.
Cohn had three ironclad rules. Rules that Trump absorbed like a sponge.
- Attack, attack, attack
- Admit nothing, deny everything
- Always claim victory
And then, years later, Trump added his own fourth rule—one that would become his ultimate superpower.
- Relentless optimism
These four rules became the foundation of Trump’s personal philosophy. And whether you agree with them or not, you can’t deny their impact.
Ironically, Cohn’s own downfall mirrored the tactics he taught Trump. In 1986, he was disbarred for unethical conduct—fraud, perjury, and unethical business practices. His response? Complete denial. Even as his career crumbled, he insisted he was the victim of a political conspiracy.
Trump absorbed all of this. And even after Cohn’s death from AIDS in 1986, his influence lived on in Trump’s philosophy of power and survival.
In the movie The Apprentice, it’s suggested that Cohn mentored Trump and asked him to follow the following 3 Rules of Life.
Rule #1: Attack, attack, attack
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu wrote:
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
In other words: Never play defense. Always strike first.
This was Roy Cohn’s number one rule, and Trump didn’t just adopt it—he made it his core philosophy.
If you observe Trump’s career, you’ll see one pattern repeating over and over again: He never waits for an attack. He preempts it. He overwhelms. He escalates. He turns every battle into a scorched-earth war.
I had a fascinating conversation about this with Richard Branson on Necker Island in September 2024. Branson—who has been quite vocal about his distaste for Trump—shared something revealing.
During the 2016 elections, both Trump and Hillary Clinton invited him to separate meetings.
When he sat down with Hillary, she spoke about governance, strategy, innovation, and policy.
When he met with Trump? The entire conversation was about revenge.
Trump listed people who had wronged him, one by one, and described exactly how he planned to destroy them.
Branson walked out of that meeting shaken.
He had never met someone so singularly obsessed with retaliation.
But here’s the thing: It worked.
Trump’s relentless attacks obliterated his political rivals. In 2016, one by one, every Republican candidate who stood in his way was demolished.
This isn’t just politics. This is branding warfare.
Robert Greene, in The 48 Laws of Power, puts it this way:
“Crush your enemy totally.”
Trump doesn’t just defeat opponents. He erases them from relevance.
But what about those who stand with him?
That’s a different story.
At Mar-a-Lago, I saw this firsthand.
I had been invited to a private dinner for an incoming governor in March 2024. The attendees were some of the most politically influential people in America. And while I didn’t necessarily share their political views, I found them to be polite, warm, and genuinely kind individuals.
But the conversations? Fascinating.
One person confidently told me that 350,000 Chinese operatives had crossed the U.S. border and were waiting for China’s signal to attack America.
Another person claimed that two million terrorists were currently hiding within the United States.
Someone else insisted that Biden wasn’t actually running the country—that Barack Obama was secretly in charge, funded by George Soros.
Now, let’s be clear—I don’t think these beliefs hold up under objective scrutiny.
But what struck me was this: These weren’t angry, aggressive conspiracy theorists. They were polite, rational, and open to discussion.
When I questioned some of their claims, they listened. No tension. No fights. Just discussion.
And then, Trump walked in.
The energy in the room shifted instantly.
I have only seen a handful of people who radiate this level of charisma in person. The Dalai Lama is one of them.
As he greeted the crowd, he pointed at us and said:
“I love you!”
The room exploded.
“We love you, Mr. President!”
“We’re with you till the end!”
It was a level of loyalty that is extremely rare for any leader.
Regardless of what you think of him, Trump’s magnetism is undeniable.
But here’s the paradox: If you oppose him, he will try to destroy you.
And in American politics, that Machiavellian strategy has proven to be highly effective.
Rule #2: Admit nothing, deny everything
If Rule #1 is about overwhelming your enemies with force, Rule #2 is about something even more powerful: controlling reality itself.
This is Roy Cohn’s second golden rule, and Trump has turned it into an art form.
The rule is simple: Never admit fault. Never concede. Deny everything. No matter what.
This isn’t just about avoiding accountability. This is about bending reality to your will.
And Trump has done this over and over again, with astonishing effectiveness.
Let’s look at some of the most infamous examples.
Case study: The lawsuit that “never happened”
One of Trump’s earliest legal battles came in the 1970s when the U.S. Department of Justice sued Trump’s father’s company for racial discrimination in housing.
Trump’s response?
They didn’t just deny the charges—they counter-sued the U.S. government.
Eventually, the Trumps settled. But how did Trump spin it?
“We didn’t lose. We won.”
Factually, this was untrue. But in Trump’s world, it became true.
And this pattern would repeat throughout his entire career.
The 2020 election: The ultimate reality distortion field
Nowhere is this rule more evident than in Trump’s handling of the 2020 election.
