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.
520 Responses
It is so much to learn from this newsletter.
It’s a change in perspective.
Thank you Vishen!
Vishen, I read your article quickly last night and something didn’t feel right…I happened to watch the Squid Game 2 right after, and the revolting feeling intensified, not from the serie, but from your newsletter. The word came up was: “humanity”.
What’s disturbing me most is not Trump (who has been at least consistent in his being and there are indeed things we could learn from him for different purposes), but the shift in you, Vishen, who created Mindvalley that has been the community supported many people’s personal growth on the spiritual journey in search for authenticity, truth and higher consciousness. The underlying tone of your article is pointing towards a different path and your admiration/ambition for success and power alone is unequivocally palpable through the screen. I have observed and felt this shift in your recent online appearances which saddens me.
The same article can be written in ways triggering more unity and learning, yet you chose your words that led straight to division: “Attack” – evokes Violence, “Denying everything Admitting Nothing” – points to Lying, “Always Claim Victory” – disregards the truth. These are not the values I want to live by nor for my children. They are in sharp contrast to what most of the MindValley programs are teaching.
I don’t know what your true intention is besides thought-provoking, clearly it’s not what you claimed: “But my job is to bring unity and not get political on Mindvalley.” Are you practicing bending reality to your will and “Admit nothing, Denying everything”?
I’m still grateful to you for creating MindValley and all I’ve learned through different teachers, yet I’m mourning the loss of a spiritual pillar in my consciousness.
Thank you for expressing exactly how I feel, both about the original article and Vishen’s response, so clearly. Vishen, if you’re reading this, your emotional intelligence needs some work. Please take all of these comments to heart and please do better in future.
I agree whole heartedly with this. I think the way the article was constructed shifts away from the teachings in MindValley’s spiritual programming. I haven’t tried any of Mindvalley’s entrepreneurship programs, but this article makes me hesitant to look into them. I am deeply concerned that Vishen would conclude from a short time in Mar-a-Lago that Trump is better than he is portrayed in the media. Regardless of how he makes you feel in person and what he tells you to your face, I think it is critical to remember his past actions. In the words of Maya Angelou – “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
There are still many MindValley programs I am interested in pursuing, but this article has me deeply considering leaving the platform and finding new ways to grow.
Not that I think Vishen will read this, but just in case: I’m not asking you to change or retract anything. You’ve shown us your authentic self which I appreciate and it is up to us as MindValley members to decide if this new information detracts from your teachings and those of the other MindValley instructors. I do hope that you’ll be able to reflect on how this article impacts how people may view the values you and by extension, MindValley, espouses.
Vishen!
CLING TO TRUTH!
No. You did not ‘only shine a light on the principles’, the way you described them and Trump’s charisma and the kindness of his entourage (why should they not behave kindly towards you who are not a danger to them and might he useful in the future?) – either you are naïve or you are touched the magic of power and elated by the feeling of ultimate reality-bending.
Did you forget that everything, even good, inevitably turns bad when you exaggerate it? You have crossed a line here and moved into a dangerous dark zone.
WOW!…Knowledge of the adversary is enlightening in itself and allows one to know how to trod! Many Thanks for the information.
Thank you for an interesting read, Vishen. I’m not American and have no love for Trump but I found your article very enlightening into the mind of a true narcissist. I firmly believe in trying to be a better human by practicing the old adage of “do unto others”. If there is such a thing as karma (which I also believe in), Trump has one hell of a bumpy ride coming his way. I “admire”, please note I use the term loosely, his belief in himself because that is a powerful tool if used honorably and with integrity. Attack, attack, attack reminds me of a coach shouting from the sidelines of a game of sport where no one is actually injured, displaced, marginalized, or victimized. Everyone has a light and dark side to them and I hope and pray for the world at large that Trump’s light side will emerge sooner rather than later.
Thank you. I would not use any of the tactics here described in the film The Apprentice. Except for the last one on Positive Optimisim. That came from a book he wrote in the early 2000s.
There is no gray. There is only dark or light, attack and lie is in the darkness. There is no love in the dark. Come back to the light Vishen. Trump is a sad little boy lost in the darkness. Send him love, but don’t admire him.
Thank you for giving us a glimpse into how other people think and behave. And how That dialogue and actions can manipulate our minds. I do not think you really wanted an answer to the question.
No matter what it looks like, we as aware human beings have a responsibility to send positive energy and prayers
to correct situations in our society and in our world !! Take it seriously !
