The Biggest Negotiation Mistakes 

Negotiation skills are essential in both personal and professional life, empowering individuals to resolve conflicts, and secure better deals. Whether closing a business contract, discussing salary raises, or navigating family disputes, effective negotiation leads to win-win outcomes, fostering trust and efficiency.

Poor negotiation, however, can result in lost opportunities, financial setbacks, or damaged partnerships. Failing to prepare adequately undermines even the strongest positions, turning potential successes into regrettable failures. By prioritizing preparation, you can negotiate with poise and achieve better results.  

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Unlock Your Inner Persuasion Superpower: Your Personal Power

Effective persuaders recognize and apply various forms of power. However, for many, the term "power" evokes discomfort. Is it an appropriate topic for discussion? Does it carry positive or negative connotations? Can it be exercised ethically over an audience?

This depends on the type of power, its application, and the intent behind it. Individuals inherently possess different forms of power in every situation. It is a fundamental aspect of human behavior to acknowledge and align with authority and expertise.  When an audience perceives your power as trustworthy, it significantly enhances your ability to influence behavior.

Want to know all the forms of personal power?  Discover that you are not powerless, but have personal power you can leverage in every persuasion encounter.  Increase your power and increase your influence.

Persuade with Power

Kurt Mortensen

Imagine commanding any room, captivating every listener, and leaving a lasting impression that seals the deal—whether you're pitching a product, leading a team, or inspiring change. In a world where attention spans are shrinking to mere minutes, this show reveals how to make your message stick, ensuring your audience stays hooked and persuaded.   

Why do some messages linger while others fade? The primacy and recency effects explain it: people remember what comes first and last most vividly. Going first in a pitch, like a keynote speaker setting the tone, leverages primacy to plant a strong idea in your audience’s mind before competitors muddy the waters.

Ready to make your message unforgettable? Permanent Retention: Primacy vs. Recency Effect is your guide to mastering attention and influence, but this is just the start. Don’t let your ideas fade into the background—listen now to unlock the full arsenal of persuasion tools and learn how to go first, go last, and always leave a lasting impression!

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Metaphor Mastery: Unlock the Secret Language of Influence

Imagine unlocking a hidden superpower in your everyday conversations—one that turns ordinary words into irresistible forces of persuasion, capable of swaying opinions, closing deals, and inspiring action like never before. Metaphors are powerful tools for shaping minds and hearts. Whether you're a salesperson pitching your next big idea, or a leader motivating your team, this show equips you with the secrets to influence effortlessly.  

At the core of metaphor mastery lies the understanding that metaphors bridge the abstract and the concrete, making complex ideas feel tangible and relatable. Think of a metaphor as a mental shortcut: instead of explaining a difficult concept in dry terms, you paint a vivid picture that sticks in the listener's mind. 

For example, rather than saying "business is competitive," try "business is a battlefield," instantly evoking strategy, rivals, and victory. Metaphors resonate on an emotional level, drawing from real-world applications like marketing, where brands like Apple position their products as "revolutionary tools" to spark desire.

Why Are Metaphors So Influential?

1. Makes Ideas Relatable

Metaphors turn vague concepts into clear, everyday images, helping customers understand product value quickly. Example: "Our CRM is like your business's nervous system, linking everything smoothly."

2. Cuts Through Jargon

Metaphors simplify tech terms by comparing them to familiar things, speeding up decisions. Example: "Our cloud storage is an endless filing cabinet in the sky—no physical clutter."

3. Boosts Retention

Metaphors make pitches stick in minds longer than plain facts, improving recall. Example: Apple's "1,000 songs in your pocket" made the iPod's portability unforgettable.

4. Handles Objections

Metaphors reframe issues as positives, reducing pushback without arguing. Example: "Our consulting is like planting an oak tree—a small start for long-term strength."

Ready to wield the secret language that has powered history's greatest influencers? "Metaphor Mastery - Unlock the Secret Language of Influence" podcast is your gateway to persuasion power.  Don't let your words fall flat and start mastering metaphors to maximize your influence today!