Every court ruling, every recount, every single legal fact pointed to the same conclusion: Trump lost.
And yet, to this day, millions of people still believe he won.
Why?
Because he never admitted defeat.
Instead, he reframed the entire election as a stolen victory. He flooded social media with claims of fraud, manipulated perception, and planted a seed that no amount of evidence could uproot.
This is the power of Rule #2.
If you simply refuse to acknowledge reality, you force the world to choose: Do they believe their own eyes? Or do they believe you?
And if you’re charismatic enough, bold enough, and unyielding enough—people will believe you.
Trump’s superpower: The ability to rewrite history in real-time
A few months ago, I spoke to a seminar organizer who used to book Trump for speaking events before he became President.
He told me something mind-blowing.
There was a seminar where 8,000 people attended.
After the event, he followed Trump back to his suite for a quick chat.
Trump picked up the phone, called Melania, and said:
“Can you believe it? 18,000 people showed up to see me!”
Now—Trump knew the real number.
The seminar organizer was sitting right next to him.
And yet, in that moment, Trump rewrote the past.
Not out of forgetfulness. Not out of a simple exaggeration.
But because, in his mind, 18,000 was now a reality.
And this is where Trump does something most people can’t comprehend:
He doesn’t just lie—he creates a new truth.
Most of us, when confronted with reality, adjust our beliefs. Trump does the opposite.
He adjusts reality to fit his beliefs.
The big leap: Trump and the absence of an “upper limit”
Now, let’s pause for a moment—because there’s a fascinating personal growth concept at play here.
Gay Hendricks, in The Big Leap, talks about something called the Upper Limit Problem.
The idea is that most people have an internal thermostat for success, happiness, and self-worth.
When we exceed that limit—whether it’s a big career win, a massive relationship breakthrough, or a financial windfall—we subconsciously sabotage ourselves to return to our comfort zone.
Trump?
He has the opposite problem.
He doesn’t see limits at all.
He expands reality to fit his version of himself.
Call it narcissism. Call it delusion.
But the reality is—it works.
Because the world believes the people who believe in themselves the most.
This brings us to…
Rule #3: Always claim victory
There’s a phrase in branding and persuasion that goes like this:
“It’s not about the truth. It’s about the truth people believe.”
And no one embodies this more than Trump.
Roy Cohn’s third golden rule was simple but incredibly effective: No matter what happens, always claim victory.
Even when you lose.
Even when the facts say otherwise.
Because here’s the secret: People don’t remember details. They remember the story. And the story that wins is the one told with the most conviction.
Trump understands this better than almost anyone alive.
He doesn’t just claim victory—he does it with so much confidence that people start questioning reality itself.
The 2020 election: The biggest “victory” that never happened
Let’s take a step back to the 2020 election.
By every possible metric—legal, statistical, factual—Trump lost.
The courts ruled against him. Recounts confirmed the results. Every piece of credible evidence pointed to the same conclusion: Joe Biden won.
But Trump never conceded.
Instead, he reframed the loss as a fraudulent victory.
He planted the idea that the election was stolen, and once that narrative took hold, no amount of evidence could shake it. And here’s what’s absolutely mind-blowing—millions still believe it.
Not because the claim was supported by facts. But because it was delivered with conviction.
This is why Trump is still the dominant force in Republican politics today. Because he never allowed himself to be seen as a loser. In the world of influence and personal branding, losing is often worse than being wrong. And Trump knows that.
The bankruptcy “wins”
The 2020 election wasn’t the first time Trump rewrote history in real-time. In the 1990s, his business empire was crumbling.
- His Atlantic City casinos were bleeding money.
- He filed for multiple bankruptcies.
- His investors lost billions.
For most business leaders, this would have been the end. But not for Trump.
He never admitted failure. Instead, he rebranded bankruptcy as a genius business move. He walked away from his casino failures richer than before—while his investors got wiped out.
But if you ask him? He’ll tell you he won. And because he never acknowledged defeat, most people never saw him as a failure.
The inauguration crowd that “grew” on its own
One of the most blatant examples of this rule happened on Trump’s first day in office.
During his inauguration, news outlets published aerial photos comparing his crowd size to Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
And the difference was clear: Obama’s crowd was far bigger.
So what did Trump do?
He simply declared that his crowd was the largest in history. Even though the photos proved otherwise.
Rather than backing down, his press secretary doubled down on the claim. Suddenly, the conversation wasn’t about policies, the economy, or the future—it was about who had the biggest crowd.
And by the time the media finished arguing about it, Trump had already moved on.
The power of reframing reality
The lesson here isn’t just about Trump.
It’s about human psychology.
