Curiosity In Motion

Welcome to this edition of Curiosity in Motion! This week, we explore the hidden power of what you don’t reveal in negotiations, how removing hidden blockers fuels excellence, and a deep dive into decision-making frameworks that separate great leaders from the rest. Let’s dive in.

➡️ The Power of Subtraction—What You Stop Matters More Than What You Start

Most people try to improve productivity by adding more—more goals, more tools, more tasks. But high performers don’t just focus on what they do—they focus on what they stop doing. Excellence isn’t about overloading your schedule; it’s about eliminating what slows you down.

Here are three silent productivity killers—and how to remove them:

1️⃣ Reactive Leadership

• Acting out of urgency, emotion, or pressure leads to rushed decisions.

• Fix: Build a system for pausing before reacting. If something feels urgent, give it 24 hours unless it’s truly critical.

2️⃣ Digital Distraction

• Constant notifications fragment focus, making deep work nearly impossible.

• Fix: Schedule blocks of uninterrupted time daily. Airplane mode isn’t just for travel—it’s for productivity.

3️⃣ Financial Procrastination

• Delaying key financial decisions compounds costs over time.

• Fix: Small financial optimizations today (like reviewing expenses or automating savings) lead to long-term stability.

💡 Takeaway: What you remove is just as important as what you add. Instead of asking, What should I do next?, start asking, What should I stop doing?

➡️ The Art of Strategic Silence in Negotiations

Top negotiators don’t just win with what they say—they win with what they don’t say.

Elite negotiators never reveal these four things:

1️⃣ Their Timeline

• Urgency is a leverage killer. If the other side knows you’re on a deadline, they’ll use it against you.

• Power Move: Never be the first to disclose how soon you need a deal. The more patient party holds the advantage.

2️⃣ Their Full Hand

• Revealing all your information too soon gives away control.

• Power Move: Drop key details strategically. Let the other side work to uncover them—it builds perceived value.

3️⃣ Their Bottom Line

• Announcing your minimum acceptable terms upfront weakens your position.

• Power Move: Let the other side make the first offer—most will anchor higher than you expect.

4️⃣ Their Alternatives

• If you have multiple options, keep them to yourself. Competition increases your value, but only if the other side doesn’t know how strong (or weak) your alternatives are.

• Power Move: Use silence as a tool. Curiosity makes the other party work harder to win your business.

💡 Takeaway: The most powerful negotiators don’t rush to fill silence. They let the other side reveal too much first. As the saying goes, the person who speaks last holds the most power in the room.

➡️ Decision-Making Frameworks for High-Stakes Moments

Great leaders don’t just make quick decisions—they make structured decisions. Here’s a simple but effective framework to apply when making high-stakes choices:

The Four-Stage Decision Filter:

1️⃣ Define the Decision Clearly

• What problem are you solving? What’s truly at stake?

• Write it in one sentence—if you can’t, you don’t fully understand the decision yet.

2️⃣ Identify Consequences (Short & Long-Term)

• Ask: How will this decision impact my business in 6 months? In 5 years?

• Long-term thinking prevents short-term panic moves.

3️⃣ Seek Contradictory Opinions

• The best leaders actively seek dissenting views before deciding.

• Surrounding yourself with only like-minded opinions creates blind spots.

4️⃣ Set a Time Limit

• The worst decision is no decision. Set a deadline for research, then act.

• Analysis paralysis is just as dangerous as moving too fast.

💡Takeaway: The best decisions aren’t made faster—they’re made better. Build a system that removes emotion and forces clarity before taking action.

This week’s issue is all about removing barriers—whether it’s unproductive habits, negotiation mistakes, or decision-making blind spots. The path to success isn’t about constantly adding more—it’s about refining, simplifying, and executing with precision.

Stay curious, stay intentional, and we’ll see you in the next edition of Curiosity in Motion!