Persuade Without Pushing: The Art and Science of Storytelling

In a world overflowing with information, stories are the key to grabbing attention and holding it.  Stories captivate your audience, forge unshakable connections, and influence without ever feeling like a hard sell.  Whether you’re a business leader, marketer, or entrepreneur, stories make your message unforgettable.

Stories do more than entertain—they persuade without detection.  By weaving your ideas into compelling narratives, you can guide your audience toward your goals without them feeling pressured.  The secret lies in crafting stories that resonate deeply, sparking emotions that build trust and rapport.

Tune in to Persuade Without Pushing - The Art And Science of Sticky Stories on the Maximize Your Influence podcast to master story selling.  From sparking emotions to building bridges between people, this episode reveals how stories transform the way you communicate, lead, and sell. Subscribe now to discover strategies that captivate, connect, and convert—without ever pushing your audience away.

Maximizeyourinfluence.com

Ever wondered how to close a hard core closer?  Did you know that salespeople are easier to sell then the average person? Enter "How to Close the Closer," the podcast that demystifies the art of persuading the persuaders.  

Whether you're in B2B sales, pitching services, or just honing your influence skills, this podcast equips you with tools to flip the script on even the toughest prospects.

Maximizeyourinfluence.com

Imagine boosting your close rate by 30% just by tweaking your surroundings. What if the real culprit isn't your words—it's the room you're in OR your Zoom background? Introducing "Surroundings Sell," the groundbreaking podcast that reveals how everyday elements like ceiling heights, room temperatures, colors, and lighting secretly shape your prospect's mindset.

This show dives deep into the science of environmental influence, showing you how high ceilings can spark creative "yeses," warm temps might create objections, and strategic lighting can build instant trust.

Whether you're closing deals in boardrooms, virtual calls, or coffee shops, discover the invisible forces that turn "maybe" into "sold" without changing a single word of your script. Ready to harness the power of your environment? Discover additional ways to increase your influence with your surroundings.  Your next big win might just be a room redesign away—listen now and sell smarter!

Maximizeyourinfluence.com

MaximizeYourInfluence.com

 Discover the Shocking Truth: How Multitasking is Sabotaging Your Influence and Crushing Your Productivity

Imagine this: You're juggling emails, a Zoom call, and that "quick" social media scroll—all while convincing yourself you're a productivity powerhouse. But what if I told you this habit destroys your ability to influence and manage your time.

For years, we've been sold the lie that multitasking is the key to getting more done. But cutting-edge studies from 2023 to 2025 paint a starkly different picture: multitasking doesn't boost efficiency—it destroys it through "task-switching," where your brain bounces between tasks, racking up hidden cognitive costs like slower performance, more errors, and exhausting mental fatigue.

Think your brain is wired for parallel processing? Think again. Neuroscience reveals that we can only truly handle one complex task at a time; overloading the prefrontal cortex leads to poorer results across the board. A productivity analysis estimating that each task switch wastes anywhere from 10 minutes to a staggering 2 hours as your brain reorients itself.

Persuade With Power

Kurt Mortensen

Unlock the Power of Persuasion: Discover "The Elephant Persuasion Principle" Podcast!

Ever wondered how to influence people effortlessly, build unbreakable trust, and close deals like a pro? Imagine having a memory as sharp as an elephant's—never forgetting a name, a face, or a crucial detail that seals the connection. Recall like an elephant and watch your relationships soar!

Elephants aren't just massive; they're memory masters! With brains weighing a whopping 5 kg (11 lbs - they excel at recall for survival and social bonds. Think about Lakshmi, the elephant in India who, after years of abuse, retaliated against her tormentor in June 2024. It's a stark reminder: elephants remember pain, loyalty, and everything in between. Now, apply that to your life - remember names like an elephant and you'll persuade like never before!

Why is remembering names a game-changing people skill? It shows respect and genuine interest, sparking trust and rapport. In business, it supercharges networking and leadership. Socially, it cements friendships and nails first impressions. A 2016 Journal of Social Psychology study proves it: using someone's name boosts your warmth and competence, making you instantly more likable. It's not just polite; it's persuasive 101!

