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.
518 Responses
Firstly, as I was reading through this newsletter, I felt that although you were describing the style of Donald Trumps leadership & I use that term loosly… I felt that it goes against everything Mindvalley stands for and gives me pause as to whether I should maintain my Mindvalley membership… It doesn’t matter how nice & polite people are in a setting they’re comfortable in, when in a heartbeat they have stopped all of the hard work that has been done over the years to help people, including the less fortunate, diverse groups, education, and the list goes on… without so much as batting an eye. These “polite” people are hipocrites when they act one way with their peers and people that don’t challenge them and a totally different way when they are challenged because they don’t get their way. Wah wah wah… As much as you have presented the information, it irks me that this could be called a leadership style when it is blatantly just plain nastiness and a distaste for people that don’t cowtow to “the Donald”. I don’t normally post but this newsletter is so opposite to anything I believe in and in my eyes opposite to the reasons I’ve subscribed to MindValley over the years. Again, even though you are providing information my thought is that MindValley should be working against this type of bullying, and browbeating and not even giving DT the time of day as you have done with this post. This is not hiding my head in the sand…it is that he doesn’t deserve any more attention than he has already been getting and we all know how much DT like getting attention. I will be watching what the outcome of this newsletter is and will make my decision as to whether I will stay with MindValley or not…
The playbook you have described is the textbook definition of bullying. And yes, being a bully, thug, and attacker often works unfortunately. Many people in history have used charm, threats, lies, and relentless optimism to achieve their agenda. Thinking of Hitler, Jeffrey Epstein, Bernie Madoff, etc.
You could attack someone, and if you win, steal their money. If you get away with it you’ll be richer, but was it really an ethical thing to do in the first place?
Using lying, cheating, and bullying is not anything close to the values that a civilization should promote as being desirable or even ultimately very functional.
What I love about you Vishen is your kind hearted soul, and desire to help people and the planet.
This newsletter gave me the feeling that you might adapt some of those 4 laws. Please don’t!!!!!
Disappointed. Though I suspect this was AI written, sadly it still has your views and guidelines. Like Branson, I too walked away shaken. Please read the room and take on the feedback.
My answer was no, I would not use these rules since they do not align with my moral compass. My question to you Vishen is would you use these rules to live by? Do they align with your moral compass? I look forward to your answer.
What is the PURPOSE of MindValley? Does this article align with the purpose of Mindvalley? Why did you go to Mar-Lar-Go?
You have damaged the TRUST of your audience. But maybe that is intentional. Maybe you desire a MAGA audience. I now question the purpose(see a brilliant comment from a previous commenter)
Mindvalley was/is all about: growing awareness and the power of love, not so much the love of power.
The question is, how does publishing of this article benefit YOU, Vishen?
What’s the deal here?
Who are you trying to impress or please?
How much money (or power, or possibility) is in the game?
Just one thought – all dictators (or dictators to be) radiate charisma and warmth when met in person, and I believe that they are the sweetest hosts at the table with their guests, while in the meantime people ruled by them die, are inprisoned, and fear what the next day would bring. It’s no news to anyone but perhaps kids.
I’m so relieved to see that my ‘stomach/gut pains’ weren’t the only ones. I’ve been a maverick most of my adult life, willing to take risks, I accept the consequences (good and bad), and move to the next day. I’ve become resilient, educated (on-going), willing to be wrong, and yet I noticed in myself that I didn’t stand clearly as much as necessary in the hard moments. I’ve continued to watch, and I’m learning to speak up in the face of the hard moments. I’m grateful for that. During that time I have been a Mind Valley supporter, and over the last two years, I’ve reduced my consumption of Mind Valley content. This essay takes me away for good. Vishen, this is a reach at best. The one thing we cannot do, or at least I cannot do, is seperate these 4 ‘truths (?)’ from the results, past and current.
These ‘principles’ have sown division, fear, and wrongful actions into the fabric of US society. While each person is responsible for their own response, it is undeniable that the shift in our world isn’t productive.
