THE U.S. JUST BANNED ANONYMOUS SHELL COMPANIES

Pardon the all-caps, but the Senate's veto override today means that the U.S. A) just eliminated the primary building block in America's transformation into an offshore haven, and B) passed the most sweeping counter-kleptocracy reforms in decades—potentially ever.
Incredible news, and an incredible way to start 2021. What a moment. https://t.co/AN9jjowOnu
Huge boost to American credibility in the fight against modern kleptocracy. Huge blow to those who'd turned to the U.S. time and again for their laundering needs, and those U.S. states that had transformed into money laundering havens of their own.

Just phenomenal news.
Again, this is a massive testament to all those who exposed the rot these anonymous shell companies led to, especially the journalists who exposed the laundering networks and civil society activists pressuring legislators to make this change (when it seemed next to impossible).
The fight against anonymity, and these American kleptocratic building blocks, is hardly over. Trusts, real estate, private equity, hedge funds, art houses, auction houses... much work remains.

But today is absolutely a day to celebrate. https://t.co/AN9jjowOnu
One other thing: This was not only a clear rebuke to Trump (and the first veto override!), but it was absolutely a bipartisan endeavor. The legislation banning shell companies couldn't have been passed without a broad, broad base of support and stakeholders, across the aisle.
Shameless self-plug, but if you're interested in how the anonymous American shell company industry first developed, and how it helped transform the U.S. into money laundering nirvana—why today is such a huge deal—you can pre-order my book here: https://t.co/QwTpzzhMt4
Statement from Transparency International U.S. (@transparencyUSA) on today's landmark passage:

'This is the first significant update to our anti-money laundering laws in twenty years, and one of the most important anti-corruption measures ever passed by the U.S. Congress.'
This is exactly right from Josh. Today's legislation is the biggest US anti-money laundering move *at least* since the Patriot Act. Given the magnitude of crimes anonymous US shell companies are involved in, it could end up being the most important ever. https://t.co/QrHeOJGxdF
Banning anonymous U.S. shell companies is obviously huge, huge news—but it's not the only anti-corruption/counter-kleptocracy win today. For example: https://t.co/ljgnoOGdxt

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Why is this the most powerful question you can ask when attempting to reach an agreement with another human being or organization?

A thread, co-written by @deanmbrody:


2/ First, “X” could be lots of things. Examples: What would need to be true for you to

- “Feel it's in our best interest for me to be CMO"
- “Feel that we’re in a good place as a company”
- “Feel that we’re on the same page”
- “Feel that we both got what we wanted from this deal

3/ Normally, we aren’t that direct. Example from startup/VC land:

Founders leave VC meetings thinking that every VC will invest, but they rarely do.

Worse over, the founders don’t know what they need to do in order to be fundable.

4/ So why should you ask the magic Q?

To get clarity.

You want to know where you stand, and what it takes to get what you want in a way that also gets them what they want.

It also holds them (mentally) accountable once the thing they need becomes true.

5/ Staying in the context of soliciting investors, the question is “what would need to be true for you to want to invest (or partner with us on this journey, etc)?”

Multiple responses to this question are likely to deliver a positive result.