Be Who You Are to Get What You Want

Previously published as Negotiating While Black

Winner of the 2024 “Most Useful” Book by the Non-Obvious Book Awards
Winner of the 2024 "Best Self-Help" Award by the African American Literary Awards

A real-world, one-of-a-kind resource for anyone who has ever been underestimated, overlooked, or misunderstood at the negotiating table.

There’s no shortage of negotiation books that advise you to “get to yes,” urge you to “never split the difference,” and tell you to “ask for more.” But one-size-fits-all tactics don't work in our complex, multifaceted, multicultural world—because they overlook the unpredictable role bias plays in most negotiations.

Luckily, the one constant you can count on in every negotiation is yourself...and when you learn to leverage who you are to your advantage, you can win every time.

Be Who You Are to Get What You Want is the book lawyer and mediator Damali Peterman wishes had existed when faced with the kind of situations that other negotiation scripts just don't consider, like navigating workplaces as the only Black woman or advocating for her son in his predominantly white classroom. Drawing on decades of training and experience as a negotiator in high-stakes situations, Peterman has developed successful strategies—like the Foundational Five skills all negotiators need and the Negotiation Superpowers that will lift you to the next level. In the process, she takes readers out of the boardroom and into real life, showing that even in the most difficult negotiation everything is potentially up for discussion, even when stakes (and emotions) are high. Using real life examples, sample scripts, and her negotiation tool kit, Peterman guides you to lean into what makes you unique—and discover how it will help your negotiations in surprising, successful ways. Because when you show up prepared and proud of who you are, you'll reap the rewards.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs