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
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. I don’t support everything he says and does, but I do believe in his core that he really wants to build America up. 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 very kind and caring people.
Loved your willingness to write dispassionately about Trump dynamics, his larger than life personality, and the way the world has responded to him – love him or hate him. Agree that those of us seeking personal growth and to be the best version of ourselves can learn from Tump’s optimism, confidence, and “reality bending”, regardless of what we think about him personally.
My only complaint: you rightly highlighted Trump’s impressive leadership, branding, and psychological gifts, But there’s a bit of the end justifies the means in your message. And maybe you’d argue it does?? One can argue that Hitler possessed many of these same personal growth tools…….
Does integrity matter?
What does our society and the world become if we all just choose to never admit we make mistakes, relentlessly attack others who disagree with us, and deny any truth if it doesn’t suit us? What if we all decided we would only follow laws that are convenient to follow and made life about self-power and aggrandizement – about destroying those who disagree with us?
There are real consequences to people not telling the truth, ignoring laws and truths that don’t serve them, and blindly following leaders who lack integrity because they have an aura of confidence and invincibility.
At the end of the day, I think many of Trump’s policies are smart and good for the country. But I can’t stand the way he treats other people – even people who have been very loyal to him. His disregard for the military and those who’ve served and died so that we (and Trump!) can experience the many gifts and blessings of living in this great country is appalling. Lastly, I know Trump has significant gifts, but will he use them to simply get more for himself – or to do what’s in the best interests of the country?
I can’t believe you posted this Vishen! How you can you possibly hold this man up as an example of personal growth? He’s a prime example of someone who has completely failed to do any ‘inner work’. He hasn’t faced up to who he is and the wounds of his childhood. As a result he is entirely driven by fear, hate and revenge.
As for his ‘charisma’ when he’s at home with his buddies, let’s not forget that Hitler was extremely charismatic but that didn’t stop him murdering 6 million Jews and millions more on the battlefields. We are all judged by our actions and the actions of Donald Trump right now are in direct opposition to so many of the values Mindvalley purports to stand for.
You say we shouldn’t take sides but there are times in life when we are all called to choose what we stand for and what we are against. What choice are you making Vishen?
I am stunned by your newsletter in the wake of the madness playing out under Trump’s fascist wannabe rule. I have highly recommended Mindvalley to many friends as hosting a platform of amazing teachers and mentors, many of them who are very wealthy, as modeling a beautiful balance of personal integrity, worldly success and generous philanthropy. Just yesterday I emailed a friend encouraging them to consider a Mindvalley membership because of how life transformational the programs have been for me. That you, Vishen, would ask your members if they would use Trump’s self-serving “rules” that have produced a lifetime of malevolent results to further their own success is abhorrent and completely contrary to what I thought that Mindvalley stands for. What is your purpose for this newsletter? What do you intend to do with your survey results here? If enough people say they would use Trump’s “rules” to further their success, will you implement this into future Mindvalley programs? I am seriously rethinking renewing my Mindvalley membership if this is now the direction of this organization, and I’m guessing many, many thousands of your members are feeling the same way.
PLEASE be careful.
You are brainwashing your self.
The most PRICELESS thing a human being owns is Peace of Mind. He does not have that.
It looks like you too are getting attracted to this way of thinking. Please be careful.
And MORE IMPORTANTLY, you have influence over a LOT OF PEOPLE.
So please do not promote this kind of concepts as ‘good’ qualities. This is how countries fail. And people fall.
I do not disagree with the validity of any of these strategies. However, these strategies lack vital components necessary for true sustainable success. All of these strategies lack empathy and love. The reason these principles are so critical is that we are one consciousness, one universe, one being. We are all made of the same stuff and to not include empathy and love displays a lack of awareness and understanding. In truth, there is no us vs them. There is no war. There is no victor and loser.
You tread treacherous waters when communicating something like this. I wonder what your motive is to bring this specific topic to your family.
On a side note – me and my loved ones have been directly impacted by the terror Trump has brought upon our country. My family had a nanny for the past year that we grew so in love with and she left the country because she is gay and the threat and harm this man has created in marginalized communities is unfathomable. So, it doesn’t matter how open someone is to discussion if their actions harm people. Harm from a trusted servant who has the capability to prevent said harm cannot be condoned.
I love you so much, Vishen, but this alarms me. I hope we are on the same page when it comes to our beliefs and how we act in this world.
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. I don’t support everything he says and does, but I do believe in his core that he really wants to build America up. He has stated this many times over the years even before he entered into politics and when he was a Democrat (back when they loved him). 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 very kind and caring people. Well said Vishen!
This was difficult to read…but as an American absolutely horrified about what’s happening to our country under this truly delusional excuse for leadership, I do strive to understand how so many could continue to support this man…and this article did provide some valuable insight, that was refreshingly absent of political bent, so I do appreciate that.
So many of my friends and acquaintances refuse to engage with anyone who supports him…and while I understand that, (and also understand that I enjoy privilege that many of my friends do not), I do think its essential to attempt to understand how exactly this convicted criminal was elected again after instigating and blessing a coup of the country he is supposed to be leading (among a laundry list of other atrocities).
To answer the question, NO…I would not use these principals. Honestly, I’ve used Mindvalley programs and meditations for the last 10 years to help me in balancing my dreams and ambitions with integrity. To help me stretch my upper limits in a way that is aligned with doing good work in the world, that does no deliberate harm, and that blesses and benefits many people, not just me. I could not and would not enjoy success earned at the expense of my integrity. To present the current American president as a case study is one thing…but I do certainly hope you are not suggesting that this is an acceptable way to operate in the world. It “works” in the sense that it has brought him wealth, fame and power at the highest levels…but I would hope anyone associated with Mindvalley would agree that these are ends are not worth having if they are not achieved in an honorable way and used for the good of all.
