Folks, let me tell you, a schoolhouse is a curious place. It’ll teach you how to sit still, raise your hand, and salute the bell, but it won’t teach you how to raise yourself. They’ll hand you thick textbooks on long division but never a … Continue readingThe Lessons They Never Taught You in School – Sheep, Wolves, and Game Theory
Everybody lies. — Dr. House — TV Show “HOUSE” When I was young and a little too eager for my own good, I’d wander into open houses like a stray dog looking for a new home. I’d find a place I liked, talk to the … Continue readingThe Art of the Fake Deal
Now, I’ve seen some peculiar things in my day—nothing—quite prepares you for the tale of the soda pop company that damn near became a superpower. You see, back in the days when men with thick mustaches argued about nukes and nations played chicken with missiles, … Continue readingThe Soda That Sank a Fleet – A True Story of Cola, Cold War, and Corporate Chess
I’ve seen all kinds of negotiators in my life — silver-tongued salesmen, corporate lawyers who could argue a rock into a corner, and folks so slippery you’d swear they were coated in butter. But the best negotiator I ever met stood about 4 feet tall, … Continue readingThe Power of Saying No — And the Best Negotiator I Ever Met
If there’s one thing folks ought to learn before they sit down at a table with their so-called enemies, it’s this: The truth’s got nothing to do with it. What matters is who’s holding the bigger stick and how tired their arm is from holding … Continue readingThe Unforgiving Table: A Masterclass in Negotiation and the Hard Lessons of Power