Yes, we negotiate with our friends
We’re sometimes asked if we negotiate with each other or our friends. The short answer: yes, but not in the way people usually think.
Hey friends,
We’re sometimes asked if we negotiate with each other or our friends. The short answer: yes, but not in the way people usually think.
When most people say “negotiate,” they envision haggling, transactional bartering, and zero-sum wins.
Our definition is different. I think what makes for great negotiations is not leaving value on the table, looking for opportunities that make both sides (or at least one side) better off while not making anyone worse off.
You may have heard of the classic orange story: two sisters are deciding how to split an orange. If they cut the orange in half (the typical way of approaching negotiations) each gets 50% of the orange.
But after discussing why they each need the orange, it turns out one sister needs only the juice while the other needs just the rind. Since they clarified their priorities upfront, they both got 100% of what they needed.
Negotiation isn’t about squeezing the other side, deceiving, or assuming the other party is trying to deceive you. It’s about uncovering non-obvious value. The more collaboration and creativity you bring to the table, the more likely you’ll land a deal that truly works for you as well as all other parties involved.
Best,
Gerta & Alex
Cofounders, YourNegotiations.com
P.S. Are you job searching or have upcoming negotiations?
Book a free call with us, where we’ll learn more about your situation, offer some free tips, and explore if we’re a good fit to work together: https://calendly.com/alexhapki/call
P.P.S. Know someone who could use our help?
Refer them and earn $500.
We’ve paid out thousands to people who just made a simple intro. If your friend becomes a client, we’ll send you $500 - no strings attached; just our way of saying thank you for spreading the word.
Simply send an intro email to alex@yournegotiations.com and your friend.
See all the details of our referral program on our website here.