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.
510 Responses
After reading “The Art of a Deal” back in 2000 I decided I want to learn more from this man. When he showed up in politics, I thought why wasting time but because I learned to trust his instinct I stayed and watched the show. Little did I know that there was a mission behind his move. I am so grateful for what I’ve learned over past four years. And even more I am grateful for being in the first raw watching how to play in the big arene to win. Not only for himself but for the nation and beyond. After all we all want to win. We are blessed to be around to learn from a big man in action. He showed that something impossible can be made possible.
One of the more interesting letters/writings about Mr Trump that I have read in this day and age and I have done my share of reading, can I say, strange readings or at least different readings.
Your letter is one of the more interesting scripts about Mr. Trump that I have read in a long time. Such a unique and brilliant way of thinking as a human or as we say looking at things differently. Also very disciplined for sure. And is that not the key?
For a while now I had been paying close attention to Mr Trumps language and now thank you for clarifying it. It reminded me of a course I took years ago.
One of their statements in this course said “it all happens in language” which I thought was at the time an interesting statement but the more I paid attention to it the more it became true for me and I read and heard it everywhere especially in todays communication.
People of today do not seem to understand language. That could be why most may not understand Mr. Trump. In my book he is brilliant.
I think most people should adopt your style of script for sure. Brilliant way of speaking. Programming ourselves to be always positive.
Most I am sure have heard statements like “always be positive”.
Today you have two worlds, an inside and an outside and I believe Mr. Trump was kind of in both those worlds if I can say that.
To believe in a world that one does not see I would suggest is difficult especially if one thinks like a human being compared to, say, a spiritual being.
Many of us have been brought up in some kind of religious back ground from birth with strong beliefs but then how does one believe something one cannot really see. Such a large area for conversation.
In this world of today we, in my opinion lack a lot of knowledge regarding who we really are, why are we here and what is our purpose in life.
What I call the big questions.
I am sure you have a lot of answers and questions as well. Thank you for allowing me to express myself. Be well and Prosper.
Your presentation of the effectiveness of Trump’s methods puts aside whether his motives and the impacts of his words and actions are more constructive or destructive, more unifying or divisive. You provide Trump a heroic halo for getting what he wants even as he destroys the country I love. You have created yet another space in which Trump is given license to behave how he behaves with no regard to how he impacts others, zero accountability to others.
I suppose it comes back to how one defines success, how one defines being a successful human being. And that definition will be tied to one’s values. For some, the ends justify the means, and money and power over others are the only true markers of success. I suppose Trump is a paragon if that is your value system. Yet if you define success as a human being using love and kindness as barometers, how much you lift others up, then Trump and his ilk are monsters. Not saviors, but false prophets. Not models of true happiness, but sagas of unquenchable greed and dissatisfaction. Not heroes, but cautionary tales.
If this “open mindedness” (i.e. “there’s no right or wrong, just results”) is where Mindvalley is headed, perhaps a quest on Machiavelli’s methods is next? And perhaps adding lessons to existing quests on how to use the concepts taught to attack, control, deceive, and defraud others is called for? Morality aside, this could yield results which in the Trumpian worldview might yield “success” right?
I sure hope not, as I came to Mindvalley seeking light not darkness.
We certainly could have a better world after Trump and the crises he forced and created. It is clear that the sickening need and greed for attention, money, and power come to the surface and how it predominates in ‘modern’ thinking and its vengeful, destructive impulses.
A crisis evokes radical change, the end of an era, and the beginning of a more evolved new era. In any case, it is the end of this patriarchal domination. Trump is the personified example of the last convulsion of this era, which is entering its self-destruction. The king is dead. Long live the non-king.
Yesterday I wrote this and did not show up in comments, so am trying again:
I agree that people are a combination of good/bad, right/wrong, etc. and it is important to open our eyes to all sides. In Trump, however, I do not see the side to admire but instead the side to feel sorry for. Anyone who feels loved, valued, and cherished do not use their power to strike others down, bully them, run roughshod over them, and disregard all laws and ethics to do so. Trump has taken it so far as to do this to countries!
I also feel sorry for him because he clearly suffers from some psychological disorders, and it is sad that the Americans put him into an office where they can be exacerbated and cause immense (and often irreversible) harm.
