Never split the difference

    I just finished a book on negotiations. It is a very powerful book.

It was even more impactful to me because it forced me to think in a completely new way than I am used to. I am a very logical and calculating person who does not place too much importance on feelings and empathy. However, this book was all about, for the lack of better words, emotional manipulation.

And it makes sense. To create the most cooperation out of someone, you need to have good faith with them. I learned how to assertively say no and to disagree without being disagreeable.

I learned the importance of digging for information and using that as leverage. How to create rapport with people and use tactical empathy. How to ask calibrated questions. To make the other party feel in control and create the illusion that they came up with the solution, which was your goal all along.

These were some powerful tactics that really opened my eyes. These are the tools of women. I see now why men are powerless next to their wives. Psychological judo is an extremely underrated tool.

I successfully used it 2 times already in the duration of reading the book. While negotiating my buyout with Sean, and while dealing with a bad guest who demanded a refund.

And holy shit, it actually works. I can read through Sean Lawrence like an open book. I used his aggressiveness against him. The refund haggling negotiation worked like a textbook. "How am I supposed to do that?" Forced tactical empathy. In hindsight, it's pretty crazy how it just works.

I suppose it makes sense. Hostage negotiations are where the stakes are highest and where you cannot give an inch. It's like taking the sharpest sword to cut diamonds and using it for a battle. It's almost overkill.

Anyway I have leveled up with this book, and I am now a step closer to being a person who deserves a million dollars. Let's get it.