Please, Vishen, know that you are in a powerful position now ! You are influencing masses of people who depend on you.
Please continue to let the Divine Spirit and your Divine Soul guide you to always do good things.
You, particulariy and the people you have brought to Mindvalley have brought vision, blessings and special teachings
that influence people in such a positive way to grow in many ways and have better lives.
Please be careful in your choices and direction. You have huge responsibilities in your life and many influences that affect your life. May you be protected and guided by the Ascended Masters, always…..
Hi Vishen. I think this article is a good tonic for the U.S. Most of the coutry is stuck hating one group or another. So the idea of transcending your own judgment, built on biased reporting (which describes almost all sources you can find in the U.S., and probably the vast majority of humans) and examining things with new eyes, is totally necessary. That is in some ways the message RFK, Jr. tried to bring, a message of love and unity, just as his father tried to bring it, but he was marginalized by extremely undemocratic and flatly irrational processes in the democratic party designed to avoid having the people decide the candidate. Weird. By the way, I have been and am still a registered Democrat, for over 5 decades. I was shocked by all the censorship of free speech and science during Covid, and I believed Trump was in bed with Putin until I found out Hillary was funding the Steele Dossier. And even after years of skepticism. I only found out a few months ago that Trump’s comments supposedly calling Neo-Nazi’s and White Supremacists “very fine people,” was a complete distortion and that he actually said, “and I am not talking about the Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists because they should be condemned totally.” So Trump is very inflated (luciferic perhaps in terms of Rudolf Steiner’s forces of Lucifer and Ariman), bombastic, and generally I think you have described him well, but I would challenge you to go further in your inquiry. He lost many lawsuits about the election, but in almost every one of them, evidence about the voting was not able to be submitted because he was disqualified on the basis of not having standing. And many people have been doing audits and coming up with some crazy information like more votes by far than the number of people living in the district, or how about the fact that though this election was recored-breaking in efforts to get voters out and there were long lines reported and heavy voting reported, it did not approach the number of votes cast in 2020. I found that very curious. But these things are totally banned from MSM in the US. Anyway, we badly need forums where people do exactly what you said people did at Mar-a-lago: Sit with each other and have reasonable discussions. it appears to me that people who are screaming about how horrible the other side is, are generally not willing (or maybe not able) to do that.
As for the four rules and whether I would use them or not: No, No, maybe and yes (with Caveats on 3 and 4).#1 generally seems unacceptable because you don’t generally reach a peace or understanding by relentless attacks. People get defensive and close down and the gap which needs to be overcome for real intimacy or love is just reinforced. So you get neither peace on the outside nor connection on the inside or between people’s hearts and minds. #2: Admit nothing and deny everything. I think this is a fairly common characteristic of narcissists and maybe borderline personality types. I am not saying Trump is the latter, though I have thought the former a lot, but also have heard people like Tulsi Gabbard talk about how shockingly solicitous of everyone else’s comfort he is when they have a meeting. So he does not appear to be purely narcissistic (unless you are listening only to left-wing media). But I guess under the tough exterior there are some very sensitive spots because he sure goes ballistic sometimesm and of course talk of revenge reflects an ongoing feeling of hurt. ON the other hand, maybe the fact that they found other they really were spying on him, and that the Steele Dossier was mostly BS, and they cracked up all kinds of stories to investigate things, and that someone organized 53 former FBI agents to write a letter suggesting that the Hunter Biden Laptop was Russian disinformation (talk about election interference!) and an entire press was turned against him so that only negative news was coming out, would make most people a bit crazy. Or the fact that he supported Hillary for her senate run, and Oprah said she wanted him to run for president, and the like and then he was turned into a demon by the press when he ran as a Republican. Could be crazy making for the best of them, though I do not find him to be a balanced human being though he has great strengths. Anyway, for most of us mortals, I think things are going to go much better if we admit our weaknesses, shortcomings and mistakes, and apologize appropriately. We have a chance of having a highly integrated life. People who have a lot of denial and projection are often people with great energy because they are able to avoid conflict, but in the end something is not getting integrated and they will not find peace. Anyway, for me that honesty, humility and vulnerability piece is an important part of the journey.
#3: Always claim victory. I think in an argument, it is good to refine your thinking and discourse skills and do your best, but there is a time when more healing and evolution will be prompted by allowing the other to win. As an inner principle, it may be good to find the victory in every situation, but that is finding the growth factor in oneself, not in dominating another.
