The Spirituality Of Having It Your Way

By Celso Cukierkorn


When Moses does not return when expected from Mount Sinai, the people make a golden calf and worship it. G-d purposes to destroy the errant nation, but Moses negotiates on their behalf.

As I have said in my book, Secrets of Jewish Wealth Revealed, if there is one thing we Jews have a knack for, it's negotiating.

The Jews have a special ability to negotiate that is like no other. Why is negotiating so important? Negotiating is important because everything thing that we say and do with others can be seen as a negotiation. If you do not recognize that many of your daily interactions are actually opportunities to negotiate, then you are already losing out on many opportunities.

In many other countries and cultures beyond the U.S. borders, negotiating is simply a way of life and a part of daily living. I recall a trip to China during which a street vender looked very perplexed when a lady in my group paid $1 for a Buddha figure that surely could have been negotiated down to 30 cents. She wasn't accustomed to negotiating, so she paid the initial asking price.

Just like those tourists, you might feel overwhelmed. But that is the wrong technique. After all, you earn your money and you want to stretch it. Clearly there are places where you can not negotiate such as fast food restaurants or gas stations. But you should not pass the opportunities when they present themselves.

If you are negotiating with someone, do it in person. If I buy a car at a dealership I will speak directly to the manager.

You need to have a grip on the negotiation and be the one in charge if you want to succeed in this give and take process.

Another negotiating secret is to be flexible and always know when to walk away. If you're more interested in buying than the seller is in selling, you won't win.

Acts of negotiation are more frequent in the Bible than acts of prayer. Don't forget that many other Biblical figures were great negotiators. Lot negotiated on behalf of the Three Angels, and Moses negotiated with God (over and over again) on behalf of the Israelites. So did Abraham. In my Bestselling book Secrets of Jewish Wealth Revealed I teach many unique negotiation techniques. If they could negotiate, why shouldn't we?




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