- Entrepreneurs sell themselves as billionaires before they hit their first million.
- Athletes visualize their victories before stepping onto the field.
- CEOs project confidence in their startups, even when their companies are burning cash.
Because here’s the truth: Winning is often a matter of perception. And if you can control the perception, you can control reality.
When this works (and when it doesn’t)
Now, this rule is incredibly powerful—but it has two sides.
If you declare victory with conviction, you can:
- Attract investors who believe in your vision.
- Build momentum even when the odds are against you.
- Create the feeling of winning—which often leads to actual success.
But there’s a dark side: delusion.
If you keep claiming victory even when reality is crumbling, eventually, the truth catches up.
- Investors stop believing in you.
- Employees lose faith.
- Your empire collapses.
So the real question isn’t just, “Does this work?”—because it clearly does.
The real question is: How far would you take it? Because once you start bending reality, it’s easy to lose sight of the truth altogether.
And that leads us to Trump’s final rule—his true superpower.
Rule #4: Relentless optimism
Roy Cohn taught Trump how to attack and deny, but the fourth and final rule in Trump’s personal growth playbook comes from a very different source: Norman Vincent Peale, the pastor who shaped Trump’s core belief system.
Peale’s philosophy, outlined in The Power of Positive Thinking, was radical self-belief taken to the extreme. His mantra? “If you think it, it will be so.” In other words, reality bends to the will of those who believe hard enough. And Trump has lived by this principle his entire life.
The power of positive illusions
This explains why Trump’s many financial collapses never seemed to faze him. Even when his Atlantic City casinos went bankrupt, he walked into meetings projecting absolute confidence—so much so that banks kept lending him money. He convinced investors that failure wasn’t real because, in his mind, it simply wasn’t an option.
And it wasn’t just business—this mindset shaped his entire approach to politics. Take his presidential campaign in 2016. Pundits laughed at the idea of a reality TV star with no political experience winning the White House. The media dismissed his campaign as a joke. And yet, Trump acted as if victory was inevitable from day one. His supporters felt his confidence, and that belief became contagious.
Failure? What failure?
Most people, when they suffer a public failure, go into damage control. They issue apologies, explain their mistakes, and try to win back credibility.
Not Trump.
When something doesn’t go his way, he simply acts like it never happened. His businesses collapse? “That was a smart business move.” His administration fumbles a policy? “It was actually a huge success.”
And here’s the wild part—people buy it.
Psychologists call this “positive illusions”, a cognitive bias where people who maintain extreme optimism—even in the face of failure—end up influencing reality itself. When a leader truly believes they are winning, they can convince others to follow them—even if the facts say otherwise.
Trump’s ultimate psychological shield
One of the most fascinating things about Trump’s relentless optimism is how it serves as a psychological shield.
A former White House aide once described watching him walk into a meeting completely unprepared, bluff his way through, and leave convinced he had dominated the room. He had no self-doubt. No hesitation. Just pure, unshakable confidence.
And the thing is, this kind of mindset is scientifically proven to work. Studies have shown that leaders who project confidence—whether or not it’s justified—are perceived as more competent. Even when they fail, people see them as visionaries rather than frauds.
The real lesson: When optimism becomes delusion
So, does relentless optimism work? Absolutely. It keeps you moving forward. It makes failure feel like a temporary inconvenience rather than a real setback. It builds an aura of invincibility.
But there’s a fine line between optimism and delusion.
At some point, reality catches up. Investors pull out. Supporters grow skeptical. And if you’ve built your empire entirely on positive illusions, the crash can be catastrophic.
So, the real question isn’t whether Trump’s relentless optimism is effective.
The question is: How far would you take it?
Final thoughts
Would you use these rules?
Trump’s rules—Attack Relentlessly, Deny Everything, Always Claim Victory, and Stay Relentlessly Optimistic—aren’t just political tactics. They are principles of influence, branding, and personal resilience that have been used by leaders, CEOs, and power players throughout history.
These rules have built billion-dollar empires, crushed opposition, and propelled him to the highest office in the world. They are also rooted in psychological strategies used by the most powerful figures throughout history—from military generals to corporate titans to media moguls.
But they also come with a cost.
When you attack relentlessly, you create enemies who never forget. When you deny reality, reality eventually catches up. When you always claim victory, you risk delusion. And when you stay relentlessly optimistic, you walk a fine line between confidence and blind arrogance.
Yet, these strategies work—at least for a time. And perhaps that’s why Trump, even in the face of indictments, bankruptcies, and political defeats, remains as influential as ever.