Here’s a day old excerpt of the Trump you describe on a world stage…
Attorney and law professor Ben Meiselas writes,
“I’ve covered a lot of Donald Trump press conferences over the years. I’ve seen him lie, deflect, and embarrass himself in countless ways. But what I just witnessed in the Oval Office may have been the most off-the-rails, unhinged display yet.
“Trump sat down with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte — a serious figure there to talk about security and alliance unity — but Trump wasn’t interested in that. No, Trump used the opportunity to fantasize about annexing Canada. He actually said, “Canada only works as a state,” and gushed about how the U.S. would look on a map if we just erased the border and took Canada as our own. This wasn’t satire. This wasn’t a joke. This was the president rambling about absorbing another sovereign nation — while the NATO secretary general sat there watching this clown show unfold.
“And it didn’t stop there. Trump started pushing the idea of conquering Greenland too, saying NATO might need to get involved in helping the U.S. take it over — as if it’s a game of Risk. He literally said we “need it for international security” and tried to rope NATO into his imperial fever dream. The look on Rutte’s face said it all.
“Then, Trump pivoted to his usual bigotry. Instead of talking about defense cooperation or global security, Trump bragged about how he uses transgender people as political pawns to rile up his base before elections — saying Republicans should “bring it up a week before the election” to win votes. In other words, he openly admitted he sees cruelty and manufactured culture war nonsense as a campaign strategy. Despicable.
“When asked about American small businesses hurting from tariffs, Trump did what he always does: lie and bluster. “You’re going to be so much richer,” he said. Meanwhile, Medicaid is being gutted, Social Security is under threat, and Trump’s billionaire cronies are cheering as the safety net burns.
“Oh, and then Trump suggested we start sending drug dealers to the Netherlands — yes, you read that right — in a bizarre attempt at humor that landed more like a diplomatic insult, especially considering the NATO secretary general used to be the prime minister of the Netherlands.
“He kept rambling about how the U.S. doesn’t need anything from Canada, said the European Union is “very nasty,” claimed we can’t sell cars in Europe (not true), and then told an utterly deranged story about how he “invaded Los Angeles” to turn on the water — another lie pulled from his fantasyland. What actually happened was that he diverted water from Northern California, destroying farmland and hurting his own voters in the process.
“To top it off, he said our allies shouldn’t worry about Putin, brushing off any concerns about Russian aggression with a shrug.
“Let me be blunt: This is not normal. This is not politics-as-usual. This is a dangerous, unstable person with authoritarian fantasies, spewing nonsense in front of our closest allies while the world watches.
“Keep speaking up. Don’t accept any of this as normal.
Ben Meiselas
Did I find this exercise interesting, yes. Do I agree? no. There is delusion in the writing, and the examples, because as each day creates our history, the results, the non-payment of business associates, the lack of integrity, deserves no support.
The growth of Mind Valley, the riches it has brought you, kudos. This essay missed the mark. What do you do with all of the feedback, Vishen, that doesn’t mesh with the point of your essay? That will be what I am waiting to see.
Til then,
Todd Williams
I would not use his tactics because I would not want to live that way. Attack? Unprovoked? I want to lift people up, including myself. I could go on, but bottom line-no.
Also, keep in mind that he has proudly admitted to and bragged about sexually assaulting women. It seems as though half the world has forgotten this.
Interesting read. The real question is do these rules align with your value system and who you are as a person. In my case the answer is no, so therefore I would not even think of using these rules.
No, I would NOT use these tactics and I don’t believe any truly honorable person would.
I was surprised that this article came from you, Vishen, though I have read similar things about Trump from other sources and believe you are correct. I was also surprised by the extreme negative reactions from many of your followers. I did not take the piece to be an endorsement of Trump or his tactics but I’m glad you clarified your position later.
As a spiritual person who believes in infinite love and tolerance, I really struggle with my feelings about Trump and his followers. I appreciated the article’s insights and help with understanding the view from the “other side,” though I still vehemently disagree with it.