It is important to feel confident, to believe what one is doing, and hold that vision and energy. It is NOT okay when this is directed in an evil way, as Trump is doing every damn day. Nor is it okay to disregard the truth. He is a lesson in how to spread evil and darkness.
Very interesting and revealing article. Thank you for having the courage to share it with your audience. Now I understand the mechanics behind Donald Trump. He is a very dangerous man indeed; with his use of manipulation and deception he is able to create an alternate reality all the while claiming to improve the lives of his fellow citizens while increasing his own personal power and wealth, be damned what happens to them, their country or the world. I hope his demise is around the corner and he spends the balance of his life if not in jail, at least despised and reviled! No these tactics should not be tolerated and deserve punishment.
Oh Vishen, really??? Are you trying to change reality now, by saying that man’s name you are de facto speaking politically.
I am very disappointed, heartbroken really, that you feel spousing ” Attack, Deny, and Revenge”, are somehow positive.
I am disgusted really, that you took the time to glowingly review the very attributes that have created a megalomaniac. Someone actively working on ending democracy, and even more actively, stepping on the throats of the most vulnerable members of society.
Trump didn’t change, didn’t grow, didn’t develop; he is just a criminal, a malicious artistic sociopath. In that sense, he is authentic, has charisma, and is quite simple to read. His mental illness, fortified by his dementia, makes his behavior even more outrageous; maybe the form or sort of eruptions are too foreseeable, but certainly, the course of his mentally ill state of mind is quite predictable: he gets more and more nuts and (self)destructive.
From a nonpersonal distance, ‘useful’ as this area is coming to its (natural) end; everything comes and goes and is therefore unavoidable. He is infecting millions of people with his sick mind (as psychiatrists already predicted and warned for in 2016, they all got fired and defunded). His behavior is unjustifiedly normalized, and you want to promote and advertise this mentally ill person as an example of extraordinary Personal Growth. His mindset is that of a malicious sociopath. The only thing that is growing is his dementia.
What’s the matter with you? Do you all get infected as well?
I just listened to an interview with Charlie Rose and Michael Wollf. Michael Wolff did a quite accurate description of Trump’s state of mind and character. He wrote a chronicle of this creature, most interestingly his latest book, ‘All or Nothing’. You should READ it and then consider whether it is a good idea to propagate Trump’s ways as an enrichment of being.
I believe that if I lived in a victim mentality mindset and didn’t take complete personal responsibility for my life, I too would be unhappy with a bold successful leader with a vision that flips the long suffering paradigm of what we’ve lived up until now. This is the greatest time to be alive. All my “losses” I count as education in real estate, digital assets, and stock market moves. All my great gains and victories come from actions often from pivoting and re-framing my beliefs. Optimism and love are more powerful than the opposite. Thank you for your thoughts and words. Welcome to the bright side. Truly, the best is yet to come.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, experience, perspective and insights. But really I hope there are other leaders/ way of leadership styles who inspire you more ánd share at MindValley. I know a few others who I prefer more as a source of inspiration and do have more qualities that support humanity more/ feel more healing to the world.
To answer your question:
1. No, I would not use this/ his rules. He maybe had some inspiration from good inspirational sources, but the nuance is totally lost in the way mr T. uses it. In my opinion mr T. goes through that ‘energy – law of attraction emotional scale’ like an ‘elevator gone crazy’ / rollercoaster/ tornado. So no, I don’t like what he does at all. And I really hope there are other leaders who inspire you more, even on a international level. And this reminds me about the story of two wolves:
Two wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.. He said,
“My son, the battle is about two “wolves” inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envym jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about is for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied: “The one you feed.”
2. “Power over” VS “Power with” and “Power to”
Like Brené Brown pointed out real good during an interview/ podcast with Kamala Harris (https://brenebrown.com/podcast/courageous-leadership-and-winning-in-2024/). Trump uses “power over”, and Kamala Harris uses more “power with” and “power to” as a leadership style. Soulvana and Mindvalley Quest / meditations gave me the feeling of “power with”. And even more of the “power to”; they gave me the believe / confidence/ trust/ loving supporting way to take better self care, and make my dreams come true.
