The irony wasn't lost on me when I found myself making dozens of difficult decisions while writing a book about... making difficult decisions.
Publishers. Deadlines. Content. Structure. Cover design.
Each requiring clarity under pressure.
But here's what struck me most during this process:
The quality of our lives is a direct reflection of the quality of our decisions.
Yet despite all the frameworks and formulas out there, we still struggle when it matters most.
I believe it’s because decision-making books typically focus on the process, not the person.
They give you steps, but not the mental state needed to execute them.
They offer formulas, but don't address what hijacks your thinking in the first place.
What I've learned through 20 years of high-stakes negotiation – resolving kidnappings, navigating business crises, and coaching leaders – is this:
The better our thoughts, the better our emotions, the better our decisions.
This simple chain reaction determines pretty much everything.
When we're triggered, our brain connects situations to past experiences, and we react automatically.
But there's a tiny gap between trigger and response.
That gap is what I call "the eye of the storm."
It's the calm centre where clarity lives, even as chaos swirls around you.
It's where you can access your best thinking, regardless of external circumstances.
What I realised is that while the world doesn't need another business book filled with decision frameworks, it desperately needs tools for managing what happens in our minds and bodies when pressure hits.
Because no framework works when your thinking is hijacked by stress.
This is particularly true for leaders.
Your decisions don't just affect you – they ripple through teams, organisations, families, and communities.
That's why I wrote this book.
To address what I believe is the real challenge:
How do we maintain our clearest thinking when clarity matters most?
If you enjoyed my Sunday Times bestseller ‘Order Out of Chaos’, I believe you'll find this is the natural next step.
‘Eye of the Storm’ will be released on May 8th.
If you’d like to be one of the first to read it, ‘Eye of the Storm’ is still available for pre-order.
Follow this link to secure your copy on Amazon →
p.s. If you've already pre-ordered 'Eye of the Storm' at any point, or if you're planning to pre-order now, simply forward your receipt to Info@winanynegotiation.com or reply to this email - and I’ll send the first chapter straight to your email ahead of time while you wait for the full copy.
Let's Transform How you Handle Critical Conversations.
