187 Mildred Yuan, Talent Agent and Coach: How to Play the Discomfort Olympics - A Masterclass in Negotiation

Some negotiations are lost long before a single word is agreed. They’re lost in the rush to fill silence … in the instinct to ease tension … in the urge to make the other person comfortable.

My guest in this episode understands this better than most. Mildred Yuan is a leading talent agent, negotiator and executive coach - and she also happens to be my partner in life. Years ago she was my dance partner too, back when competitive ballroom dancing played a big role in our lives.

Her approach to negotiation traces back to a moment when she was just sixteen, staring down her formidable Tiger Mom across the kitchen table … and discovering a lesson she still uses today. Influence often belongs to the person willing to stay in discomfort a little longer.

In this conversation we explore negotiation, self-advocacy, and the moment you realise that no one is coming to rescue you. At some point, you have to decide to stand your ground … and put on your own superhero cape.