Negotiations erode standards one small compromise at a time. This episode teaches a single, repeatable tool: the Quiet Contract — a one‑sentence agreement that names who, what, when and the non‑negotiable boundary. James explains why short contracts win (clarity, low friction, repeatability), then gives three plug‑and‑play templates: a personal morning contract, a family/partner contract for shared responsibilities, and a meeting/work contract to prevent reactive commitments. You’ll get exact wording to use immediately, a 5‑minute process to draft and verbally lock the contract, and a seven‑day micro‑trial to test whether a tiny, explicit agreement prevents compromise. The episode stays practical: no platitudes, no moralizing — just scripts, short rehearsal language, and a simple nightly check to see if the contract held. Learn how to keep agreements quiet, firm, and useful so your standards survive real life.