11 Things I've Learned In The Past Year

#11 was generated via AI Assistant, but surprisingly accurate. AI is very powerful.

1. Deadlines are almost always negotiable

Buy time when you can.

2. Mirroring, repeating the last 3 words someone just said, is as close to a Jedi-Mind trick you'll get in negotiation.

The phenomenon of social mirroring is first described in the Torah. King Solomon, known for his deep wisdom, tells us, “As in water, a face reflects a face, so is the heart of a man to a man” (Proverbs 27:19). Just like when you gaze into a body of water, the face you show the water is reflected back at you, so too when you feel and act a certain way to another person – that person will reflect your attitude and behavior towards him. This important lesson teaches us that, for better or for worse, you can influence another person through your own way of interacting with him.

3. You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.

Having worked as a budget analyst at a large, international company, I can tell you from experience that this is very true. You must be willing to negotiate, or you will never get what you're worth.

4. Do not fear the word "no"....welcome it. "No" starts the negotiation. All of the best negotiators seek out the word "no".

5. When speaking in public, keep your chin up.

6. When speaking in public, show your palms. It's a sign of peace and puts your audience at ease.

Hands open and your palms at a 45-degree angle: Communicates that you are being honest and open.

7. Humans aren't rational beings.

In study after study,together with Amos Tversky, he showed that when it comes to making decisions, humans are predisposed to irrationality.

8. Connecting with an audience isn't about you. It's about the audience.

9. A good habit to develop is putting yourself in semi embarrassing situations on a regular basis to lessen the power the fear of embarrassing yourself has over you.

If you get embarrassed like you expect, watch how no-one, other than yourself, remembers the incident weeks/months later. This is how little most people are concerned with/about you.

10. In a negotiation, do an accusation audit. List everything that your counterpart can say that is negative about you and be prepared to address them.

One critical exercise that good negotiators conduct in their preparatory stages is the accusation audit. Whether you’re an FBI agent taking part in a hostage negotiation or a small business owner negotiating against a rent increase, conducting a thorough accusations audit will ensure that you enter the room feeling prepared.

11. Saying No

I used to have a hard time saying no to people, but I've learned that it's okay to put my own needs first. People will understand if I can't do something, and if they don't, it's not worth my time and energy.