And here’s the thing. If you had asked me before that evening in March 2024 at Mar-a-Lago, I would have said—without hesitation—that I was anti-Trump. Not because of his policies, not because of his party, but because I had assumed he was a vengeful, hateful man. Someone so consumed by anger and ego that being in a room with him would be suffocating.
But that wasn’t the man I met. The Trump I saw was the exact opposite—charismatic, warm, full of high energy. And honestly? He was just fun to be around. Not the monster I had expected.
And it wasn’t just him.
I had also assumed that the MAGA movement was filled with narrow-minded conspiracy theorists, racists, and hateful and delusional people who saw the world in extremes. But the people I met in that room weren’t like that at all. They were kind. They were generous. They were intelligent. They operated from a different set of facts, yes—but they were open to discussion. They listened. They debated politely. They were willing to engage.
That night, I had to confront an uncomfortable truth about myself.
A lot of the conclusions I made about Trump and his followers came from one side of the media. And that had shaped my worldview into a rigid, binary perspective—where certain politicians were good and others were evil.
But life isn’t binary. Everything lies on a spectrum.
And in that spectrum are shades of gray—nuances that get erased when we let ourselves be polarized.
That night, I left with a newfound conviction: the moment you label one side as “good” and the other as “bad,” you stop seeing reality. You stop analyzing people for who they actually are, and instead, you judge them based on the version of them you’ve been fed.
I no longer see the world that way. And I don’t think anyone else should, either. Because the best way to truly see the truth about someone isn’t to assume. It isn’t to rely on what you’re told. It’s to analyze them yourself—to look at them with an open mind, to see both their light and their shadow, and to recognize that we all exist somewhere in between.
So, the real question isn’t just whether these rules work.
The real question is: Would you use them?
If you would or wouldn’t, let me know in the comments below.
Because at the end of the day, power isn’t about being right—it’s about knowing how to play the game.
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Comment by Vishen:
I want to be clear, this newsletter is not meant to be political – America is divided on their voting choices and I won’t bring politics into Mindvalley. But I have been clear since 2016 on my stance on Trump. He is not the right man to lead America and has too many flaws of character. Even the day before the election I went on Instagram live to endorse Harris (on my insta, not Mindvalley). I still hold the view that Trump should not have won. But my job is to bring unity and not get political on Mindvalley. This article is designed to provoke thought and to show that in politics today – Machiavellian and Sun Tzu principles oftentimes trump spiritual laws. For each rule I’m not suggesting one adopt them – I’m only shining light on the belief system behind them.
520 Responses
Vishen, I have followed you for many years through your many evolutions as a spiritual marketing businessman. I am also a member of MindValley. What I do know is that you are not American, you do not live in America, and you spend very little time here so you are not fully aware of what is happening on the ground level of the changes that Trump and Musk are enacting.
Many people affected by this current administration who are systematically attempting to destroy the constitution of this country do not even read your emails or see your online courses. But there are many others who are aware of MindValley and the catalog of presenters you represent.
You went to MarLago and met the elite members of his MAGA group. Limited and selected by him and his team. The true MAGA’s are not of that caliber or financial ilk (would not be invited to MarLargo) so you cannot say you were misinformed, only misled by what they wanted you and other invitees to see. The gloss and glitz of it all can convince many of things being one way, and it did you as well as it does others.
Branson was right to feel the way he did after meeting Trump and so many others do as well.
The question was: Would I use them?
1. Attack, Attack, Attack
2. Admit Nothing, Deny Everything
3. Always Claim Victory
4. Relentless Optimism
1. NO 2. NO 3. NO 4. YES
Attack, deny, lie, cheat, destroy, and so much more, are the ways of the first three on this list. Roy Cohn died of Aids, and his dis-ease with his life led to disease. He used how power and knowledge to destroy the lives of others and this is what Trump does.
4. Relentless Optimism – I have and continue to have but not at the expense of others.
So, here is my answer and my thoughts on this current newsletter.
Hi Vishen
First of all, I want to thank you for initiating me into meditation with your book, a habit that has completely changed my life. The budget I invested in Mindvalley was one of the best investments of my life. This gratitude made me turn a blind eye to your initiative of pill supplements to access different states of consciousness (…like drugs do?…) and then with the idea of giving artificial intelligence the appearance of Mindvalley professionals to talk to users (an ethically embarrassing thing). But with this newsletter about Trump you have reached the point of no return: when I read about carisma of Trump and the Dalai Lama in the same sentence I wanted to stop reading but I got to the end because I thought you would save yourself in the end. Instead, the whole text sounded like a marketing operation commissioned, a dystopian attempt to redeem the image of Trump and his supporters. Vishen, don’t sell your soul to the devil. Vishen you teached to manifest for the good and in the interests of all humanity, whatever is not in this direction is against our world and you should not market it in any ways.
