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.
515 Responses
Integrity is integral to who I see myself as – who I am. I would never lie, cheat, rape, hurt people with cruel policies. The cruelty is the point. This article was interesting and insulting to my morals.
While democracy is being turned into a Kleptocracy before our very eyes, it is easy for the billionaire class (of which I assume you belong or are close to it) to revel in our demise and the destruction of our standing with our global allies.
Compassion and empathy are conspicuously missing from Trump and his acolytes.
This article is disturbing and disappointing. It appears like a tribute that normalizes the man, his policies and his practices. If that was not the intention, it can certainly be the outcome.
Yes. I am judgmental as I watch the ravages of his actions, from the loss of jobs to the possibility of more diseases (including those that cross our shores from other unprotected countries now that USAID has been demolished.
The capture (buying) of the Supreme Court is another problem. The destruction of honesty and truth – another problem. Are these the lessons for our children.
Don’t glorify this man!
You have a have a spiritual infinite perspective to be able to see through the human journey and observe his soul mission within him etc ..
He is at super conscious level..
imagine a group of super conscious collaborators !!
This is an example of the effect of inner knowing—the deep, unshakable clarity that visionaries like the Wright Brothers possessed, Michelangelo saw when he beheld David within the stone, and Edison felt in his certainty that he was destined to invent the light bulb? This soul script, this profound sense of purpose, is already within each of us, guiding us toward our mission in life.
I have created the simplest positive breathing practice in the world to help people access this divine inner knowing effortlessly. By revealing each person’s unique mission, this practice has the potential to create a worldwide impact, awakening individuals to the clarity and purpose that have driven the greatest innovators throughout history.
To see through the illusion you need to be a highly evolved individual ! and understand spiritual concepts ..
Trumps path is unique and individual .. it’s his soul script etc ..
At a superconscious level this is a natural, divine consciousness and inner knowing—the deep, unshakable clarity that visionaries like the Wright Brothers possessed, Michelangelo saw when he beheld David within the stone, and Edison felt in his certainty that he was destined to invent the light bulb? This soul script, this profound sense of purpose, is already within each of us, guiding us toward our mission in life.
I have created the simplest positive breathing practice in the world to help people access this divine inner knowing effortlessly. By revealing each person’s unique mission, this practice has the potential to create a worldwide impact, awakening individuals to the clarity and purpose that have driven the greatest innovators throughout history etc
I am an American Citizen who voted Democrat in every election since I was 18, starting with Al Gore all the way up to Joe Biden. In 2024 I voted Trump and am very happy that I did. It’s unfortunate to read the comments here and see how closed minded and brainwashed so many people are by the mainstream media lies. Unless you have met him personally or he has personally wronged you, I invite you to question the propaganda that you’ve been fed by the media about him. I invite you to read Jared Kushner’s book about the Abraham Accords. I went through my own journey of looking at different viewpoints myself and turned the corner. America and the world are a much better place now than they were under the 4 years of Jill Biden as president. Again, this is coming from a lifelong liberal and Democrat.
I already left a comment, but this has had such an impact on me because during Trump’s first time in power, he purposely hid the truth about Covid-19 leading to the death of at least 1 million Americans. How many contracted long COVID, we still don’t know. Fast forward and he wants to defund science and innovation. Defund NIH, international life saving programs world wide.
What is there to admire in death and destruction, and chaos?
It is the same argument we hear from Hitler’s admirers…
What a sad day and event for Mindvalley. If Mindvalley is so desperate for money that you all need to kiss the ring, I guess you will have to do without us. If you had a spine, would have been much better to stand out to him and ask us to support Mindvalley in helping others in need all over the world.
Vishen , why don’t you analyze how Hitler came to power?
Thank you for the article. I really liked your comment of:
” I think the 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.”