Fasincating piece of writing. I found it engaging, challenging, insightful, discomforting and very thought provoking. It is really valuable to hear different ways of understanding people how have a big impact on our lives, for better or for worse.
In response to your question – would I used the tactics? No.
Although I find understanding tactics/tricks/strategies interesting in themselves, I am not interested in learning tricks and strategies to ‘win’ or for personal gain. I am value what I learn from Mind Valley because it hones my ability to contribute to a larger good. I am committed to service and to making the planet a better place. Winning and being successful in convincing other people to believe the reality I am creating is, to me, banal and meaningless – and sadly potentially catastrophic – if that reality has no quality, has no moral depth, does not create wellbeing for myself and others. It begs the question how it sits with Silva’s teachings of doing no harm to human life.
Vishen: You created a safe, inclusive and respectful platform for humanity to learn and evolve. You have brought politics to Mindvalley and ripped out that rug from under the membership that valued and trusted that.
Sadly, in a time when humans appeared to be evolving as a species, they cared a bit more about respecting the planet, all genders, nationality, education, and peace in small ways. Trump’s ways are destroying these things.
So the pendulum swings… so personal development or history can dissect a rationale for why people Hitler like, who, in their way, achieved success and destroyed so much – that humanity continues to mourn the insanity of the times that allowed the atrocities to continue? A poignant email. It begs the question, respectfully, where are you going with this? Awareness is the first step… Is this the price you would pay to give your son and daughter a secure place in the man-eat-man world? If I pray for anything in this, the Universe gives us a shining light to continue to evolve positively and empower humanity, the planet, and ourselves respectfully and do no harm. We were given life, energy, love, and free will, and “our character is not defined in the good times but in the hard times.”
Reposting the question Vishen that you have shaken the community with, would you use them?
It feels like you’re promoting the delusion that is spreading. You started with a caveat that this was NOT an endorsement and ended by defending Trump and the people around him.
If you want to continue with your original vision, you have some of the greatest minds serving on your platform. How can humanity grow and do no harm? Your discussion was sadly incomplete and political. Which path will you follow now?
This article is a fascinating exploration of Trump’s strategies and the mechanics of reality creation itself. Because beyond politics, beyond personalities, there’s a deeper question at play:
Are we passive participants in reality—or conscious creators of it?
One of the biggest illusions Trump has “trumped” is the belief that power belongs to authorities, external forces, or systems beyond us. He embodies a radical truth—that reality bends to the will of those who fully claim it. And whether we love or dislike his methods, we can’t deny:
He plays his game with unwavering certainty.
He does not wait for permission to create his reality.
He commands attention—but only because we give it to him.
But what if we zoomed out even further?
What if his existence is an invitation to reclaim our power—not through reaction, but through conscious creation?
As an observer, a former student of political science, and a Positive Intelligence trainer, I’ve come to realize that this form of governance makes me yearn for win-win-win scenarios and the highest good of us all as co-creators of the yoUNIverses we live in.
What if we don’t need to fight against these systems but instead align with a different reality—one that already exists?
What if instead of resisting or idolizing Trump, we focused on the world we actually want to live in?
Because he provides an undeniable point of contrast—a reference that can help us:
Clarify what we value (sovereignty, kindness, alignment, freedom).
Refine our awareness of power (true power doesn’t dominate; it expands).
Shift from force to flow (we don’t need to control; we need to align).
This is the essence of Play Godarse—the concept I explore in my book and playful assessment that helps us recognize when we are operating from Badass Mode (force, control, resistance) vs. Godarse Mode (flow, heart-centered creation, effortless alignment).
Because ultimately, Trump’s presence in our consciousness is neutral—it is our perception and the nature of our attention that gives it meaning.
Vishen, I’d love to hear your take on this—since you speak so much about reality shaping and the power of eloquence.
