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
Hi! At first I thought you had lost your mind with this article, lol. But I appreciate the perspective of analysis without judgment.
The only rule I would use is “Always Claim Victory.” Being able to rephrase outcomes to suit/assist your goals can be beneficial for confidence levels and mental health.
I would not use the other rules, especially not “ Attack Relentlessly.” You may gain power and “success” but at what cost? He creates his reality, but with a trail of Hellfire in his wake.
Hitler was charismatic with die-hard fans too.
This is an interesting piece because the question would be how can I take this playbook and create the life I’ve always wanted to and a mindset that will help to get me there without hurting a lot of people along the way? It’s fascinating and kind of horrifying if used for the wrong purposes. A lot of people only look at one side and label the other “bad”. What people consider “ good” has brought harm to a lot of people too (look at religion).
I have just cancelled my subscription. Shows an absolute lack of judgment, besides being a terrible article that goes against all Mindvalley teaches. Was is there to take from that article? Short-term thinking wins at the expense of losing strategic alliances. It’s all about lying, not facing reality, bullying with the massive wealth inherited (not self-made), taking credit for the achievements of others, and blaming others for his shortcomings. Trump is precisely the kind of person with a fixed mindset who will not recognise errors and has no curiosity or growth. Everything about him seems to be about self-gratification and enrichment at the cost of others. Still, find it hard to believe you, the CEO of Mindvalley, would write such an article.
No! Absolutely not! My Lifebook group ( we have been meeting for over 2 years) are currently working through Awaken the Species with Neale Donald Walsch, specifically to anchor ourselves in personal/community growth during a time these incredibly dark times. Trump and his team are polar opposites of an Awakened Species. There is no Personal growth, just personal greed, and people lives are being destroyed, and even lost because of him. Being successful at destroying others lives is the antithesis of everything I expect from Mindvalley and to call it personal growth seems insulting to all of us who really strive for actual growth, and strive to make the world better, not only for us and our circles, but the entire global community, which I thought was also a priority for Mindvalley. An estimated 75-80 million people died during Hitler’s “personal growth”
Thank you. Finally, something sensible! Though I am not a pro-Trump person, I see this individual as I see other people: a person trying to do what he thinks is best and not a supernatural demon or an agent of enemy forces. We all need to get back to reason so we can all come to the table and work together. Some of what he does is right, and some is very wrong. Our voices need to be heard but they won’t be when we refuse to even come to the table. Again, thanks for having the courage to speak the truth.
Why doesn’t this page show all the comments?
Donald Trump is one of the most disgusting human beings on Earth, next to Putin. Stupid, arrogant, incompetent, abusive, narcissistic, i can go on, just do not want to waste my time with this. I am hoping to see one day how the set of his “values” will finally be evaluated objectivly and he will be called accountable for the damage he has caused to people.
You know, Vishen, I have been thinking along these same lines lately, mostly in my attempt to find the silver-lining, the positive aspects of the current “reality” and its grand scheme effects. I don’t want to hate anyone, not even someone despicable and ruthless. I understand that doing so only hurts myself, my attractive vibration.
I want to write my own reality, heedless of what the others in my current experience may hold to be true. I want to resonate with the vibrations of the experiences I wish to have and ignore what anyone else wants or wishes. But I don’t want to be cruel. I don’t want to be ruthless at the expense of another. And while that ruthlessness makes trump nearly invincible, because he really doesn’t care what reality other people are accepting now (he will just rewrite what doesn’t suit him anyway), it also makes him despicable, if we are looking at the grand scheme, humanity as a whole. He may be a powerful manifestor, but he is a despicable human being… (con’td)
HOW DARE YOU!! This man is a morally empty vessel and without any character at all. He is the lowest of life and wants to bring others down to make himself feel better. He is destroying my country that I LOVE very much. He is evil, abhorrent and dangerous! You are caving into his lies and vulgar ways like all the other maga types and billionaires. I am extremely disappointed in you. I’m canceling my Mindvalley membership immediately!
What shocks me is that you show no regret or remorse about having done business deals with him.
Done with Mindvalley.
You’re going to get a lot of reactions from this one, I am sure that was your purpose.