Brené Brown wrote some amazing and inspiring books who helped me in my healing journey/ entrepreneurship: ‘The gifts of imperfection’, ‘Daring Greatly’, ‘Rising Strong’ and ‘Dare to lead’.
Bréne Brown also has two inspiring TedX Talks
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability
and
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame
3. Humanity
Even as/ especially as a leader you have to take care of each other, the earth, humanity. No mather how charismatic you are. You can always give more back than you take; to support community/ humanity/ earth; even “with a full cup of energy, the overspill is for the others”. You can still choose ‘good’ energy 20 times a day, ánd shine your loving light bright. Energy is contagius, also the ‘good’ energy.
This reeel is way more inspiring for business leaders (whith important European core values if you ask me):
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1451976535765816
( it’s an abstract from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux0l2GtBkdw )
4. Please, please, please read:
‘Humankind: A Hopeful History’ from Rutger Bregman (it’s translated in 46 languages)
It is al about communication, kindness, respectfull boundaries, friendship, safe atachment style communication skills, compassion, respect, love, taking care of each other/ looking after each other, and healing; that is how people and communities thrive.
5. And don’t forget to do the meditations in your own MindValley app (“Practice what you preach”) :
“Clearing the karma of humanity” and “Restoring Global Harmony” – Marie Diamond,
“Clearing planetary Darkness” Manex Ibar,
“Raising the consciousness of Humanity” – Ariya Lorenz,
and “Clearing foreign energy” – Jeffrey Allen.
These meditations made my neighboorhood and al the lives I touch a little softer, gentler, loving, more healing, more joyfull, more: empowerment, freedom, love, appreciated, passionfull, enthusiasm, positieve expectation/ believe, optimism, hopefullness and content. Just like I learned from “Love or above” – Marie Sheldon. An uplifting energy is more what we need in the world right now. There are to many dark souls opperating from really low vibrations in way to powerfull positions, creating more harm/ trauma’s than necessary to way to many people.
6. How do you contribute to peace on a daily basis? In your community? In your entrepreneurship area? Which leadership style creates more peace (for everybody)? Contributes to a better environment? Which leadership style is uplifting and loving for everybody arround you? And do you practice that daily?
I loved this article, it was fascinating and insightful. It also showed Vishen is a balanced person willing to look at different perspectives and try to understand people. I am not American, but I can see Trump is making some positive changes (not all however!) and I don’t think the world would be a better place had the democrats won. I used to be more on the left, however the left changed! I don’t relate to what the left stands for anymore and see it as too focussed on a victim mindset, which is also not healthy. I love reading about different ideas about how successful people came to be, and it is stupid to avoid talking about Trump just because you personally don’t like him. And no, I wouldn’t use these rules of life as they don’t align with me as a person but am interested to understand people and how they think. Keep up the great work Vishen.
Hi there,
This is a really disappointing piece.
This man is a rapist.
I’m actually not political at all.
We all have the right to support who we want.
Politics aside you have given more life to a rapist, a fraudster.
Whilst I appreciate the personal growth spin you’ve put on this newsletter – this man is not someone you should be championing in any shape or form.
As a woman I’m lost for words,
Christina
Hi there,
This is a really disappointing piece.
This man is a rapist.
I’m actually not political at all.
We all have the right to support who we want.
Politics aside you have given more life to a rapist, a fraudster.
Whilst I appreciate the personal growth spin you’ve put on this newsletter – this man is not someone you should be championing in any shape or form.
As a woman I’m lost for words,
Christina
I’m from the UK and I don’t like Trump. I wouldn’t use his tactics.
But… I completely get what Vishen had wrote and why people would vote for him.
In the current economic climate where the average person is struggling to put food on the table, they haven’t got the luxury to vote for the other candidate whose headline stance was women’s rights (that’s my interpretation from the British press).
And now, despite his awful meeting with Zelenskyy, and he might be going about it like a total buffoon, but he is the only world leader who has actually made any real effort to stop the war between the Ukraine and Russia.
So I do completely agree with Vishen – we have to deal with the uncomfortable truth that we form opinions about people based on what we read. And we choose to read things that we think will align to our own stance. We don’t choose to read things that contradict or conflict with our existing beliefs.
I have followed Mindvalley for a few years now and have greatly appreciated many of your courses, but I must admit that this article truly disappoints me.