This is a well written, deeply considered, offensively Machiavellian perspective. Cause and effect with no discussion of values. What if everyone DID behave according to this list? Would we have a civilized society? I worry about continuing my membership when the steward of this community seems to be easily allured by power
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. I don’t support everything he says and does, I do believe in his core that he really wants to build America up. He has stated this many times over the years even before he entered into politics and when he was a Democrat (back when they loved him). 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 very kind and caring people. Well said Vishen!
I will be honest, this whole blog really saddens me. I have followed your work for a long while and respected what you were trying to do. But this really reeks of ‘drinking the Kool-Aid’. To answer your question I would NOT use the rules you mentioned and the reason is personal integrity. If you have a modicum of self awareness and honesty I don’t know how anyone could entertain the idea. You very conveniently left out of your blog analysis of Trump, the pain and damage he has inflicted on other people in his efforts to inflate his own ego. This pain and damage won’t be limited to his investors. He is intent on tearing families apart, institutionalizing racism, destroying the educational system, taking away social programs that support those in our communities (and the world) who need help, the list goes on. Now he wants the world at his feet, not just the US. And to analyze this in a Monopoly game kind of way is not helpful.
I could hardly believe what I was reading. You’ve lost me and you’ve lost your spiritual equilibrium.
Donald trump is a liar, and felon, nothing to admire to become, I rather hear you quoting the strategies of the book on how to win with integrity than glorifying trumps strategies: Attack, Attack, Attack
Admit Nothing, Deny Everything
Always Claim Victory
When you cheat the system and claim victory by being dishonest, and by cheating constantly, you do not appreciate what you have, as you never worked hard for it, but got it by being selfish, ignorant and without integrity.
In my opinion, Trump is the worst person on the planet to be president, he has killed many innocent lives, the way he handled the covid pandemie, and causing the January 6 event to occur. Those are not actions of a person that cares about others, it is just the actions of a sick individual that is a narcassist and psychopath.
You should not lift him up by writing something like that, but instead condem him for the person he is and what he has done to millions of people.
Wow! Shocked that there is still such close-mindedness and black-and-white thinking on a blog intended to create open discussion. Vishen – Thank you for sharing your experience and demonstrating that people are multi-dimensional. I was speaking to someone on a retreat who assumed that I would be anti-Trump but at the end of our conversation did admit that he is a “master manifester.” I am not necessarily pro-Trump, but for me he was the best of 2 bad options based on my political philosophy. I also truly believe that our system needs to be shaken up and the programming changed. That can’t be done with current political insiders and incrementally.
Trump is not Hitler. While he takes it too far for me, there are things to learn from his approach to life. When tempered with Love, his confidence and believing in himself could be aspects that we can all build into creating the lives we want. Be curious and see what you can learn from every situation. An unwillingness to be curious and open will never lead to growth.
I’m so disappointed in you, Vishen. How could you present vicious bullying, lies and gaslighting as a valid business strategy? Yes, Trump has successfully brainwashed enough Americans to get himself elected again, but the world is now suffering the consequences.
Wow! Not a word about the ethics or morality of Trump’s philosophy or approach to life that you outline. It’s as if ethics don’t matter and that anything goes in the pursuit of power. I can’t believe that this is what you believe. But then, why would you present such a ruthless Machiavellian philosophy in such a positive light? Just for the sake of discussion or do you honestly see a larger valuable truth to Trump’s philosophy? If so, what is it? There’s a reason that all the great religious traditions embedded their teachings about ultimate reality with positive ethics. Trump clearly has no moral compass whatsoever. Do you?
Thank you for the thought provoking newsletter. I believe it is important to have the ability to view any subject with an open mind, no matter how terrible it may personally seem because none of us can foresee the long term results of it. At least be open to the possibility that something good will manifest from it.
The question I will pose is this… What will be the cost to humanity (socially, economically, spiritually, environmentally) as the result of the behavior described in this newsletter?
The fact that you ask, “would I or would I not use them?“ is provocative in itself. Good. 😊
I learned a huge amount reading this newsletter or article. With the growth I’m going through just in the last couple of weeks it hits just at the perfect moment.
However, given the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, just your publication of this analysis of yours must necessarily increase (or decrease) the number of people who will employ his four strategies. It doesn’t take much intuition to guess which will result from dissemination of his “system“.
This must necessarily make the world a worse place. It makes the world less ethical. It makes the world more like 1984 where we just define what is true and what is false and everybody goes along with it.
Roy Cohn is no example to follow in almost any way. His memory is most definitely not for a blessing to employ the negation of a Jewish blessing for the dead.
In summary, much can be learned from reading what you wrote. In my opinion, you could have made it clearer that you were most definitely not advocating for adoption of his 4 strategies. You could have made it clear that, as they are employed more commonly which they have been the last 10 years, the world necessarily becomes a worse place.
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute.
Good article, Vishen. For those blinded by hate and always bowing to their shadow, it is hard to consider that they may be in the wrong. Need some more Mindvalley courses to sneak some sunlight in there.
Wish people would crack open a history book on Hitler…they really paint themselves in sheer stupidity when they bring that up.
This is golden! The first comments prove this point to a tee-
“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”
Thank you for posting this!