My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Tactical Empathy Framework
Demonstrating understanding of another person's emotions and perspective without agreeing, designed to build trust and elicit information
How It Works
Works by triggering oxytocin (bonding) and serotonin (satisfaction) release, making the other person more honest and less demanding
Components
Remove yourself as a threat first
Use late-night FM DJ voice (calm, soothing)
Label emotions and observations accurately
Address negatives before positives
Show genuine appreciation for their position
Focus on making them feel heard, not making your case
When to Use
Any negotiation or relationship-building scenario where you need honest information and cooperation
When Not to Use
When you need to maintain emotional distance or when the relationship is purely transactional with no future interactions
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“A software company CEO is negotiating an acquisition. Instead of leading with their offer, they first acknowledge: 'You've built something remarkable here over 10 years. This probably feels like your baby, and the idea of selling must bring up concerns about what happens to your team and vision.' This makes the founder feel understood and more willing to share real concerns.”
Related Knowledge
Listening Hijack Prevention Framework
A system to resist the two main impulses that destroy active listening: the urge to correct and the urge to relate
Build trust and gather proprietary information before making any deal proposals
The other party voluntarily shares information they normally wouldn't reveal, both parties understand the real constrain
Apply hostage negotiation principles to business deals for better outcomes
The other party feels safe enough to share their real concerns, both parties work together to solve the underlying probl
common_ground_fallacy
question_interrogation_trap
Five Layers of Communication Framework
A structured approach to deepening conversations and relationships through five progressive levels of interaction depth