The Book of Real-World Negotiations

Preface

When I was first approached about writing a book, this is the one that immediately leapt to mind. Why, you might ask, was this so high on my list of things to write about? The rationale for the book and its focus is quite simple – there are a plethora of real-world negotiation success stories, in all walks of life, that convey critical lessons about effective negotiation. Unfortunately, most of those examples are hidden or never shared publicly, for various reasons. Thus, people are not learning from what has happened in the past to use in the future. These examples have much to teach us about what masterful negotiation looks like, and the world needs access to them.

What Am I Trying to Accomplish?

My belief, based on years of anecdotal evidence from a multitude of realms, is that there is a rather narrow and limited view of negotiation amongst the general public. Many laypeople believe negotiation is a win-or-lose endeavor that forces the parties to compromise on their essential goals. This perspective could not be further from the truth when it comes to successful negotiation. Instead of talking at people and trying to convince them that they are missing much of the promise that negotiation holds, I decided that I would rather try to demonstrate the value of negotiation through actual examples and let the reader make their own determination. The negotiations that follow hold invaluable teachings that are undeniable and will help to broaden people's perceptions on ...