What is a damaging admission?

A "damaging admission" is a technique in persuasion where you deliberately and truthfully disclose a negative aspect about yourself or your product to increase your credibility and trustworthiness. By acknowledging your flaws or mistakes openly, you enhance the believability of the positive claims that follow.

Alex Hormozi explains this concept in the context of sales. He suggests that when you admit a genuine downside ("you're going to make a ton of money if you work with me, but it's going to be a ton of work"), it makes the positive aspect more convincing because it contrasts with the negativity and showcases honesty in a world where people often make exaggerated claims 1.

This technique helps in building trust, especially in business scenarios where trust is crucial for clients to invest their money or time 1.