Conversation Summary: Gary Sheng & Russ Ballard on Trump World Concept and Networking

Date: 2025-05-13

1. Trump World/Trump City Concept (00:00 - 04:30)

Gary shared his vision for "Trump World" or "Trump City," a conceptual city development project linked to former President Trump. The conversation began as a semi-joking brainstorming session with Russ "interviewing" Gary about the concept.

Russ Ballard: "You heard that I'm involved in Trump City?" Gary Sheng: "Yeah, so, Gary, you were just talking about Trump City. um can you give us the TODR on on what that looks like and kind of some of the what did I say?"

Gary outlined the context for the Trump World concept, referencing several foundational ideas:

1. Trump's 2023 call for more "freedom cities" and experimentation with new city concepts
2. Trump's "Make America Great Again" manufacturing and onshoring focus
3. Examples of successful corporate/family-run cities like Disney and The Villages

Gary Sheng: "Disney is the one of the most successful cities in the world, entirely run by a corporation, basic dictatorship. Another one that's one of the most successful in in the world, the villages, run by one family, the Moore family."

Gary positioned himself as connected to both the White House and billionaire Joe Liemandt, suggesting he could facilitate such a project. He noted contextual opportunities:

• Trump's desire for a World's Fair for America's 250th anniversary (July 4, 2026)
• Trump's friendship with Elon Musk
• Trump having no properties in Texas, despite it becoming "the most powerful state in the country"
• The opportune time to buy real estate while "people are fearful in the real estate market"
• Strategic location between Elon's factory towns and Austin

2. Trump World Governance and Features (04:30 - 07:15)

Russ asked about the governance structure of Trump World, to which Gary suggested a presidential structure with Trump continuing to be "President Trump," only passing the torch when he chooses.

Russ Ballard: "What type of structure what type of is there a mayor of Trump city?" Gary Sheng: "Trump world will have a president, but it'll be it'll be funny cause it he. He'll continue to be Trump President Trump... But he'll only pass on other thought was some money to it was like a little card or something all that.. He'll only pass on the torch when he wants to."

Gary envisioned Trump World featuring:

• Casinos and great restaurants
• Manufacturing facilities
• Technological showcases
• Advanced experimental schools
• Corporate campuses from major companies
• Theme parks and immersive experiences

Gary Sheng: "...casinos, great restaurant, manufacturing. technological showcases, schools that are the most advanced in the world that are featuring experimental technology across metaoupal oracle, etetera, et cetera., et cetera., where they have local corporate campuses."

3. Trump World Marketing and Global Expansion (07:15 - 09:45)

When asked about marketing Trump World, Gary suggested slogans like:

• "Experience the future"
• "Live the Renaissance"
• "Experience the Golden Age"

He described Trump World as a "network state" that would begin with one location and expand globally, even suggesting controversial locations:

Gary Sheng: "The thing is the thing about this is that it's a network stage. so it starts with one node. the next one, no, this is gonna be controversial, but we're gonna partner with Saudi Arabia and UAE, so the United States to create Trump world in Palestine. create peace in the Middle East."

Gary positioned Trump as uniquely qualified to build such a global network because "Jews fear him and Arabs fear him, Christians trust him," making him "really the king." Gary expressed his ambition to position himself as "the ultimate Vizier of all times."

4. The Importance of High-Quality Connections (09:45 - 13:00)

The conversation shifted to Gary's philosophy on surrounding himself with exceptional people ("goats"). He explained:

Gary Sheng: "Because you are who you're around you need to continuously level your ideas up, you will sink to the level of what your surrounding is, right? Or you'll elevate to what the level of your surrounding is."

Gary Sheng: "What I've seen is things can move very quickly when hanging around on the right people. um, beautiful things, very synchronous things, um, some amazing, magical moments can happen, hang around the right people, and vice versa hanging around the wrong people, devious things can happen. And so yeah, environment is everything."

Gary then took a phone call with someone named Matt, arranging a meeting for 7:50 AM. After the call, he explained to Russ that Matt Holm is a significant real estate professional:

Gary Sheng: "This guy uh, scouted the the lands for for Tesla's gigo factory in in Texas."

5. Introducing Matt Holm & Potential Mentorship (13:00 - 17:30)

Gary positioned the introduction to Matt Holm as a significant opportunity for Russ, suggesting multiple areas where Russ could add value:

Gary Sheng: "You better start learning how to do interior decoration, bro. because you're about to make a lot of money doing that, you're about to make a lot of money doing a lot of things, okay? You better start getting curious about a lot of things. Start reading books."

