1: Chris Voss was in a bind. 

After serving as the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator, he had decided to go into business for himself.

The good news?

For his first consulting project, he received the honor of training the national hostage negotiation team from the United Arab Emirates.

The bad news? 

Chris was serving as a subcontractor.  “The prestige of the assignment was tempered during the project by problems with … continue reading

1: It was negotiation expert Herb Cohen’s first big business deal, Chris Voss, writes in his book Never Split the Difference.

Herb was sent to Japan by his company to negotiate with a supplier. 

“When he arrived, his counterparts asked him how long he was staying,” Chris notes. 

Herb told them one week.

“For the next seven days, his hosts proceeded to entertain him with parties, tours, and … continue reading

1: Fair is fair.  Until it isn’t. 

The actor and comedienne Robin Williams wanted to do something special for his kids, Chris Voss writes in his book Never Split the Difference.

So, he agreed to be the voice of the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin for a fee of $75,000.  Far below his usual $8 million payday. 

“But then something happened,” Chris notes.  “The movie became a huge hit, raking … continue reading

1: “Give us the money,” the kidnappers told the nephew of a prominent Haitian political figure, “or your aunt is going to die.” 

It was Monday morning in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The year was 2004.

The nephew called the FBI office. Chris Voss, the FBI’s lead international kidnapping negotiator, came onto the line.

“He spoke so fast he had to repeat his story three times before I understood,” Chris … continue reading

1: Brandon Voss was six foot two and weighed 250 pounds. 

What did he like most about high school football?

He liked to hit people.

“He loved to knock every player wearing an opposing jersey to the ground,” writes Chris Voss in his book Never Split the Difference. Chris is the FBI’s former chief hostage negotiator and Brandon’s dad.

Brandon’s senior year, his coach moved him to linebacker from … continue reading

1: August 2000. The Philippines. The militant Islamic group Abu Sayyaf announces it has captured a CIA agent.

“The truth was not as newsworthy or as valuable to the rebels,” writes Chris Voss in Never Split the Difference. The Muslim rebels had actually apprehended Jeffrey Schilling, a twenty-four-year-old California native traveling near their base in Jolo Island.

The rebel leader Abu Sabaya announced the ransom amount.

$10 million.… continue reading

1: Marti Evelsizer was the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Coordinator in Pittsburgh. 

She was “a dynamo and a negotiating genius, which earned her huge respect both within the Bureau and with the local police,” writes Chris Voss in his book Never Split the Difference.

The city’s police department’s hostage negotiation team asked her to sit on their selection board for new candidates. It was quite an honor.

The only problem? … continue reading

1: Chris Voss has recently joined the FBI’s New York office, he writes in his book Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended On It.

“I want to be a hostage negotiator,” Chris told Amy Bonderow, who ran the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team in New York.

“Everyone does—got any training?” she asked. 

“No,” Chris said. 

“Any credentials?” 

“Nope,” he answered. 

“Any experience?” she asked. 

“No,” … continue reading

1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.

Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we are working on at PCI.

One of my goals for the year is to be intentional about building trust to deepen my relationships with the people I love and care about. My wife. Our … continue reading

1: For six months, the prospect dragged his feet. But now there’s been a major system collapse, and he is under tremendous pressure to fix it.  

“Be here by Friday morning, or the deal is off,” he tells Ryan.

Ryan buys an airline ticket for the next day, Thursday. But when he arrives at the Baltimore airport, he discovers there’s been a freak lightning storm. The airport will be closed … continue reading