Unfortunately, it looks like the majority of your followers who commented here did not get it at all. Their personal emotions are definitely led by “what they had been fed” and it takes control and makes them miss the point completely. Why they feel the need to bash you on top of it just shows how aggressive & one-sided brainwashed people have become with politics. Lost so deep in the negative sink hole they built that they are unable to set aside a political view to read and learn from your analysis. The negative comments here sadly shows how shut and blinded people are, not even acknowledging that there is no perfect side! Somehow believing in the illusion that the side they blindly believe is the ultimate good side and is flawless! It is very hypocritical how they mention all the things they hate about the president, but then turn around and attack you with the same attitude they say they hate. I guess them doing so is not bad, because they believe all is good and no one can do any wrong if you share their point of view? Completely missing the excellent personal growth analysis you did.
And to answer your questions, yes there are great pointers I would use.
– The POSITIVISM is something I believe in. Anytime I let go of the negative, it made room for more positive. Making lemonade with lemons works. This attitude goes along with
-ALWAYS CLAIM THE WIN. When something negative happens, I now know that everything happens for a reason. I look for the why, the positive opportunity that opens up from that negative event. How many people became successful starting something new after failing, or loosing a job for example? The negative can be just the kick in the butt you needed. Learning from a non-win to get stronger and better to win the next project. I started a company after loosing job and looking back, loosing that job is the best thing that could have happened to me. So Yes, I CLAIMED THE WIN on loosing that job!
-ATTACK: I see more as push forward, look ahead not back. It took me a while in my career to realize that “You will not get what you do not ask for” and “you can’t succeed if you do not try and mostly keep trying”. So many times I was told “No” or “You can’t” or “You will not be able to”. I now take it as a challenge to attack the problem again and persist until it is solved. And I believe you can totally attack with integrity.
Thank you again Vishen for daring to write this piece. Keep them coming regardless of the nasty comments from some mean followers !
You’ve officially lost a subscriber. I went to one of your Mindvalley summits and I saw first hand that you are not part of the universal collective for a power of good but for a power of greed. You were rude and irritable and I tried to explain it away to exhaustion in my mind, but this post shows my initial assumption was right. Was this post made to appeal to the Trump administration and work your way up into the right hand pocket of Trumps Regime and convince him of your ability to support his attempts of domination? You are and never will be anything more than another minion. There is nothing good in the power Trump aims to possess and that is NOT for the good of the Universal collective.
Vishen , you just lost a subscriber. Why don’t you revisit how Hitler was able to magnetize all of those people back then. Why don’t read The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell. There is no way you can justify racism , debasement of any race unless you are one of those people that think that some are better than others. Are you one of them ?
At first, I was really wondering where this newsletter was going, trepidatious even. I have been on a personal growth journey for only a short while and one thing I have learned is that, we limit ourselves all the time, mostly without even knowing it. Oftentimes, telling ourselves a story that explains or justifies these self-imposed limits. I believe that my spiritual goal is to to move past limitations, those of my own making and those of others. Ultimately, I do not believe in my heart that one side is “good” while the other is “bad.” So, as I read this newsletter, I kept both of these beliefs in the forefront of my mind.
If I am being honest, I have to say that the awareness that it took to see past the political rheortic and get to the underlying belief system here was eye opening. I am not saying I agree with Trump’s message by any means but, with everything that he has been able to accomplish, I have always wondered how he has done it. In reading the reactions to this letter, I see that many came away with different messages, perspectives and take-aways. My personal take-away is that our belief systems play a much bigger role in our reality than I originally believed, Trump just served as an extreme example.
How powerful a creator would I be if I could embody and act upon these beliefs while not necessarily following the same path. My passion is not political power but learning to embrace my own power and using that to create the most amazing life I could ever imagine…or better! How powerful we would all be if we dared to step into our greatness at any expense. But the question posed is “Would you do it?” The message I took from that was, not would you gain power and use it necessarily for a political end, but are you brave enough to embody those beliefs and use them to follow your own passion. Wow! What a great thought-provoking question. I am still ruminating on it as I am pondering thoughtfully if, to do so, would require me to trample over others? Does it have to? Is there a way to embody these beliefs and still remain true to ourselves and to humanity at large? Thank you, Vishen for allowing me to push past my own biases and limitations with this question as I move forward on this path of enlightenment and love.
Dear Vishen,
Thank you for opening this discussion. I would like to answer your question, whether I would use the “rules, how Trump bends reality”. The answer is strictly: NO!