Highlighting Trump’s strategies without critically reflecting on the person himself—his values, his ethics, and the real-world impact of his actions—seems deeply misaligned with Mindvalley’s messages of consciousness, authenticity, and integrity.
This is not just about strategy. Trump is not merely a controversial figure—he has a well-documented history of racism, chauvinism, and dishonesty. He has repeatedly used fear, division, and lies to manipulate people and maintain power. His values are the opposite of what true personal growth should stand for.
How does this align with Mindvalley’s mission to create a more conscious and loving world? I genuinely wish this article had taken a more nuanced approach and acknowledged the ethical implications of praising these ‘strategies’ without addressing the damage they have caused.
Unfortunately, it makes me question Mindvalley’s values in a new way.
Wow!
Talk about rousing the lion.
Thank you for illustrating how our journeys to perfect mind-over-matter here at Mindvalley can be twisted and abused to fuel power over, rather than power within.
Many seeds of vulnerability and imperfection lie among our enlightened brethren that prompt us to lash out with indignation when presented with what we perceive are impure thoughts.
As we all strive toward enlightenment, our own moral histories can render it difficult to fully grasp the universal grounding principle of unconditional love.
Why is this relevant?
Presence. Awareness. Self awareness. Why are we pursuing the skills that Mindvalley offers?
We are not immune to the baser needs of greed, dominance and control of our environments, including the people within them.
In the selfish mind, is not abundance misconstrued as personal wealth? Is not the accumulation of wealth at the expense of others deemed natural and normal, regardless of the society we evolve in?
Is it not possible to abuse the wholistic teachings of Mindvalley to further your own selfish interests?
You all know in your heart of hearts that the answer is yes.
Just as you now realize that the man we call Trump is not an anomaly. He is a product of the system we live in, are a part of.
Vishen’s “insight” gives me pause. Gives me a magnifying glass with which to look more closely at the people around me and how genuine they are. To be critically aware of who they are. To look in the mirror and expose my own attitudes and judgements.
God knows that none of us are perfect.
But in a fundamental way, we need to ask ourselves the same question we regularly ask our children.
Are our judgements helping or hurting?
I admit to being in the anti-Trump camp. Understanding why he is the way he is has been enlightening.
Reading the many negative comments here helps me to understand how our world can be so divided, and how I have been perpetrating that division with my own attitude.
Our personal expectations define how we see and relate to the world.
I have found that I need to temper my expectations before I can hope to reach the peace offered by unconditional love.
Vishen has taken a great risk to give us an opportunity to take a closer look at ourselves and how we interact with the people and world around us.
It would be a real shame if we did not take advantage of this opportunity.
I have followed Mindvalley for a few years now and have greatly appreciated many of your courses,
but I must admit that this article truly disappoints me. Highlighting Trump’s strategies without critically reflecting on the person himself—his values, his ethics, and the real-world impact of his actions—seems deeply misaligned with Mindvalley’s messages of consciousness, authenticity, and integrity.
This is not just about strategy. Trump is not merely a controversial figure—he has a well-documented history of racism, chauvinism, and dishonesty. He has repeatedly used fear, division, and lies to manipulate people and maintain power. His values are the opposite of what true personal growth should stand for.
How does this align with Mindvalley’s mission to create a more conscious and loving world? I genuinely wish this article had taken a more nuanced approach and acknowledged the ethical implications of praising these ‘strategies’ without addressing the damage they have caused.
Unfortunately, it makes me question Mindvalley’s values in a new way.
NO! I’m very disappointed with your article! Many people are losing their jobs, and probably their homes and much more. A 10 year old girl committed suicide because she thought her parents were going to be deported!
I joined Mind Valley for personal growth and have been very happy with all the programs I have completed. I do not want to read an article about a very narcissist man who is harming so many people in this world!!
I am truly considering cancelling my membership!!!
Vishen, this playbook isn’t anything special. It’s the same playbook used by every dictator and cult leader, both present-day and throughout history. I would have expected you to have more original ideas than this!
Sorry Vishen, too late. Everything you say now seems to appease Trump. It exudes from the page. Remember the dark energy of our subconscious? Why didn’t you put on the spiritual hat and say that Trump has dark energy, and that he needs meditation to get this dark energy out.