We recorded this week’s show in the gorgeous GoSpread.ai podcast space in San Francisco - thank you, team! (Yes, we instantly wanted to crank out a dozen episodes in those vibes.)

Here’s what we covered:

• Negotiation behind-the-scenes of a dream weekend: Alex recently performed an opening DJ set at The Chainsmokers show (nearly 10K attendees!) in San Francisco—LED screens, crowd-surfing friends, and even a robot DJ trying to steal the show. But getting there wasn’t straightforward: he was already offered to open for another major artist the same weekend, and chasing the Chainsmokers slot meant taking a risk. We break down how our “maximize, don’t satisfy” mantra that guided the decision—and how the whole experience became a real-life negotiation, balancing opportunity with long-term relationships.

• Promotions vs. raises vs. brand-new offers:

• • Why companies usually put a cap on your raise by leveraging status-quo bias.

  • The hidden leverage in new job offers - and how sharing salary history undermines it.

  • Long game vs. quick win: why asking for a raise is a months-long campaign, not a one-email sprint.

  • Tactful transparency: what to say (and not say) if you’re courting external roles while staying on good terms internally.

• Action homework: Answer a recruiter DM this week - even if you love your job - to test your market value.
  

Huge gratitude to GoSpread.ai for the beautiful set-up and post-production magic. If you’re in SF and need a turnkey podcast studio, reach out to them: hello@gospread.co

In this episode, we share about Alex’s most exciting performance to-date for his side hobby, DJing. We also share exactly how we work with you:

• DJing for The Chainsmokers: Alex is on deck as the opening DJ for The Chainsmokers’ SF block party, and the two of us are gearing up to join Titanic’s End for our first-ever Burning Man.

• What “negotiation coaching” really looks like:
• Free 15–30 min consult on Zoom to see if we’re a mutually good fit and share some negotiation tips.
• One‑page Google‑Doc contract to minimize friction—sign and we’re off.
• Onboarding portal (via Beacons.ai) with your personal priorities, timeline, and all the details we need.
• Self‑paced video modules: our core negotiation philosophy, scripts for recruiter calls, written‑offer tactics, email templates, and more—for life‑long access.
• Tailored strategy calls with Gerta: live prep, email/text drafts, on‑the‑fly coaching, “therapist‑style” pep talks, and confidentiality you can trust.

• Pricing & ROI: flat fee + success fee (the delta between your initial and final offer) - why it pays to bring us in sooner rather than later.
• Real‑world case study: see how one mid‑career marketing candidate accidentally gave away his leverage - and how working with us early would have changed the game.

Whether you’re a C‑level exec, founder, or rising manager, learn exactly what it’s like to work with YourNegotiations.com, and why every minute of prep before a written offer can unlock tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars

For this week’s episode, we are sharing an interview that Gerta did with the Shift to Freedom Podcast. Led by transformational life coach Ben Easter, this podcast helps business owners reduce overwhelm, beat imposter syndrome, and lead with confidence and clarity.

In this conversation, Gerta and Ben dispel common negotiation myths, provide actionable insights, and share practical tips and strategies to transform negotiation outcomes from “dividing the pie” to “expanding the pie” - from identifying your priorities to learning the power of silence.

We covered topics including:

• Creative Value‑Adds: Identifying the multiple “chips” you can trade beyond price - start dates, deliverables, perks, reviews, PTO and more
• Intelligent Discovery: Research hacks - from reading between the lines to tapping mutual connections - to uncover what truly matters to the other side
• Achieving “Best & Final”: Exact scripts and cues for when they say their offer is non‑negotiable (and why it almost never is)
• Setting Your Boundaries: Clarifying your priorities and non‑negotiables in advance so you know exactly when to press and when to walk away
• Avoiding the People‑Pleaser Pitfall: Why extreme politeness can cost you - and when to bring in outside support or professional coaching

Connect with us here:

Website: https://www.yournegotiations.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournegotiations/

Connect with Ben here:

Website: https://lucidshiftcoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucid_shift_coaching/

Check out our free startup negotiation worksheet here:

https://www.yournegotiations.com/#worksheet