Steven

Does one's self-esteem and one's... insecurities play a role in this?

Okay.

Okay.

And what is my assertive voice? And how is sort of an assertive voice different to like disrespecting someone? I've got this graph, I think it's taken from your book, which shows the sort of middle ground of, I'll put it on the screen for anyone that can't see, but respecting others sort of versus respecting yourself. And in the middle there, you have your assertive voice.

And what is my assertive voice? And how is sort of an assertive voice different to like disrespecting someone? I've got this graph, I think it's taken from your book, which shows the sort of middle ground of, I'll put it on the screen for anyone that can't see, but respecting others sort of versus respecting yourself. And in the middle there, you have your assertive voice.

What is my assertive voice?

What is my assertive voice?

You have to find ways to say more with less. So does the amount that I speak, have consequence.

You have to find ways to say more with less. So does the amount that I speak, have consequence.

They listen a whole lot more. Do people capitalize on that? So if you're triggered by me saying that you have a purple shirt on, Have I got the power now? Because I can play you like a fiddle if you're so easily triggered by something that's so obviously like provocation. Surely I have the power over you now, right?

They listen a whole lot more. Do people capitalize on that? So if you're triggered by me saying that you have a purple shirt on, Have I got the power now? Because I can play you like a fiddle if you're so easily triggered by something that's so obviously like provocation. Surely I have the power over you now, right?

Do you have a lot of people pleasers coming to you?

Do you have a lot of people pleasers coming to you?

And that's easier said than done. It's interesting. I started my first proper business when I was about 18 years old. And when you're 18 years old and you're dealing with people that are like double your age and you're different because your skin color is a little bit different, you have no experience.

And that's easier said than done. It's interesting. I started my first proper business when I was about 18 years old. And when you're 18 years old and you're dealing with people that are like double your age and you're different because your skin color is a little bit different, you have no experience.

I was talking to the guy that was cutting my hair yesterday because he's a young black man starting in business. And you were aware that every conversation you're having to some degree

I was talking to the guy that was cutting my hair yesterday because he's a young black man starting in business. And you were aware that every conversation you're having to some degree

is a test yeah it's like a test of how much you value yourself how much you believe in yourself and how much you believe in what you're building and what you're saying like it's an interesting way to think of life that like every conversation is actually a test a test of your conviction and i was just i was talking to my barber about how i've changed over time and how business has made me become more direct and more assertive than i was when i was 18 years old

is a test yeah it's like a test of how much you value yourself how much you believe in yourself and how much you believe in what you're building and what you're saying like it's an interesting way to think of life that like every conversation is actually a test a test of your conviction and i was just i was talking to my barber about how i've changed over time and how business has made me become more direct and more assertive than i was when i was 18 years old

Because I wouldn't have survived in some of the rooms that I'm in with very eccentric billionaires who have done this 40 years before me if I didn't have that assertive voice, if I wasn't able to look them in the eye and say with calmness and a slower pace what I believe to be true. It's so interesting.