Dear Vishen,
Thank you for your attempt to present an analysis of Trump’s personal growth playbook. Do you really think it has anything to do with personal growth? I don’t think you have named it accurately. I might call it Trump’s Hostile Government Takeover Playbook. Be that as it may, I am finding your thought helpful. I will learn from it What to Watch Out For when a little tyrant tries to take over my life, and I will continue to strongly defend myself against such evil. So thanks again for that addition to my own personal growth playbook.
Unbelievable that you seem to have allowed the pain of your early rejection by American society post-9/11 to have merged with what I’ve recently been observing in your messaging/lives as a growing ego as your own wealth & influence expands – and this apparently is superseding your many years of personal growth by blinding you to the sociopathic & utterly morally & spiritually bankrupt behavior of Trump and his “warm, kind, human” Maga supporters who were willing & able to plunk down millions for a seat at his table…
And you? Were you so flattered to be allowed into that room as an “equal” that you actually can’t see what you’re being impressed by???
Attack, attack, attack?
Deny reality?
Deny TRUTH??
You drank the Kool-aide, Vishen. This is so utterly heartbreaking and revolting. You have just shown in your supposedly “unbiased” essay that you are just like any other weak man who is seduced by the trappings of power and the illusion that you are welcome in that circle.
They want your money and your followers money, nothing else! At the end of the day you are nothing more to them than a faceless, brown skinned, non-American man – something to be used for your donations & perhaps a photo-op, and then discarded.
The fact that you found even an iota of merit in his mafia-like thuggery, in his utter contempt of anyone & anything different than his white, WASPY billionaire bubble, in his inhumane discarding of democracy, the rule of law, decency, social responsibility, environment, women’s rights, education, or even respecting other countries sovereignty – you cannot tell me that you’re only “observing” him as a man who has created success by throwing out every single form of social, moral, & political decency there is. You are showing us that you are willing to stand aside and not lift a finger to stop him from literally destroying millions of lives WORLDWIDE, just because you’re starry-eyed at the prospect of being part of that vile Club of the Broliarchy!
You have lost my respect and my support of your company forever – I have talked you & MindValley up for years, and was saving to go to the MindValley University this summer – it was even on my list of dream jobs to work for your company…no longer.
In the name of my mother who because of Trump & Musk stands to lose her lifeline of social security & Medicare, in the name of my niece who has lost access to safe reproductive rights, in the name of my mixed-race nephew who is not safe from the violence of bigoted police, in the name of my cousin who is transgender, in the names of the children losing their access to a decent public education, of the children who have lost access to food stamps so they can eat a decent meal a day, and the veterans who risked their very lives for a country that now denies them their healthcare, & in the names of the hundreds of thousands of hard-working immigrants now being threatened with deportation and/or violence from this new, American dictatorship, I will not re-subscribe to your platform, and will unsubscribe from your newsletter, while making sure to tell everyone I know how you’ve drunk the Kool-aide in your sad longing to be seen as part of the Big Boys Club.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely…
So sad to see you fall so far from grace, Vishen. You had a good run there for awhile, but I guess good things turn sour when they get too big for their own fragile egos.
I am originally from New Jersey. I am 6 years older than Trump. He is not, nor has he ever been a success. His fake bone spurs kept him out of 5 calls for the draft. His business acumen is non-existent, based on over 6 bankruptcies of his own companies. Let’s look at his Atlantic City NJ Casino. He loves gold and over the top opulence. Artisans were hired from Italy, special supplies etc were ordered. Work completed, invoices rendered. He refused to pay, first saying it was not what he wanted and he wanted it redone. That happened at least 5 times. No money rendered, suppliers couldn’t be paid, workers couldn’t be payed. Small business owners/contractors had no recourse but to file their own bankruptcy. His apartments in NYC? Not kept up to code, exorbitantly raising the rent and refusing to rent to minorities. Following in the legacy of his father. I had relatives in both NYC and Atlantic City and I do know first hand that he and his family were not people you could trust. His poor senior accountant who went to jail for him? He was 150% loyal to him. Trump’s has said he only wants a short man with a Yarmulka to have hands on his money. He said that many years before he rode down the escalator. He has no empathy, no awareness of others, no respect for women. He is a blot on the face of humanity. I don’t have to read tabloids to know about the man. I’m 84 and I know the man and his unfortunate family. Now he is in charge of bankrupting our unfortunate country. His name should never be mentioned within your fantastically wonderful business. I believe this is the biggest mistake you have ever make in your life. I’ve been following you and have taken many of your courses, looked to you as a genius. Please rethink your option to place that bloviating, hulking, lying, grifting, degenerate, excuse for a man anywhere near your company. I have referred Mindvalley to my friends and those I have mentored. I now regret having done so. This is a sad day for the world.
