My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
“Just because you've been heard doesn't mean you feel heard”
What It Means
Understanding someone intellectually is different from making them feel emotionally understood
Why It Matters
The feeling of being understood creates neurochemical bonding and trust that mere comprehension doesn't
When It's True
In all human relationships and communications, especially emotional or high-stakes situations
When It's Risky
When dealing with purely logical or transactional interactions where emotional connection isn't relevant
How to Apply
Focus on demonstrating understanding rather than just having understanding
Use tactical empathy to make people feel heard
Pay attention to emotional state, not just factual content
Example Scenario
“A team member explains a technical problem. Instead of just saying 'I understand the issue,' acknowledge 'That must be incredibly frustrating to have the solution in mind but hit these technical roadblocks.'”
Related Knowledge
The urge to correct is irresistible
People cannot resist correcting others when they hear something wrong, even in negotiations
Tactical Empathy Framework
Demonstrating understanding of another person's emotions and perspective without agreeing, designed to build trust and e
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
Steel Negotiation Model
A framework that replaces 50/50 compromise with finding the optimal blend of ideas, like steel being 2% carbon and 98% i
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