But what's happening in your brain? When you hear your name, your attention spikes (like "Great job, Sarah!"), the amygdala lights up with emotion, and the prefrontal cortex evaluates the feel-good factor. It personalizes interactions, validates feelings, and follows social norms that make folks like you more. 

Here are two simple techniques:

1. Repeat and Use the Name Immediately: Say "Nice to meet you, Sarah!" and weave it in again: "So, Sarah, what's your story?" Repetition builds brain pathways, shifting names from your short-term memory to long-term recall. Example: At a networking bash, greet John with "John, awesome to connect - what's your passion, John?" Boom - name locked in!

2. Associate with a Visual Image: Link the name to a wild picture. For Rose, envision a Rose coming out of her ear. Your brain loves visuals, leveraging the hippocampus for recall. 

Want more insights into recalling names, increasing recall and 4 other techniques to instantly connect to anyone. Tune into The Elephant Principle Of Persuasion Podcast. Whether you're in sales, leadership, or just want to ace social scenes, this podcast turns you into a persuasion powerhouse.

Persuade With Power

Kurt Mortensen

PS Influence University Special

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Do You Know When It’s Time to Shut Up? Time To Seal The Deal?

Ever wonder why your presentation isn’t closing deals, even when you’re pouring your heart into explaining every feature of your product or service? The truth might sting: you’re probably talking too much.

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The Trap of Talking Too Much

When you’re trying to persuade someone—whether it’s a client, a colleague, or even a friend—it’s tempting to lay out every perk and plus. After all, shouldn’t highlighting all the amazing features seal the deal? Not quite. Research shows that 81% of persuaders talk more than necessary. Your audience isn’t buying because of your reasons; they’re buying for their reasons.

Bury them in details, and their eyes glaze over. Worse, you might accidentally highlight a feature they don’t care about—or one they see as a downside. If you’re spouting off every fact you know, you’re not persuading—you’re overwhelming. So, how do you avoid this trap?

Listen First, Present Later

The secret to effective persuasion is simple: shut up and listen. Your audience already knows what they want, so let them tell you. Instead of leading with a laundry list of features, ask questions to uncover their priorities. Are they looking for cost savings? Convenience? Status? Once you know what matters to them, focus your pitch on those points and nothing else. This approach saves time, builds trust, and keeps you from wasting energy on irrelevant details.

Here’s a practical tip you can use today: start your next conversation with open-ended questions like, “What’s most important to you in a [product/service]?” or “What challenges are you trying to solve?” Then, listen carefully. Their answers are your roadmap. Tailor your pitch to address their specific needs, and resist the urge to throw in extra “just in case” features. Less is more.

Two Moments You’re Talking Too Much

Join me for the Maximize Your Influence Podcast, and I will dive into the two critical moments where persuaders tend to overdo it:

During the Presentation: If you’re dominating the conversation, you’re missing vital information. Your audience is giving you clues about their needs, objections, and priorities— but you won’t hear them if you’re too busy talking. Practice active listening: pause after key points, ask follow-up questions, and let them steer the discussion.

At the Close: Knowing when your audience is ready to buy is crucial. If you keep pushing after they’re convinced, you risk annoying them or raising doubts. Look for verbal and nonverbal signals—like agreement or enthusiasm—and shift to confirming the decision rather than piling on more reasons to buy.

A Quick Strategy to Try Now

Here’s a simple framework to persuade without overwhelming:

Ask and Listen: Use questions to uncover their needs and priorities.

Focus and Deliver: Highlight only the benefits that align with their stated goals.

Pause and Check: After presenting, pause to gauge their reaction. Ask, “How does this fit with what you’re looking for?”

Close Concisely: Once they’re ready, summarize and confirm the next steps.

By talking less, you’ll actually say more.

Why You Need This Podcast

Join me for the Maximize Your Influence Podcast and you will discover how to decode buying signals to avoiding the “feature data dump” that kills deals, this episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone who wants to influence others effectively.

Persuade With Power

Kurt Mortensen

Influence University - Deal of the week