In a world where money means everything, deal-making makes all the difference. To paraphrase negotiating expert Chester Karass: in life, you don’t get what youdeserve, you get what you negotiate. That’s why bad deals sting so sharply.
- Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself.
Bad deals happen, even to the best of us. Your lawyer lets you down, the other side under-compensates or the gods conspire against you. Accept what you can’t control; make lemonade; and so on. - Are You A Perfectionist?
Does your mojo wither at the prospect of leaving money on the table? Lighten up. The answer to the question of whether you could have done better is always yes. - If You Screwed Up, Be Big Enough To Admit It.
Ask tough questions: Did you contribute to the problem? Did you communicate clearly? Did you forget something? How will you make sure it doesn’t happen again? - Be Introspective.
Why did you do badly? Should you have asked for help? Did you drop your guard? Were you too greedy? Too personal? Enlist a buddy and talk it through. - Above All, Forgive Yourself.
The more mistakes you make, the more you can learn. And as Oscar Wilde said: “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.”