“Business” is never just business; it’s personal. In this candid episode of Time, Fuel, and Money, Deborah, Karim, and Vassili unpack a week of jarring meetings and broken expectations: why character shows up at the table long before term sheets do, and how to navigate manipulation, power plays, and cultural or generational clashes without losing your center.
Karim shares the gut-punch of realizing your read on someone was off, and how to reset without spiraling. Deborah examines the risk of early-stage M&A behavior creeping into simple meetings, why respectful introductions matter, and why we now have to triple- and quadruple-check narratives. Vassili reframes the moment: you always have a choice, and the real skill is holding awareness, staying relaxed enough to handle the unplanned. They also debate AI’s role: will it make negotiations more transactional or highlight the irreplaceable value of human connection? Could AI tools that read nervous-system cues surface deception, or just change the game?
🧠 Topics we explore
- Your gut compass: why expectations break and how to recalibrate
- “Business is personal” as an operational advantage
- Deception & fear states in negotiations
- Culture & generation: clash or complement?
- AI as an emotional mirror: promise, peril, use cases
- Choice & boundaries: protecting energy, pausing on purpose
- Prepared for the unplanned: relaxed, value-anchored presence
If you’ve felt blindsided in a meeting, questioned your instincts, or wondered where AI ends and humanity begins, this one’s for you, a field guide for staying yourself when the room gets weird.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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