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

Reusability

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

Using it as manipulation without genuine intentRushing to make your own pointsFaking understanding when you don't actually get itUsing it only when you want something

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.”