You’re asking us to ignore the shocking reality—that we have a narcissistic sociopath in charge, a so-called leader who heartlessly deported an 8-year-old girl battling brain cancer, leaving her to die without treatment. Meanwhile, he brings known rapist sex traffickers, The Tate brothers, to American soil.
Strip away the politics, and you’re left with a mob boss, mentored by an immoral, hate consiglieri/attorney who taught Trump to destitute seniors, harm immigrants indiscriminately, and enrich the wealthy elite while spreading hatred against women and minorities. He’s a chronic liar, a functional illiterate, and he’s poised to snatch away our social security—all while demolishing democracy.
You think he’s smart enough to have a plan, all because you paid big money to have him be nice to you. He, of course, charmed you for your donation and then used a racist slur about you behind your back because you’re not a white male American (born). You’re merely rich.
This is a critical moment for the US democracy AND the world. If you have not studied US history, and the principles of true democracy, you can be fooled. I refuse to follow any “Personal Growth Playbook of Donald Trump.” Democracy is on the line—open your eyes.
I won’t take another class from you, Vishan. You’ve proved that you can fall for a mobster. This newsletter demonstrates that and that makes me very sad. I will finish out classes with others on your website but the end of my membership will be the end. Dude, so surprising. For a person who is on his target list to sleep with the lions. I’m so curious what was in your mind when you wrote this blog. Were you coming off the high of your getting into Mara Largo? What were you thinking?
PS: Even though I was going to get a nice amount off my renewal, I just called two people I’d asked to sign up for Mindvalley and told them not to. There will be no renewal.
I would not use these tactics and feel that you can be successful by being honest, making sound business decisions for all involved and accepting defeat when it is clearly is outlined. I am surprised one visit to Mar-A-Largo completely changes your view of someone who is know to have cheated employees, contractors, banks and cheated/sexually assaulted numerous women while bragging about it. It makes me think what type of person you are that can be easily influenced and con by one of the greatest conman of all time. I guess that’s why he has so many cult followers that will do anything for him including storming our capitol on January 6th and using violence because their cult leader lost a free and fair election. If you were living here now, you would be stopped and perhaps deported without due process. Seriously makes me think where your values are Vishen.
Thanks for the unbiased analysis of the person and his tactics. It’s insightful to understand the show that’s being pulled infront of billions who are watching him. The positive psychology tactics are certainly helpful but I wouldn’t cross into the land of delusion. Those who want unchecked power obviously don’t care for rules or ethical considerations.
Vishen,
You just lost another subscriber. You drank the kool-aid. At some point “being objective” and “neutral” becomes a rationalization for condoning evil. I don’t find any claims in your comments for integrity. Or truth. Just make up your own as you go in an attempt to win at all costs. This is so far from the kind of leadership we might hope for from the founder of a personal growth ‘universe,’ it just makes my teeth ache. The amount of suffering and evil the first felon has wreaked leaves no room for admiration. There is nothing here to learn from. Sorry, Vishen, you must be living in your own bubble of ‘success’. Sad.
I’ve seen these tactics used by others in business, I just didn’t realize at the time. Yes, the tactics work, he’s been elected president twice.
No I will not use them because my desire for success does not trump my need for ethics. I have no respect for the people I’ve seen use one of more of the tactics, and I have no desire to be like them – even though they make more money.
Trump’s superpower is every human’s ability – it’s possible for EVERYONE: Believe in yourself, be relentless, and bend reality to achieve your dreams and more. The rub – lost in all of your long-winded self-justifying prose: We humans can use our power for good or evil. In Trump’s case it’s clearly for evil.
He’s weilded the most extreme power to achieve great destruction, enrich himself, exonerate himself from his crimes, and serve himself and evil purposes. NO, I would not sell my soul by using Trump’s playbook for destruction and evil. I would NOT LIE, STEAL, CHEAT and KILL people to get what I want (1 million Americans died unnecessarily of COVID, thousands of them died directly by following his advice to refuse the vaccine that his administration created, and millions more will die now in his second term of disease, lack of reproductive care, lack of medical care, from war like in Ukraine, hunger, suicide at home and abroad thanks to his policies and decisions). He’s a criminal sociopath. I suggest that the Mindvalley tribe use their powers and talents for good. To benefit humanity and the planet. All animals, all life. Not to destroy life and all that is good.
