Technique #84
Dinners for Dining
The most guarded safe haven respected by big winners is the dining
table. Breaking bread together is a time when they bring up no unpleasant
matters. While eating, they know its OK to brainstorm and discuss the
positive side of the business: their dreams, their desires, their designs. They
can free associate and come up with new ideas. But no tough business.
This convention probably arose out of a prudent agreement not to inflict
indigestion on each other. Tough negotiating is unpalatable and can ruin an
otherwise perfectly mouthwatering veal chop.
Incidentally, the same rule applies in the social jungle. If one partner in
a friendship or a love relationship has some heavy reltionship issues to
discuss, save them for after dessert. Even if you dont solve the problem,
you want to enjoy the delicious chocolate soufflŽ.
Lets crawl into our third and final safe haven to explore it.
How to Know What Not to Say in a Chance Meeting
William, who sells widgets, has been trying to get Big Winner on the
phone for weeks to see if B.W.s company will buy his line of widgets. Big
Winner is still considering Willies widgets and plans eventually to return
his call. However, at this point in our story, our little heros phone has not
rung.
It just so happens, one evening Willie finds himself standing behind Big
Winner in the supermarket line.
What good fortune! thinks Willie.
Oh hell! thinks Big Winner. I hope hes not going to hit me with talk of
his widgets at this hour.
Those who appreciate safe havens know there are two very different
endings to this story. The Willie who brings up widgets with an Aha, Ive
got you now gleam in his eye, never gets his call returned. Even if Big
Winner preferred Willies widgets above all others, he would find the
supermarket entrapment sufficiently painful to punish the little loser.
However, the Willie who just says Hello there, B.W. How good to see
you, with nary a word of widgets, shows hes a big player, too. This Willie
will most certainly get his call returned probably the next dayout of Big
Winners relief and gratitude for Willies graciousness.
317
Technique #85
ooja
(Ooja)
#1