♟️ The Metagame #030: Awareness, Body Language, and Human Intuition

I hate the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

That’s literally the point of the cover—to grab your attention and get you to pick up the book.

The same applies to people and situations. First impressions aren’t everything, but they’re definitely something.

And ignoring them is a bad strategy.

Here’s what’s in store for today:

• The role of intuition in decision-making

• How body language reveals more than words

• Mastering situational awareness

Read time: 5 minutes

Your Intuition Is a Survival Skill

Human intuition is underrated.

It developed as a survival mechanism—our ancestors relied on it to scan their environment for threats, read social cues, and make split-second decisions: fight, flee, or negotiate.

While we don’t have any saber-toothed tigers to escape from today, the skill still matters.

Whether you’re walking into a business meeting, a social gathering, or a dark parking lot at night, your ability to read the room could be the difference between success and failure (and sometimes even life and death.)

And a major part of this? Body language.

Most people don’t realize this, but body language is the closest thing we have to mind reading.

We give off signals (and pick them up from others) whether we’re thinking about it or not.

Some of these cues flash by in microseconds—too fast for the untrained eye. But your subconscious sees them. With practice, you can bring those signals into conscious awareness.

Here’s an example of a body language trick you can start using today:

Look at people’s feet.

No, not in a weird way.

Just observe where they’re pointing.

Our feet are the furthest body part from our brain, which means they’re the hardest to consciously control. People fake smiles, force eye contact, and adjust their posture to seem engaged—but their feet tell the real story.

• In group settings, feet naturally point toward the person someone is most interested in.

• If someone’s feet are angled toward an exit, it’s possible they’re mentally checked out and ready to leave.

• In a three-person conversation, if the other two have their feet pointed only at each other, you might be the odd one out.

Simple, yet powerful.

But there’s a catch (there always is…)

It’s important to remember that every body language signal must be taken with a grain of salt.

No single body language cue means the same thing 100% of the time.

Arms crossed? They might be closed off… or just cold.

Minimal eye contact? They might be lying… or just socially anxious.

Cues only make sense in context. Environment, emotional state, and baseline behavior all matter.

Want to get better at reading people? Start paying attention. Over time, you’ll build a sharper instinct for what’s genuine and what’s performance.

(If you’re interested in this, I’ve read several great books on body language. Reply to this email with what you’re curious about, and I’ll send you some recommendations.)

Mastering Situational Awareness

Situational awareness is your ability to scan your environment and pick up on subtle cues most people miss.

It’s a skill used by:

• Krav Maga experts who can sense an attack before it happens.

• Poker players who can spot a bluff based on microexpressions.

• CEOs who can walk into a meeting and instantly sense the room’s energy.

There’s a lot to it, but let’s simplify:

1. Body Language

Body language isn’t just about reading others—it’s about controlling yours.

Before a high-stakes moment (a meeting, a date, a negotiation), check yourself: Are you fidgeting? Shrinking into your chair? Avoiding eye contact?

Confidence is often perceived before it’s earned. Control your presence, and others will respond accordingly.

2. Staying Present

Most people miss obvious signals because they’re too distracted—by their phone, their own thoughts, or the mental replay of an awkward moment from three years ago.

Situational awareness isn’t paranoia—it’s engagement. The more present you are, the more you’ll pick up on.

3. Listen Beyond Words

Tone, pacing, and emphasis reveal more than the words themselves.

Someone saying “I’m fine” in a clipped tone with a slight hesitation? Probably not fine.

A pause before answering a question? Possible deception or hesitation.

Most communication is nonverbal. Listen between the lines.

4. Reading the Room

Context changes everything.

The same body language cue means different things at a job interview vs. a poker table vs. a bar.

Whenever you enter a new space, scan it:

• Where are the exits?

• Where are people gathered?

• Is there any unusual behavior?

When you combine sharp intuition with conscious observation, you start seeing things before they happen. And in any game—business, relationships, or life—that’s an advantage I’d take every single day.

The Cover vs. The Story

On the surface, people often put on a show.

They present a version of themselves they want others to see—through social media, fashion, jewelry, posture, how they speak—the list goes on and on.

That’s the book cover.

And yes, there’s always more beneath the surface—an entire story you can’t see just from the cover or the blurb on the back.

But pretending the cover doesn’t matter? That’s naïve.

We judge books by their cover because we have to.

First impressions help us filter through the noise, assess risks, and decide what’s worth another look.

The trick isn’t to ignore first impressions—it’s to know when to trust them and when to dig deeper.

So next time someone tells you not to judge a book by its cover?

Smile, nod, and quietly check where their feet are pointing.

Quote of the week

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions, hit me up on LinkedIn or on 𝕏 at @sam_starkman, or feel free to reply to this email!

— Sam