Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Negotiating and Giving Speeches

I frequently give talks around the country about my ideas and philosophy of coaching and about life. Many times my audiences are youngsters at coaching clinics.

However, when companies ask me to make a personal appearance, they ask what my fee is. I reply, “What is your offer?”

I also tell them I am not inclined to dicker. “Tell me what you wish to pay and if I say yes that’s final, and if I say no that’s final. And if I say no, please don’t say, ‘Well, we can pay you more.’”

It saves a lot of time and talk.

I’ve given hundreds of talks over the years. One thing I’ve learned is that the most popular speaker is often the person who follows “Thank you for that nice introduction” by saying soon afterward, “So in conclusion. ...