#4: Relentless optimism. We should be optimistic! But it should not be an optimism that shuts out whatever kind of feelings arise. It is just that if we cannot be optimistic, our frame is too small. We are too stuck in one fixed view. We have to know that death and illness and all manner of problems are baked into this loaf of bread called human life from the start. We should not deny that dimension, we should not make believe that those spheres of our life don’t exist, but we always have a bigger refuge, a bigger playground perhaps. Your key point in this essay reminds me of the poem by Rumi. most people only know the first two lines, so I will take the liberty of putting the whole poem down here and you can edit if you like:
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase “each other”
doesn’t make any sense.
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.”
(Coleman Barks, Translation)
Even if you just take the rules you have suggested without the context of Trump: “Attack Relentlessly, Deny Everything, Always Claim Victory, and Stay Relentlessly Optimistic” – the only one that could possibly have integrity is the last one. But even that, when done by Trump, means lying and manipulating “the truth” not just for himself, but for all those around him. Reality doesn’t bend to his belief – he just ignores reality and insists that those around him praise the emperor’s new clothes, regardless of reality. These are not principles to live by – these authoritarian maxims designed to harm everyone around him. And he does them deliberately and with joy at the destruction of lives – with only his own power and wealth as the goal. No I don’t KNOW his motivations – but someone who intends good does not do what he is currently doing.
We will be severing all ties with Mindvalley after reading this article.
I am absolutely appalled, digusted and am done with MindValley. Why on earth would you ever set foot in Mar-A-Lago, let alone endorse a man who is a convicted felon, rapist, fraudster, and crook? Trump thrives on humiliating people, preys on the vulnerable, and has built his empire on lies and corruption. And now, he’s handing over power to 3 super-wealthy South Africans, letting them manipulate the government and try to destabilise South Africa, punishment for daring to take Israel to the ICC.
The fraudster’s reckless destruction of USAID has wiped out 40,000 jobs in Kenya overnight tens of thousands of lives thrown into turmoil. Countless US foreign service officers and their families are now suffering because of his actions. This is a betrayal of the very people America once supported, and you, of all people, should know better. Judges rule against him and nothing happens. Democracy has died, but you don’t care. You speak of his charm and endorse following his playbook!
If this is the path you’ve chosen aligning with greed, power, and moral bankruptcy then I sincerely hope the brilliant trainers and educators who are a part of the MW community will see this for what it is and walk away.
Shame on you, Vishen. You cannot pretend this isn’t political. You cannot pretend this isn’t a choice. And you cannot pretend that it doesn’t reveal exactly who you’ve chosen to be a greed-driven sycophant.
I am appalled by the end of USAID too. I agree with you. I have been vocally anti-Trump. But the fast is America is split and to really change the country you HAVE to seek to understand the other side and not just label them as ‘fascists’ or ‘racists’. This is the nature of this article. To get our mostly liberal audience to SEE their fellow Americans as human too and try to understand why Trump won. For the record – I did a public video the day before the election endorsing Kamala. And I still feel Trump was a bad choice. But half of the United States made their decision and one has to respect that and understand the deeper underlying emotions of WHY if we want to fight the negative effects of Trumpism.
I applaud your desire to break the wall that divides the people! Please don’t apologize for it. You don’t need to explain yourself any more than you already have. People only hear what they want to hear. The hatred from both sides is causing blindness.
Mindvalley is doing so much good for people everywhere, it’s benefits are undeniable. It couldn’t have beared so much good fruits without good intentions. It’s a loss for anyone who abandons it after experiencing it.
Please don’t lose heart!
In most cases I would agree with you. But there’s no “understanding” crazy and delusional unless you are crazy and delusional yourself. And believe me, I’ve tried. I’m the kind of person who typically gives people too much leeway and too much benefit of the doubt. But just trying to glean even an inkling of understanding of the thought processes behind Trump and his supporters causes so much cognitive dissonance in my brain that I quickly become disoriented and frustrated…it feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I’ve come to believe that this is actually a good thing – I don’t want to “understand” him, or Hitler, or any other psychotic historical/current figure because to do so would be to normalize all the horrific things they did/are doing to other HUMANS. These kinds of people don’t see others as human. They are too far gone for understanding…in my opinion, they’ve abandoned their humanity. I’m all for differing political beliefs, but this isn’t politics – it’s tyranny, plain and simple. And to call any of Trump’s tactics “PERSONAL GROWTH strategies” is a very twisted use of the term. Like others, I feel sick to my stomach after reading this article.