Personal growth should always stand on basic principles that include values like honesty, openness, love and understanding, respect for the other person, desire for peace and justice.
Personal growth should not aim to “how do I become a dictator at any cost”
Wow, this was a fascinating analysis to read!! I don’t support Trump, but I’ve always been baffled by his success. Thank you for breaking this down and explaining how he manifests his reality. I don’t aim to follow Trump’s beliefs, but this gave me clarity in simply believing in MYSELF more and painting every circumstance in my OWN life as a VICTORY. I aim to win by KNOWING I can empower everyone else around me to live their best life. Thank you, Vishen!!!
Vishen –
“Because at the end of the day, ** power isn’t about being right ** — it’s about knowing how to play the game.”
If you truly believe this, you are not the leader or evolved human I thought you to be, or that you purport to be.
True leaders stand up for what is RIGHT – not just gain and use power “to win the game.”
So devastatingly disappointing to see you so easily deluded – lauding Trump’s manipulative tactics and “48 Laws of Power” – dazzled like so many by the gold and gilded lies, and further amplifying the delusional beliefs and conspiracies by so many others who’ve been duped by his false world – while our country and democracy itself are being destroyed, and those the US has helped across the globe are dying due to his “power.”
Dear Vishen,
I am extremely disappointed. Not that you should care what a stranger feels or thinks about you, but as someone who has supported you and followed you and your evolution since 2016, and your own growth into a public persona, I think this twist of events (in my mind), does merit a response.
As an older person, way past retirement age, I take particular notice of the things that still shock me. Your willingness to simply “observe” Trump and the rules he applies that have garnered such success, is simply one of those moments for me.
Yes, certain rules work to create the reality you want, in your favor, and to the detriment of hundreds if not millions of others. Threats, when you have the means to carry them out, usually work. Instilling fear also works, as the Mafia proved time and time again. Retaliation, hatred, also have power. There are many other tactics that also work. But I am left to wonder, what is the point of getting all this power? How much money and power does one person need? The principles may work, just like atomic energy works, but what matters in my opinion, is what you use them for.
I am left asking myself have you also fallen victim to the old adage that “power corrupts?” Maybe I should be congratulating you that you have broken through the threshold of having achieved the type of power that corrupts. Principles or rules may work, but who is the captain steering the ship? Rules may be objective but consequences often are not. What are the underlying values that are driving the application of these rules? What are the underlying values that are selecting what is good, neutral, or bad – because at some point in time each of us must judge what is good and what is evil. Our values determine to what and when we should apply those rules.
I imagine that values also are determined by what kind of world you want to live in. If you want a world where white men rule at all costs and by any means, where all others live in service of those in power, then yes, by all means let’s look at this objectively and dispassionately. But however, if you want to live in a world dominated by peace, love, justice then maybe we should judge. Judge at what all that “charisma” and “warmth” and “fun” has done to thousands of people. When will you cast aside your “objectivism?” Because remember, he doesn’t really like you either. He likes your money. He likes the thousands who follow you, but when he no longer needs you, you’ll find out what he really thinks of you. Maybe then you will care enough to judge.
You end your email with “Because at the end of the day, power isn’t about being right—it’s about knowing how to play the game.” I would change that sentiment to read “ At the end of the day, power is about what game do you want to play?”
No!
A Troubling Contradiction: Vishen’s Trump Analysis vs. Mindvalley’s Core Values
I read your newsletter about Donald Trump’s “personal growth playbook” with growing concern and disappointment. While you frame this analysis as neutral, your thinly veiled admiration for Trump’s tactics reveals a troubling contradiction between what you’re celebrating here and the core values Mindvalley claims to champion.
The Values Disconnect
For years, Mindvalley has promoted:
– Authenticity and truth-seeking
– Compassionate leadership
– Ethical business practices
– Community building through empathy
– Personal growth that lifts others up
Yet this newsletter thinly disguises and glorifies tactics that are fundamentally opposed to these values:
1. Attack, attack, attack” – You present Trump’s relentless aggression as effective rather than harmful. How does celebrating someone who, according to your own account with Richard Branson, is “singularly obsessed with retaliation” align with Mindvalley’s emphasis on compassion?