So perhaps one should operate also with a moral compass in this world in addition to attack, attack, attack and deny, deny, deny? Unless one becomes an enormous powerful agent of evil like Mr. Trump? What is the very first thing Trump and Musk destroyed in the US government? United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), George Bush’s response to AIDS, underappreciated by liberals, which saved 25 million lives. And they destroyed nearly all the rest of USAID which provides critical help to the poorest people in the world. What do the world’s great spiritual traditions, Hindu/Buddhism/Jainism and Judeo-Christian-Muslim say about the world’s richest people attacking the poorest this way? One could name many other examples.
Always lie, lie, lie. The truth doesn’t matter, it only matters what you can make people think. Aah, another great rule for the devil. Is you company, obsessed with growth, going the same way?
You know, Vishen, I have been thinking along these same lines lately, mostly in my attempt to find the silver-lining, the positive aspects of the current “reality” and its grand scheme effects. I don’t want to hate anyone, not even someone despicable and ruthless. I understand that doing so only hurts myself, my attractive vibration.
I want to write my own reality, heedless of what the others in my current experience may hold to be true. I want to resonate with the vibrations of the experiences I wish to have and ignore what anyone else wants or wishes. But I don’t want to be cruel. I don’t want to be ruthless at the expense of another. And while that ruthlessness makes trump nearly invincible, because he really doesn’t care what reality other people are accepting now (he will just rewrite what doesn’t suit him anyway), it also makes him despicable, if we are looking at the grand scheme, humanity as a whole. He may be a powerful manifestor, but he is a despicable human being.
So, no, I could never lower myself to his tactics. I could never attack others to raise myself. I could never deny fallibility so that someone else pays for my mistakes. I admit that his tactics work, and I understand how they work, but I could never stoop so low. He may be powerful for these tactics, but in my estimation, that lowers him further still, because he would not have succeeded if he were honest, true and just. And maybe I am a bit Pollyanna, but I would love to see the person(s) in charge be that: Honest, True, and Just. I believe we can be powerful and positively proactive simultaneously. I don’t believe we need to sell our souls (i.e.: do harm to others) to have what is wanted, to rewrite reality in the image we prefer – in fact, I believe that’s the purpose of our being focused here in the 3-D, to write the script of what is wanted from this unique perspective.
So, what if we looked at his actions as just that, a unique perspective that precludes the need for morals because everyone gets to write their own script? What if… what if this need to have a balance of fairness is simply a limitation that we have each been burdened with culturally, philosophically – a limitation that is reducing our own ability to be powerful manifestors? What if we all remembered that everyone DOES get to write their own script, there is no assertion of someone else’s wishes over our own, there is only a cooperation between us, a cooperation of agreement to play out someone else’s version…? Would more turn into narcissistic despots? Would the world be a better place? I’ve never questioned the sharing of this knowledge before, but I think I begin to see why they termed it esoteric.
You said: So, the real question isn’t just whether these rules work. The real question is: Would you use them?
I say: Yes! Maybe not all the way, like he does – but in a way that fits my values. Great article, I will use some of it to reshape my mindset and business strategies for sure! 🙂 I was actually looking to see if you had a course or training on these topics. 🙂 Maybe it’s coming?
You know, Vishen, I have been thinking along these same lines lately, mostly in my attempt to find the silver-lining, the positive aspects of the current “reality” and its grand scheme effects. I don’t want to hate anyone, not even someone despicable and ruthless. I understand that doing so only hurts myself, my attractive vibration.
I want to write my own reality, heedless of what the others in my current experience may hold to be true. I want to resonate with the vibrations of the experiences I wish to have and ignore what anyone else wants or wishes. But I don’t want to be cruel. I don’t want to be ruthless at the expense of another. And while that ruthlessness makes trump nearly invincible, because he really doesn’t care what reality other people are accepting now (he will just rewrite what doesn’t suit him anyway), it also makes him despicable, if we are looking at the grand scheme, humanity as a whole. He may be a powerful manifestor, but he is a despicable human being.
So, no, I could never lower myself to his tactics. I could never attack others to raise myself. I could never deny fallibility so that someone else pays for my mistakes. I admit that his tactics work, and I understand how they work, but I could never stoop so low. He may be powerful for these tactics, but in my estimation, that lowers him further still, because he would not have succeeded if he were honest, true and just. And maybe I am a bit Pollyanna, but I would love to see the person(s) in charge be that: Honest, True, and Just. I believe we can be powerful and positively proactive simultaneously. I don’t believe we need to sell our souls (i.e.: do harm to others) to have what is wanted, to rewrite reality in the image we prefer – in fact, I believe that’s the purpose of our being focused here in the 3-D, to write the script of what is wanted from this unique perspective.