Vishen, let me begin by stating my appreciation for Mindvalley and the positive impact it and your many insights have had on my life, but this takes a different turn.
Truth – I did not read ALL of this news letter in its entirety, but I did glean heavily through it. I read enough to feel my stomach tighten, my heart beat faster, and an increasing need to swallow down a growing intensity. I am an American – a proud American and I’ve always honestly loved my country and felt grateful to have been born and raised here. But now, as I see my rights as a woman being diminished, as I see the rights of my fellow Americans being diminished; as I see reckless handling of people and of personal data historically protected with respect; as I see separation of efforts and increasing angst and resentment and deterioration between our governing parties; as I see the deliberate deconstruction of our democracy, I am sickened and I am saddened. Foolish perhaps, but I’ve never considered that our democracy (even though it’s not perfect) would be so deeply at risk of being lost.
No doubt if we could all view one another with love and objectivity, we could be living in an elevated society – how wonderful that would be! But EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY our leaders, would have to participate with the highest intentions for the TRUE benefit of all – with true respect and love for ALL. Neither the observations and assessments you describe, nor the actual events taking place in our country are representative of that sincere and genuine love for all.
This is not a game.
Vishen, I have to respectfully disagree with the way you’ve framed this. There is no “positive side” to the way Trump has managed the United States as President—at least not in the context of true leadership, empathy, or long-term progress. Leadership isn’t just about individual success or brute force decision-making; it’s about creating a world that is just, compassionate, and sustainable for everyone.
If we celebrate Trump’s approach as a model for success, we have to ask ourselves: at what cost? His leadership has been divisive, lacking in empathy, and often fueled by short-term gains rather than long-term stability. If everyone followed this path—one that thrives on conflict, misinformation, and self-interest—where would that leave humanity? Surely, leadership should be measured by the positive impact it has on people, not just by perceived “wins” at any cost.
Curious to hear your thoughts on this. But from my perspective, success without empathy is just another form of destruction.
Hi Vishen,
I recently came across your post on “The Personal Growth Playbook of Donald Trump,” and while I appreciate the perspective, I believe you missed the mark on a key element. In 2019, I published Manifest The Life You Want – The Donald Trump Way: He Did It, You Can Too! by Patricia Pollack, which takes an entirely unique approach. I examine Donald Trump—not as a politician, but as a profound case study in personal growth, influence, and the psychology of success.
As the only leading visionary to offer this perspective for six years. I bring unparalleled insights into how Trump embodies personal manifestation and success. My expertise could add significant value to the conversation you’re leading, and I’d love to contribute as a paid guest and expert.
Having been a committed Mindvalley member for years, I am deeply aligned with your vision for personal growth, and I know my contributions could ignite a new level of clarity and success in your audience. I would love to join the conversation as a paid guest and expert, helping to shape the future of manifestation and success.
Let’s make this happen. Together, we can guide others to realize their fullest potential, just as Donald Trump has done—and continue to do.
Looking forward to connecting and making the world a much better place.
Warm regards,
Patricia Pollack
IG: @thinkliketrump
Eqselfmastery.com
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.
I could never be like Mr Trump because I have morals and ethics. If I lose I lose gracefully and congratulate my opponent. This person had a failed university, a failed airline and he failed to pay for the hotels and casinos he had build. No matter how many times a lie is told it’s still a lie. He is a thief, a liar and a cheater. He cheated on his first wife with his second wife. He cheated on his second wife with his third wife. He cheated on his third wife with a porn actress. What type of human being is this?
i have left three (3) different comments and when i go to find what i shared, they are nowhere in the feed. Censoring the Truth, especially regarding “who” Donald J. Trump “is” behind closed doors is clearly a triggering issue. truthandonlytruth[dot]com
Vishen looks like your subscribers are telling you to have a serious look at yourself in the mirror. Add me to that list. If you cannot see clearly see Trump for who he really is then I must doubt your ability to guide others in their personal growth journey.