Do you think Trump’s greatest “power” is actually his ability to reveal our own relationship with power itself?
Would love to explore this further.
I will borrow a few of Kasla’s D. words because I felt related to them:
“Vishen, great job. One of the hallmarks of true spiritual development is the ability to see all aspects of our world from a neutral perspective, where nothing is either glorified or rejected….”
I believed this Crazy Blond Guy from Day 1, although I don’t like politics at all.. My Gut keeps telling me that he is doing
the right thing….And when I saw you in the past saying negative stuff about him, I got a bit confused, because I trust your 6th sense veeeery much…and I started thinking that maybe I am wrong…But now that I learned all this new stuff about him, i am sure that the big Change is around the corner…
I am so happy to be a Mindvalley member for 6 years now, you guys couldn’t be a better company in my self Growth Journey! God Bless you all ! <3
Dear Vishen. Thank you for an interesting but yet diffeicult read. I am not from the US, but realize that it is almost impossible to comment without making someone angry and upset. That in itself says something about the situation we are in right now, not only in the US but in the rest of the western community. I have no problem imagening that there are different sides to the person Donald Trump, as with all of us. What I find difficult both with his playbook and his public apparence is what i percieve as lack of humanity and compassion (if that makes me a liberal or democrat, so be it). The total lack of care for our common humanity scares the shit out of me. One thing is in business, where he has buildt his fortune by this playbook and by exploiting other people. But an whole other issue is when you bring this playbook and lack of ethical compass into politics and international relations. In no way this can be justified. You can not run a contry like a business. If the people of US wants to trade its democracy for an autocrat please do, but the problem is that he is destroying the rest of the world as well. I strongly agree that the economic burden of progress in the world has to be more fairly distributed, but cutting an stopping over night is not in the interest of enybody. Actually it will kill hundreds of thousands of people relying on US aid and commitment. The history will be the judge of this, but this is not a playbook I will adhere to. And I dont believe that this is what Mindvalley was created to contribute to either.
I joined MindValley to become a better person.
Mr Trump represent everything I DON’T WANT TO BECOME no matter how mucho financial or political success this person has achieved.
Stalin achieve great success in his time, dictators in Bielorrusia, Venezuela, Nicaragua are becoming richer and more powerfully every day they hold the grip on the power over their people, but I don’t think they are role models to follow.
Vishen, I truly hoped, when becoming a subscriber, that you would be guided by these simple yet profound words on your path to success: “You will not use this for any purpose that is not just, honest, pure, and beneficial to humanity. You will not use it against yourself or any other person or living being.”
Even within a non-binary view of the world, we cannot ignore that actions ultimately fall on a spectrum of being either helpful or harmful. If we are committed to moving beyond rigid binaries, we must seek balance rather than conflict. Yet, what you are proposing here is not a path toward balance—it is, in its essence, a blueprint for provocation and division.
And let us never forget: history repeats itself when good people lose their inner compass or become seduced by the illusion of “success.”
In closing, I leave you with this quote from British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who, after meeting Hitler in 1936, said:
“It is impossible to doubt that Hitler is a great man. He is a born leader of men. A magnetic and dynamic personality with a single-minded purpose, a resolute will, and a dauntless heart. He is indeed a great man, and Germany is fortunate in having such a leader. There is no doubt that he is a very great man. He has the artistic temperament which is both passionate and sincere. He has a supreme intellect. I found him extraordinarily fascinating.”
History reminds us that admiration without wisdom is dangerous.
Your statement is succinct, honest and to the point. I would add that #6 of the Centering exercises is: You will always use these levels of the mind in a constructive, creative manner for all that is good, honest, pure, clean, and positive. And this is so.
This is the most intelligent and insightful article I have read from you. Finally you are opening your mind to what your belief systems have previously conditioned you to see as unreal.
I’m so disappointed. I’ve cancelled my subscription as our values are not aligned. HUMANITY, LOVE, KINDNESS.
I can’t give money to businesses who are cosying up to trump.