BECOME A NEGOTIATION NINJA: The Art of Out-Negotiating Anyone on Anything
Your Value Deserves Victory, and the 10 Negotiation Commandments of the DISRUPTIVE Method Will Get You There
Let me ask you a simple question: Are you negotiating every day?
Some will say, “No, I’m not in sales. I’m not in law. I’m not in business development.”
But here’s the truth: if you are dealing with vendors, patients, staff, attorneys, or even your own family, you’re negotiating.
Most people, however, aren’t negotiating well. Why? Because they were never taught how to.
They either avoid it completely or they go in swinging, trying to win by force or fear.
But what if you could negotiate with skill and purpose, instead of feeling outmatched and stressed?
With clarity, not confusion?
With strategy, not improvisation?
With control, not chaos?
That’s the power of Negotiations Aikido, a business martial art that combines balance, intelligence, and leverage.
And at its core is a 10-factor system called the DISRUPTIVE Method, your blueprint to out-negotiate anyone on anything.
The DISRUPTIVE Method isn’t about aggression. It’s not about being the loudest in the room.
It’s about knowing how to tilt the playing field so that you win with respect, with clarity, and with results.
Think of these 10 factors like dominos. If you want them to fall the right way–if you want momentum, flow, and impact—then they need to be aligned with intention.
We call them the 10 Commandments of Negotiations Aikido. These are codified by the word DISRUPTIVE, giving rise to the DISRUPTIVE Method:
D: Thou shalt define value.
Internally to yourself, and externally to the world.
If you don’t see your own worth, don’t expect the other side to recognize it either.
I: Thou shalt identify the real issues.
The other side may try to distract, deflect, or dance.
Your job is to cut through the fog and get to the difference-makers.
S: Thou shalt spot and stop tricks, tactics, and taunts.
Others use them. Sometimes we even trick ourselves.
Great negotiators stay sharp, not shaken. And when they see a foul, they can ignore it, get steamrolled by it, or turn the tables and use it to their advantage.
R: Thou shalt balance ROI with ROR.
Return on Investment is easy to track.
But Return on Relationship, when earned and mutual, is long-term gold. Not all relationships hold the same value. Sometimes you need to maximize the opportunity in front of you; other times, you may choose to sacrifice for a proven and mutual relationship. You control this return-versus-relationship balancing.
U: Thou shalt uncover the facts.
Because in negotiation, facts are truth, and truth can serve as leverage.
Do your homework. Facts often reveal the treasure of negotiation leverage.
P: Thou shalt prioritize, persist, and remain patient.
Stay focused on what matters. Don’t get distracted by noise. Keep moving the needle forward.
Patience isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom in disguise. It’s emotional intelligence. Because patience often pays.
T: Thou shalt trust, but verify.
You can be friendly. You can be fair.
But you must verify any material claim, whether legal, factual, or opinion.
As Ronald Reagan said during Cold War nuclear talks with the Russians: “Trust, but verify.”
I: Thou shalt inject advantages strategically.
You don’t throw your best cards out at the start.
Strategic timing turns leverage into results. It’s part of controlling the negotiation.
Know when to assert the leverage you’ve found, when to use Ninja Silence, and how to bring it home to optimize results and achieve your objectives.
V: Thou shalt value versatility.
Just because two situations look the same doesn’t mean they are.
Adaptation wins when repetition fails. The DISRUPTIVE Method was born from flexibility and versatility, as all negotiations are unique in one manner or many, either by the parties, the facts, the issues or the desired outcomes. It’s okay to pivot. This method allows you to adjust to any situation or surprise.
E: Thou shalt employ emotional awareness.
Don’t let emotions run wild, unless you’re using them on purpose.
Control your emotions or be controlled by them. You also will make assumptions that may prove to be wrong. Until you’ve walked in the other person’s shoes, you don’t truly comprehend. Be careful of regret and a relationship ruined. And always find a way to leave a negotiation on a positive note, even when you dominate the outcome.
Now let me bring it home…
If you’re a medical office, a business leader, or a team builder, you’ve worked too hard to have your value discounted, your profit margins squeezed, your team disrespected, or your effort overlooked.
Every negotiation, whether it’s with an attorney over a lien, a staff member over a schedule, or a vendor over a service, is a chance to assert your worth without confrontation.
This isn’t about being manipulative or difficult. This is about being effective.
And when you practice Negotiations Aikido, using the DISRUPTIVE Method, you become the calm storm that controls the negotiation process in every deal. You command respect. You protect your margins. And most importantly, you make sure you and your team walk away stronger, not weaker, bigger not smaller.
So, I challenge you: Learn this system. Live these commandments. Master this business martial art.
Because your value, your profits, your team, and your business are all worth negotiating for.
And now, you’ll know how to win without ever having to fight.
Because you’ve become a Negotiations Ninja.
And no one but you will see it coming.
