The Samurai Listener

From white belt to black belt—how to become a more confident and effective negotiator, listener, speaker, and leader using the way of the Samurai.

Justice, courage, loyalty, self-control: these are more than words limited to the study of ancient wars and the martial arts. They are essential to the workplace wars we face daily. So, what if you could use the way of the Samurai in your daily life—especially at work? The martial arts skills of the Samurai revolve around politeness, self-control, and honesty. By using these traits as business strategies, you will develop an especially powerful tool for dealing with the subtle attacks we often face from colleagues, clients, and others competing for control, eager to succeed at our expense. By learning how to recognize these attacks, you’ll be ready to handle unexpected challenges. And by mastering these techniques, you will become a more confident and effective leader.

The Samurai Listener provides specific physical and mental exercises to improve all of your interpersonal interactions, particularly in professional settings. Cash Nickerson draws upon more than thirty years of experience in human resources, the workforce, and his training in martial arts to offer expert instruction to help anyone eager to be more successful.

Steven “Cash” Nickerson is president and a principal of PDS Tech, Inc., one of the largest engineering and IT staffing firms in the U.S., employing over 10,000 employees. Nickerson has held a variety of legal and executive positions in his 30-year career, including attorney and marketing executive for Union Pacific Railroad, partner at Jenner & Block (one of Chicago’s five largest law firms), and chairman and CEO of an internet company he took public. An avid writer and speaker on the workplace, jobs, economy, and employment, Nickerson is the author of several books including BOOMERangs, Engaging the Aging Workforce in America and StagNation, Understanding the New Normal in Employment. Nickerson holds a JD and MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and is licensed to practice law in several states. He is an avid martial artist, ranked as a third-degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and a Russian Martial Art instructor at his school, Big D Systema in Dallas. Nickerson is a frequent guest on numerous talk radio shows including NPR, The Joe Elliot Show, Americas Evening News, Lifestyle Talk Radio, The Lifestyle Show, Conversations with Peter Solomon, Ringside Politics, The Dave Malarkey Show, The Morning Show, and The Costa Report.