2. Admit nothing, deny everything” – You frame reality distortion as a superpower rather than a dangerous assault on truth. You write that “he doesn’t just lie—he creates a new truth” as though this is admirable rather than destructive to social cohesion.
3. “Always claim victory” – You acknowledge this involves delusion but present it primarily as effective branding rather than as harmful gaslighting that undermines democratic institutions.
The Moral Vacuum
Most troublingly, your analysis exists in a moral vacuum. You ask readers if they would use these tactics without meaningfully engaging with their harmful consequences:
– What happens to public discourse when leaders refuse to acknowledge reality?
– What happens to democracy when politicians claim fraudulent victories?
– What happens to society when we glorify aggression over cooperation?
You conclude that “power isn’t about being right—it’s about knowing how to play the game.” This cynical framing suggests that effectiveness trumps ethics (ironic contradiction) that winning matters more than how you win or the damage left in your wake.
Authenticity in Question
This newsletter brings your own authenticity into question. For years, you’ve marketed Mindvalley as a platform for elevating consciousness and ethical leadership. Now you’re celebrating tactics that undermine those very principles.
Which is the real Vishen? The one who champions higher consciousness and ethical leadership? Or the one who admires a leadership style based on reality distortion, relentless attacks, and zero accountability?
Your fascination with Trump’s effectiveness, without substantive moral critique, suggests that perhaps the principles Mindvalley promotes are marketing tools rather than deeply held convictions.
A Different Approach
A truly neutral analysis would have:
– Acknowledged the real harm caused by these tactics
– Explored the tension between effectiveness and ethics
– Questioned whether “success” achieved through these means is worth the social cost
– Offered alternative models of leadership that achieve results without undermining truth
Instead, your piece reads like a blueprint for aspiring autocrats, wrapped in the language of “personal growth.” A shameful misreading of the room.
I hope you’ll reflect on this contradiction and consider whether the tactics you’ve outlined here truly represent the kind of leadership and personal development Mindvalley should be promoting. Much the same as your readers and members will re consider their alignment with you and your business.
Because in the end, the most important question isn’t “Would you use these rules?” but rather “What kind of world are we creating when we celebrate them?”
This is a truly excellent reply. A better articulated version of my comments exactly.
I have been a Pro member now for almost 5 years. I have taken some of the most beautiful growth courses and meditation classes through Mindvalley. I was very sad to witness this commentary by Vishen therefore endorsed by Mindvalley. Maybe next, you should write about the great personality traits of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and so many others that made their life work motto to promote discord and hate. There is a line of moral, ethical, and spiritual principles that I thought guided Mindvalley. I am not sure of that any longer.
Vishen ~ In this blogpost you show yourself to be shallow thinker and an insensitive Silicon Valley broligarch wannabe, who is sorely lacking in discernment. You neglect to mention the strategies that Trump utilizes continually: lying, cheating, and stealing. There’s no way to reframe that. Perhaps you wrote this blogpost to be a provocateur, hoping for more engagement. Instead you have betrayed what a truly superficial thinker you really are…not to mention also a bad businessman. You have offended and disgusted a large group of your formerly loyal followers who will be unsubscribing and abandoning MindValley. I’ve followed MindValley for over a decade, but now I will not continue to engage with this platform. And I can see that many other people commenting share my opinion. You need to keep in mind Rick Wilson’s golden rule ETTD: “Everything Trump touches dies,” and with this ludicrous blogpost you have killed off a large swath of your followers and customers.
What did I just read… What about character? integrity? Morals? Treating people correctly? What about your humanity. I understand the dualistic nature that we all have, but there is nothing about Donald Trump that is interesting…Do we just forget that he was friends with Jeffrey Epstein and probably engaged in some sick shit? Do we forget when he advocated for the Central Park 5 to be put to death? Do we forget about all of the absolute chaos that he has wrought? I could give two shits about his self delusions…and his relentless optimism. He is a piece of shit.
Goodness, so much judgement and fury. Where is the tolerance and kindness of the spiritual community? Is it only peace, kindness and tolerance when someone agrees with your hate of another?