It’s great that you wrote this, Vishen, to bring it up, because without holding a civilized conversation and looking at the question objectively, we can’t find the right answer. Ethics and the truth still matter. Right from wrong still matters. My advice is to stop hanging around your racist delusional buddies Elon and Trump and all their bad energy. That you weren’t shook like Branson is concerning. Everything Trump touches dies. This country is next. Easy to care less about democracy, truth, justice, and a well-functioning democratic government when you’re rich as hell have houses in Estonia, UAE and all over, lots choices. (And I’m happy for your success, I love the good you do with it!) But millions of Americans are being harmed as we speak. Millions more abroad harmed, dying, like in Ukraine because he’s helping Russia, or in Sudan and Congo becaus he’s shuttering USAID and lying about USAID and its good people and convincing his cult this is truth when it’s an objectively provable lie. Your article is a long-winded way of asking “would you sell your soul and sacrifice all that is good to have power and money for yourself?” I suspect that most of your followers already know the answer. You probably do as well. Please don’t forget it. Don’t be blinded by the powerful at Mar-A-lago who wouldn’t even blink to put you out of a job, see your kids go hungry, or take away your Medicare for your disabled kids if you weren’t who you were.
I have never and will never be a Trump fan. I will not travel to the USA at this time either, which is sad because we both have beautiful countries. I hope change will come sooner than later for both of our countries. Proud to be Canadian!
It really concerns me seeing some of the comments on this article, particularly given that it was made clear that the article is not arguing for or against Trump, but merely discussing some of his personal strategies. An ‘exploration’, as you say. And yet many of the comments here are so angry, some even going so far as to say ‘you’ve lost a subscriber’ due to publishing this piece.
I think it’s so incredibly dangerous when we react in such a closed-minded way to others even expressing an opinion. And going so far as to unsubscribe from or immediately shut down a particular influencer we’ve long admired because they’ve explored (without even coming out for or against) a topic is terrifying.
How can we learn anything if we immediately get angry with any viewpoint that even hints at opposing something we know (or think we know)? And what is the point in being alive if not to learn and grow?
I read somewhere recently the idea that the human brain is evolving not to survive but to win arguments. And while at first glance this seems absurd, reactions like the ones I’m seeing here, which are very common on many social media/online platforms, make it very clear that this may very well be the case. Even more disturbing and further to this point, I get the impression from many of these comments that people didn’t even read the entire essay before negating and belittling Vishen’s exploration.
This is not healthy, and I’m not sure what it says about the future of humanity other than that we now seem to lack the maturity as a society to even discuss our own governance rationally and with respect for each other. With this being the case, our society will never know peace, regardless of who is running the show. And it is a show.
What I do know however is that both Vishen and Mindvalley have brought enormous value to this community over these past many years. Given that, I’m absolutely flabbergasted at the level of intolerance for an article that wasn’t even about personal opinion, but about stepping back and viewing a situation objectively.
And for anyone who argues that posting such an exploration goes against spiritual growth, I just have no words. I’m still digesting the absurdity of our spiritual selves attaching in such an ugly, judgmental way to a fellow soul merely expressing a thought (not even an opinion).
How about the facts, Trumps actions, his language? Is this the model of leadership we want for your kids?Are bullying, lying, cheating, humiliating others, stealing, intimidating, lack of empathy, crushing people who are in a vulnerable position the new norm? And yes, most psychopaths and sociopaths are charismatic but this does not make it ok for us to condone their behaviour. Vishen, you have a moral obligation towards your readers. This is not about looking at things from a different perspective. It is about our moral duty to promote human values such as honesty, transparency, empathy, hard work, kindness and instil these values in the new generations. Its truly a sad day the day an influential platform like Mindvalley loses those values.
Wow Vishen, what a disappoint, thought you were more intelligent really…, first because shouldn’t mix spirituality with politics, very passive aggressive piece. I saw your endorsement of the lunatic brainless Kamala… wow mind blowing!
It’s really crazy cause spirituality law number one teaches us that everything we see in others is truly a mirror of ourselves…, so to that point i would say all this racism and hate towards us, Trump supporters and not understanding why we like this guy it really tells more about you people. ( used to not like trump then did my research and woke up).