So, what if we looked at his actions as just that, a unique perspective that precludes the need for morals because everyone gets to write their own script? What if… what if this need to have a balance of fairness is simply a limitation that we have each been burdened with culturally, philosophically – a limitation that is reducing our own ability to be powerful manifestors? What if we all remembered that everyone DOES get to write their own script, there is no assertion of someone else’s wishes over our own, there is only a cooperation between us, a cooperation of agreement to play out someone else’s version…? Would more turn into narcissistic despots? Would the world be a better place? I’ve never questioned the sharing of this knowledge before, but I think I begin to see why they termed it esoteric.
I found this article very insightful and brilliant! Your article gives a very clear picture of why he does what he does and it’s refreshing perspective compared to the kindergarten antics of the media. The media paints a picture of him and his MAGA supporters being a bunch of nazi’s and yet many people like yourself who actually get to talk to them find they are the exact opposite.
“Because at the end of the day, power isn’t about being right—it’s about knowing how to play the game.”
Is this really the path you want to follow? Playing the game? No matter what? Without conscience? Friend – enemy game? No honesty? War (what is an attack at the end)? Betrayal? And so on…
1. Attack, Attack, Attack
Again: war! Not peace! It should be vice versa! That’s why the world is like it is. And this is not positive!
2. Admit Nothing, Deny Everything
Dishonesty, walking over corpses, fighting, war… This is really disgusting and scary
3. Always Claim Victory
Ok, this you could see as positive thinking.
4. Relentless Optimism
Ok, positive thinking again.
That you bring up 1. And 2. really shocks me! What is with your conscious, spiritual, respectful attitude? What are the traits of mindvalley now? I really love the quests but if this is the new path of MV I definitely won’t subscribe further my membership!!
Every villain is so charismatic, powerful, feels no limits and has a creative attitude.
This mail is pure and clumsy trial to make interesting and role-modeling of a wrong situation.
There is one big point missing: humanity. And with humanity I don’t mean being naive, stupid, with no goals in mind, but respectful of others in every aspect of life.
WTF is saying that he is nice during an event? For sure he is an educated person with culture and big ideas, but he is leading the world to a wrong reality. Even Adolf was such a cultured man, fond of history and philosophy, but he acted /and made his nation act/ evil.
Normalizing violence is something that not only scares me but bored me. And you did.
Leaders are not like him.
Asimov said it right: Sill asses.
As many, I won’t follow you anymore nor buy any course.
Ethics must be the the basis of any action and thought. Not violence and attack.
If this is a social experiment, well done.
It is true that life is not binary – that everything lies on a spectrum. However, it is also true that it is prudent to judge a person by their actions, not by their words. Ultimately, a choice is necessary – whether to accept or to reject what that person presents. At one point in my life I realised that I could argue both sides of a dispute and make both correct. That forced me to determine what criteria I should use to determine my truth. What I discovered goes much deeper than intellectual arguments, or, Trumps four rules. I only hope that Americans are able to determine their truth in their evaluation of Trump and his policies. In my opinion, behind all of his bravado is a very weak man who succeeds by being an excellent con-artist. Sadly, it would seem that he is being used politically by an extremist religious faction of American society with whom, it would seem, he has chosen to align himself. This alliance appears to myself as evil – in that it goes against the essence of love and all of creation in its demand for power and control.
Wow. Thank you for opening your mind and heart to another perspective of reality. This takes courage when it is so far away from the perspective that most align to. I don’t agree with Trump at all, but also find that the US election was a selection between two distorted realities, neither of which intended to lead from the heart.
My daughter and son in law gave me a gift subscription to Mindvalley and today I noticed your commentary about Donald Trump and his rules that he follows to acquire power and success. This is the first article I have read. I must say I was very disappointed in the narrowness of your discussion. It seemed as if you actually admired him because his rules were so effective at manipulating and using people to gain power, as if gaining power and dominating people is the ultimate measure of success. I found the article sorely lacking with no mention of ethics, morals, psychopathology, narcissistic personality or intentionality as it pertains to the question of how successful he is.
The article was quite disappointing in its narrowness.