Gary described Matt Holm as having completed approximately 1,800 transactions and having 17,000 contacts in his phone. He explained that Matt shares his philosophy of quickly building trust with new connections:

Gary Sheng: "His philosophy is exactly like mine, which is if you're foolish from someone after you just met them, you can you can make deals way faster than anyone else, but you can also get burnt, but that's okay, because you don't need to get it right every time. a few times. Just a few times, and then you just cross out people that burn here, then you, like, keep fine keep fine tuning the network."

6. Life Philosophy and Future Vision (17:30 - 21:15)

Russ asked Gary about his personal choices, particularly not drinking alcohol. Gary explained his choice is linked to his ambition and need for clarity:

Russ Ballard: "What happened like you don't drink alcohol?" Gary Sheng: "Okay, do you think that I can wake up at five or three four or midnight?" Russ Ballard: "Uh, yes, you could, but it wouldn't be as restful." Gary Sheng: "Exactly.. No, I don't I don't need that shit... I'm like a lot of white people drink is like, so they think that they think they could be more charismatic or some.. No, I have no hesitation, bro. If I wanna talk to you, I'll talk to you."

When asked about his vision for himself at age 42 (ten years in the future), Gary shared an ambitious outlook:

Russ Ballard: "What is 42 year old Gary look like?" Gary Sheng: "I mean, it's literally I'm deploying a trillion dollars at a time. Not kidding. It's a little but it's doesn't that doesn't even have to be my money, it's OPM. Other People's Money."

7. Mentorship and Wealth Mindset (21:15 - 24:45)

Gary shared observations from a recent dinner about wealth mindset:

Gary Sheng: "I I've been really provocative people recently yesterday this guy was at this dinner I was at and he was like, oh, I keep doing all this work and not getting paid. I'm like, well, you're thinking like a poor guy, that's why. because if you if you charge hourly, for example, like forever, like, you're gonna be hourly paid, right? And no one's gonna pay you, like, 50K an hour. Like, you have to do big deals. You have to get a cut of deals that you make, right?"

Gary offered Russ specific advice for making the most of the connection with Matt Holm:

• Record and process conversations to ask better questions the next day
• Research topics discussed to deepen understanding
• Be helpful to Matt while learning from him
• Be consistent and never be late
• Take notes during meetings to show engagement and create a record

Gary Sheng: "Dude, yesterday I was at the meeting with Joe. Joe saw me fill up two pages of notes. I was listening to the meeting. That shit has a different psychological [impact]."

8. Walking Club & F45 Fitness (24:45 - 28:30)

The conversation revealed they were walking to what Gary called a "walking club," which he described as "a bunch of rich dudes" who walk together. They reached what appears to be an F45 fitness studio, where Gary introduced Russ to staff members and inquired about membership options.

Gary Sheng: "It's literally a walking club, dude... We literally manifested this, bro, and it's just a bunch of rich dudes."

Gary expressed interest in the F45 fitness program, asking about pricing and membership options:

Gary Sheng: "How much does it per course?" Staff: "Uh, do you know all of the? Re membership like right around like two0 like it goes like, 250 per per." Gary Sheng: "Oh, how many classes do you get?" Staff: "month? You're like oh, you like per class if you pay me. I like you come like five times a day." Gary Sheng: "Five times a day? Yeah, I'm down. Can I sign up today?"

Key Themes & Insights

1. Visionary Thinking: Gary demonstrates expansive, ambitious thinking about projects like Trump World that blend real estate, technology, education, and entertainment.

2. Strategic Networking: Gary emphasizes the importance of quality connections and provides practical advice on building and leveraging relationships.

3. Mentorship Model: Gary actively creates mentor-mentee relationships, positioning Russ to learn from Matt Holm while encouraging him to provide value in return.

4. Wealth Mindset: Gary contrasts "poor thinking" (hourly work) with "rich thinking" (deal-based compensation and leveraging other people's resources).

5. Personal Discipline: Gary's choices (like avoiding alcohol) are aligned with his ambitious goals and need for optimal performance.

6. Value Exchange: Gary consistently emphasizes creating mutually beneficial relationships where value flows in both directions.

7. Global Ambition: Gary's thinking extends beyond local or even national projects to international networks of influence and development.