If you're new here, you'll want to be sure to get your free report and subscribe to the monthly e-zine and, perhaps, subscribe to the RSS feed, as well. Thanks for visiting!

Ben Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the US, was full of sage advice, including his five tips for better bargaining. I believe that these would be helpful for you, so I share them here.

1. Be clear, in your own mind, about exactly what you’re after.
You need to have a goal in mind, or how are you going to achieve it?

2. Do your homework, so that you are fully prepared to discuss every aspect and respond to every question and comment.
When entering negotiations, you need to come from a place of confidence and strength. Doing your homework in advance is the best way to accomplish this.
Continue Reading →

Before I really start talking about negotiation and how you can use this skill to best effect in your business, I thought I would spend a little time going over what negotiation is — and what it isn’t.

According to Wikipedia, “Negotiation is a dialogue intended to resolve disputes, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, or to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests.”

O.K. That’s a lot of big words, but what does it mean to YOU, the small business owner. Let me break it down.
Continue Reading →