DemoNcrats on other hand…, there are so many things we can say…, party of zero tolerance and love, they bare the most racist and sexist opf all always with focus on that everything is about that, they can’t take another point of view, supporters of open borders letting criminals in (they need votes), supporters and making laws to let criminals in and stay here damaging quality of life of their own people, wanting illegals to vote promoting no voters id needed, funding biillions of idiotic things with tax payers dollars (stealing from us), promoting wars and keep wars going all the time everytime democrats are in power, its ironic how Trump was the only president that stopped all wars and created the abraham accords, the economy was better under him and so much more…., crazy how we are perceived as conspiracy theories when there is so much evidence of what we believe is true…even with covid (democrats sheeps 20 shots still using mask completely asleep government and big pharma believers ha ha), crazy how Biden was the only president in history with 80.000.000 while all others had 60.000.000 aprox…,excuse me who was running the country while Biden was sleeping and unfit to govern??… the history know how lefties are always the ones that lie and steal the most, they are the ones always on the side of criminals but also ironically the ones always thinking they are the good ones and the morally correct. just look at the criminality in the democratic state versus the republican states, that can tell u a lot, those are ACTUAL FACTS. The world is so upside down that even if Trump as a normal human being has his flaws, believe me, we needed as strong confident man like him to stand against such a corrupt and sinister deep leftist state and globalist funded demoncraps. Not to mention all the murder attempts on him and any other person that wanted to get in their way and all the attempts on prosecute him for any stupid reason so much so that many democrats left to his side when they realized the mediocrity of this party. Crazy crazy the perceptions even more so the people who think themselves are so elevated…, so so sad to watch…. Crazy how Elon was loved until he started revealing all the dirt and corruption and stoped financing their mentally ill stupidity they do…., and Hillary really?? one of the most demonic people and you see it a sweet little lady….unbelievable, I think you need to do more digging Vishen. Soros is involved that is a fact, its one of the ones that funds media and communist parties around the world including mine Chile, thats a fact. they are losing their 2030 globalist agenda is losing they are going crazy!. You need a crazy brave man like trump to stand against all this evil! wake up people!
For me is a hard unsuscribe. hope you all wake up one day !!! peace!!
Wow. How interesting that you find a PSYCHOPATH worthy of your energy and attention. So sad when gullible and fearful people like you meet the greed and power that is Trump and company. That’s how cults are created. While totally repulsed by Trump and his minions, my spiritual path is to rise above my disgust and anger. And instead, strive to have compassion for those who don’t really know any better. It’s a challenging spiritual path. Right now, it’s almost too much of a challenge. Never thought I would call you and your Mindvalley pathetic, but you are. NAMASTE
Interesting assessment that i think is not only misleading but also a bit disingenuous. I would say that you were easily influenced through a naive belief that the environment was going to be presented as an dark place. You were surrounded rich wealthy people who are feeling a sense of hubris. There was no reason for anyone to not treat you with respect. You were never a threat. Second, what are you judging, a smile or actions? It sounds like you were actually fan boying and visiting at the alter to get affirmed and seek protection like all of the wealthy tech bros are doing. I think Trump’s community represents some type of masculine awakening that appeared to escape the identity of your contemporaries, like Mark Zuck. The new thing MMA and psychedelics will fill the void in identity… It interesting how for all of you, it now “Thank you, thank you, thank you Mr President,” a kiss the ring behavior with the privilege of recognition and blessing from him. Young wealthy men in meaning crisis who want to approval of the alpha grandpa. Last, the areas that you pointed out about Trump are not admirable qualities to project. Thinking that denial of facts for a leader is cool is twisted and a slippery road. Just really slopping analysis for what it means to grow. Yikes! Btw, i do not belong to a political party. I ‘m just recognizing what i see happening.
This man is a felon, a rapist, a racist, sexist, a bully, and is not “positive”, but relentlessly negative, hateful, and vindictive to anyone who doesn’t bow down to him, who doesn’t serve his needs in some way. The write-up above of Trump’s attributes is incredibly out of touch and I’m really wondering what kind of threat you’re under that you would change your tune so drastically on his behavior. Something with Elon, perhaps? Very disappointing!
Yeah… canceled my membership. I find your admiration for Donald Trump and attempt to gaslight me into thinking that your reflection on his “success” as merely a study in human behavior and/or an exploration into meeting one’s potential disgusting. Obviously, your obsession with wealth has gotten the best of you. It is sad and disappointing, as I find the courses interesting and was hoping to be a member for a long time. Lying is lying, cheating is cheating, stealing is stealing and showcasing that you are proud to “apply” these traits (and worse) is an affront to humanity – which is what Trump is all about. It’s that simple; to present it as anything other than what it is means you have either allowed yourself to be brainwashed or are trying to brainwash your members. No thank you. I would be appalled to be a part of this organization if this is the direction you want to take and feel for the instructors who have devoted themselves to promoting truth/honesty/integrity in body, mind and spirit. Without these very basic elements of decency, you have nothing – regardless of how much monetary wealth you boast. Bottom line: to compromise these essential qualities of humanity just makes you a rich asshole. Get back to the light, Vishen.
Dear Vishen, your response in the comments sections seems to further support your views and cement the importance of the critiques made and makes no attempt to be in conversation on this matter which you chose to highlight. This all seems be a demonstration of your spiritual bypass. You may want to read “Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects us from What Really Matters” by Robert Augustus Masters