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1816: [Part 1] The Ten Worst Things You Can Do In A Negotiation by James Altucher on Self-Awareness and Restraint

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Sep 20, 2025
James Altucher reveals the top negotiation blunders that can derail even the best deals. He emphasizes the power of self-awareness and the importance of restraint in conversations. Discover why silence can be a negotiator's best ally and how being overly eager can cost you. He also discusses the benefits of expanding negotiable terms and the need to prioritize long-term goals over short-term gains. Learn to strategically say no and how to maintain a balance between warmth and assertiveness in negotiations.
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ANECDOTE

The 'Acting Like An Idiot' Negotiator

  • He remembered a top negotiator who acted like an idiot as a tactic and then stopped speaking to him later.
  • The memory captures how performative behavior can mask strategic intent in negotiations.
INSIGHT

Warmth Comes Before Terms

  • Negotiation begins with establishing warmth and tribe membership between parties.
  • Vulnerability then shapes who wants to take care of whom in the deal.
ADVICE

Negotiate A Bigger List Of Terms

  • Expand the list of negotiation terms beyond the headline number to create tradeable levers.
  • Use plenty of small concessions to protect the big outcomes you care about.
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