Hi Reader, In this week’s episode of Gentle Power, we explored two topics: one personal (do we negotiate with friends) and one negotiation-related (how companies use tricky language in job offers). Full episode here (YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts), with the main points below. Do we negotiate with friends (and each other)? We’re sometimes asked if we negotiate with each other or our friends. The short answer: yes, but not in the way people usually think. When most people say “negotiate,”...
13 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, This week’s Gentle Power episode (Youtube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts) hit on a truth we see over and over: you can be brilliant, accomplished, and trained in negotiation, and still mishandle a high-stakes job offer. Our guest is a close friend who went to a top business school, was taking a negotiation class while she was in the middle of her own job offer process, and has a career full of negotiating multi-million-dollar deals. By all accounts, she should have been bulletproof....
20 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, This week on Gentle Power, we had a very special guest: Kevin Houng - an HR leader, former employment attorney, and one of Alex’s longest friends (think Halo marathons on the first Xbox back in 2001 😅). Kevin has advised executives at major companies, scaled startups through rapid growth, and overseen compensation strategies at organizations from 10 people to 10,000. In short: he’s been on the other side of the negotiation table, and he knows exactly how companies think about pay....
27 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, We spoke to a divorce mediator… about negotiations!! 😆 Some quick backstory: A few weeks ago, Alex opened his laptop to start the work day. Sitting at the top of his inbox was an email with the words “divorce mediator” in the subject line. He froze. Why was a divorce mediator emailing him? After a brief moment of panic, he opened the email and saw it was something entirely different. The sender, Joe Dillon, had stumbled upon our podcast, Gentle Power (YouTube | Spotify | Apple...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, We hear this question all the time, and it’s there even if it’s not said explicitly:“If I negotiate, is there a chance the offer gets rescinded?” It makes sense to wonder. You’ve been interviewing for months, the stakes are high, and you don’t want to mess anything up now that you finally have an offer. But most people misunderstand what actually causes an offer to get rescinded. It’s usually not about negotiating. It’s about how the negotiation is handled. Let’s break it down....
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, This week, we’re resurfacing a past podcast conversation between Gerta and Brendan Aronson of TheMilVet (YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts). While the episode focused on supporting military members transitioning into civilian careers, the insights are just as relevant for people from other backgrounds. A major theme we explored was mindset, especially how difficult it can be to advocate for yourself when you come from a culture built on putting others first. For those who may not...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, In most episodes of Gentle Power (YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts), we teach you how to negotiate better outcomes for yourself. More compensation, better job offers, smarter deals. But what about when you’re the one paying? In this week’s episode, we dive into a different side of negotiation: how to handle service providers like hairstylists, dentists, contractors, or property managers in a way that’s fair, collaborative, and leaves no resentment. We’ve been on the receiving end...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, We recently joined Lauren McGoodwin on her podcast to talk all things negotiation. Here are a few key principles we walked through on the episode: 1. Don’t overshare—especially when talking about other offers.You can (and should) say you have other offers. But don’t say who they’re from or what they pay. That information doesn’t help you; it helps them. 2. Show excitement.Some candidates fear that showing enthusiasm makes them look desperate. In reality, it gives the company...
2 months ago • 2 min read
We share negotiation tips + a peek into running a business with your life partner. 👫 🤝 Hi Reader, Greetings from Albania! 🇦🇱 Every summer, we spend extended time visiting Gerta’s family here in the Balkans surrounded by family and often by the sea. We wanted to share a bit about Gerta’s home country and our annual excursion here, but if you’re just here for the negotiation tips, scroll down! Our Albanian summers: family, beaches, & midnight Zooms Despite the beautiful setting, it’s definitely...
2 months ago • 4 min read