Vishen, you just proved something I read a few months ago: “If you want to upset Conservatives, tell them a lie. If you want to upset Liberals, tell them the truth!” It does not surprise me that some individuals who are registered in a platform that is all about personal growth and becoming a better person, are incapable of respecting an opinion contrary to their beliefs. It does not surprise me that they do not care about the truth. Some people just believe what they want to believe, and if you believe anything different, you must be cancelled and disrespected. I don’t agree with everything you said, but I think it was a well thought out analysis worth reading. Above all, your opinion should not be a reason to change how we view your mission to help others grow, something you have proven beyond any reasonable doubt. I don’t know how you will take the rejection shown by many on their comments and their decision to leave the platform, but I will tell you how I see it. If they don’t know how to deal with an opinion different than their own, they are wasting their time in the platform. Let them go. If they do not want to grow beyond their limited beliefs, we don’t need them. Do not apologize! First, there is no reason for it. Second, they will only use it against you. Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you hang around the most.” I want to hang around people with open minds that will help me grow because, despite being in my senior years, I know I have a lot to learn and grow, and that is a never-ending endeavor. That is why I am on this platform. Thanks for your brave opinion, and let’s keep growing and moving forward!
I read all 233 comments on this article. It looks like the time has come for a purge in the Mindvalley community. Thanks to this article, all the haters will eliminate themselves.
I have been an immigrant in the US for 20 years and have done everything necessary to become a citizen. I’m not involved in politics—I simply observe from a distance. It’s astonishing to see that those who consider themselves democrats, who claim to embody empathy, understanding, and tolerance for differences, are often the ones displaying the most hatred and intolerance when someone disagrees with their views.
I notice that these individuals actually have weak personal boundaries and a lot of unresolved negative issues hidden in their shadow. They try to mask it with love, but when push comes to shove, they can’t contain their shadow, and it spills out.
People with extra-strong boundaries, like Trump, serve as convenient projection objects—someone onto whom all inner negativity can be dumped, allowing the person doing the projecting to avoid taking responsibility for it. Luckily, Trump is completely unaffected, like water sliding off Teflon.
The most interesting part? The article doesn’t mention politics at all—it simply analyzes the strategy behind a particular action and considers all aspects of the picture, not only the filtered ones.
Personally, I believe that the principles outlined here can only be applied when one has reached a certain state of consciousness. People who are still caught in internal struggles and conflict, who need constant validation, will end up hurting themselves and others if they try to apply these principles. That’s why it’s better for them not to use them and instead eliminate themselves from this space.
When a person is well-integrated, these words take on a completely different meaning. They are no longer seen through the lens of victim and perpetrator, but rather as part of an unshakable path. When someone walks that unshakable path and is also fully integrated within, they won’t be able to harm others along the way—simply because it goes against the very nature of true intelligence. And true intelligence always considers the whole system.
So those who are still in the process of healing their rejected parts would be better off not attempting this, as it will likely overwhelm and re-traumatize 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.
Those who are outraged and consider themselves spiritual, they talk about oneness, but when it comes down to it, their sense of oneness only extends to those who think and feel the same way they do—everyone else is excluded. That is the spirituality of a child in kindergarten, still unable to cope with differences.
This article turned out to be a great test.
Many people talk here about narcissism and how much they despise it. But the most interesting thing? One of the key traits of a narcissist is that the moment you say something they don’t like, no matter how much good you’ve done for them, they immediately flip to the other side and turn to hatred.
And here it is, happening in real time. Just another projection and the truth being revealed.
People write that they’ve admired you for years, followed you, taken courses on Mindvalley. And yet, one article was enough to trigger a complete flip—suddenly, all the other content on Mindvalley is dismissed, all the coaches and teachers, the courses, the meditations, everything.
Well, Vishen, judging by these comments, it looks like it’s time for you to apply point 3: “Always claim victory.” 😀
As for the first two points, I see it this way:
💡 “Attack, attack”. Depending on a person’s level of awareness, they will interpret it differently.
• Those who still live in the victim-perpetrator paradigm will see an “attack” as violence.
• Those who are integrated will see an “attack” as: “When someone tries to harm or take advantage of you, set a boundary. When you face difficulties, stand your ground.”
💡 Point 2: “Admit nothing, deny everything”—two possible interpretations:
• The first group will read it as: “Never admit guilt, reject the truth.”
• The second group will understand it as: “Don’t take sides, stay in zero point neutrality.”
Let the big shift begin…
Fully agree with every point. I am also an immigrant, a legal immigrant who has become in due time, a citizen. The virtues and values of the society I have yearned to become a part of, seem to be the last on the self-righteous’ agenda – the intolerance and hatred prevailing. If you are indeed driven by this, perhaps Mindvalley really isn’t right for you.
Vishen, I understand that you want people to be objective about this, but it’s just not possible. I’m sure Hitler was a very charismatic person and used similar tactics to influence others into believing that killing millions of people, Jews, homosexuals, and disabled people, was a good idea. These tactics work perfectly when your goal is to convince others that such atrocities are warranted.