strochi.info

With a few exceptions – like gravity, and death– everything is negotiable, even taxes. First, you need to believe it. Second you need to practice it.   

VALUE AND PRICING 

Is there such a thing as a “fixed price”?  Probably not.  According to economic theory the law of “supply and demand” governs pricing. And while this may be basically true, there are many other factors which enter into the equation. Furthermore, many of these factors are subjective. This means that there is room for negotiation.   

The “fair market value” concept comes into play as well. Pricing is supposed to be the result of what a willing buyer will pay to a willing seller. In other words, subjective, emotional and psychological considerations may be in operation. Perhaps the best examples of the application of this principle are in real estate transactions. What you may be willing to pay for a house may be significantly discrepant from what I may be willing to sell it for, or vice versa. The same concept holds true for property appraisers. These experts determine a value based comparable properties, features of the property, and their experience and education. However, their value may be influenced by an “offer” price and perhaps even lender guidelines, neighborhood trends, etc.   

Think about the last time you purchased a used vehicle, or a new automobile, for that matter. A friend of mine was a top salesman. He always said he liked to sell used cars because nobody knew the “true” value. Frequently the emotional component (i.e., “I love the car” or it “suits my image”), or the terms of the sale, override good judgment.   This discussion demonstrates that value and pricing, like beauty, are in the eyes of the beholder. And, the beholder will certainly be influenced by his position (buyer or seller), and by psychological factors.  

NEGOTIATION 

Negotiation is the process of bargaining.  Donald Trump fancies himself as an extraordinary negotiator, and wrote a best-selling book on the topic “The Art of the Deal.”  However, it was his attorney and corporate V.P., George Ross (of “Apprentice” fame) who made the techniques more concrete. In Trump Style Negotiation ( Wiley & Sons, 2006) he offers “Winning Negotiation Strategies from Donald Trump’s Right-Hand Man.”  Techniques such as “building trust, friendship, and satisfaction with the other side.” are discussed. Determining “what the other side wants,” then ascertaining their weaknesses are also covered.  Weaknesses can be such things as pride, lack of cash, need, etc. Offering solutions to your “adversary’s” problems is important, and so is convincing people that they got “more than they ever expected.” Such mundane, but important issues such as controlling the place and pace of negotiations can also be used to one’s advantage.  

IT’S A MINDSET

In the beginning of this article I say just about everything is negotiable, and that you need to believe it and practice it!  Many people are afraid to negotiate or inept at the process.  Just ask. You may find that the other party is willing to deal.   

Next time you visit your supplier, mechanic, roofer, tailor, department store, barber, dentist, restaurant, etc., ask if they can cut their price, or make you a deal.  Do they offer discounts?   Do they offer low cost financing?   Do they offer better terms?  Do they stand behind their product?  Will they offer extended service or replacement provisions?  Just ask.  Indicate that you are a serious and savvy buyer, cognizant of value, and that you are looking to build a “relationship” with them. You may be surprised at how often you will gain concessions.  Remember, almost everything is negotiable.

Quick! What was the best thing that happened to you yesterday? What made that day worthwhile?

Uh…

If you’re like me (and probably most people) you might have trouble coming up with anything off the top of your head. That’s because, unless you’re already leading a rare and extraordinary life, one day tends to run into the other. Your days then turn into weeks turn into months into years until you find yourself saying, “Is it December already? Can you believe Y2K was nearly six years ago??”

So how do we slow this whole time thing down and live each day to the fullest? One popular method is to “be here now.” Savor the moment, be conscious, that sort of thing.

Personally, I find it hard to remain present just for the sake of it. It takes discipline and, like all things requiring discipline, has the potential to become yet another source of anxiety.

Instead, why not make it fun?

Try this: when you wake up in the morning (or the night before if you’re a planner) create a “theme” for the day. Look for opportunities throughout the day to manifest that theme. It becomes both a game and a source of inspiration as you begin to realize that you are creating your own daily experience, without changing anything about your environment or activities. What changes is how you observe and influence your actions and responses.

A daily theme should be something that is enjoyable yet personally meaningful. Here are some examples:

• Today is about… humor. I will deliberately look for things I see/hear/read throughout the day that make me smile or laugh.
• Today is about…patience. I will experiment with responding rationally to irrational requests by my supervisor or spouse, or find interesting things to look at or think about while waiting in line.
• Today is about…connecting. I will give 100 percent of my attention and energy to each encounter – with clients, co-workers, family, friends, strangers – and notice how they respond.

The trick is to make this fun. Consider it a treasure hunt. Now that you’re looking for them, opportunities to find or create elements in your theme will show up again and again. You’ll get hooked and want to look for more.

Then before you go to sleep, think back over the day. It will be a lot easier to catalog what happened, what you did, how you felt. You’ll find that you’ve lived a much slower, richer day, just by framing how to think and act within it.

What is tomorrow’s theme going to be?

Getting Christmas gifts for certain people is a nightmare. No matter how hard you rack your brains you just cannot figure out what to get them. If this situation sounds familiar, why not got get a fitness gift this year? Fitness gifts are great for introducing newbies into the world of fitness or for giving seasoned pros a new bit of kit. In this article I will be expanding on this topic and providing you with 4 cool Christmas presents that have a fitness theme.

1) COOLBOARD:

What better way to start a list of cool Christmas presents than with the CoolBoard? This unique gift is basically a balance board that you can setup and use within the comfort of your own home. It helps to develop balance, core strength and stability. The CoolBoard is suitable for beginners who want to improve their balance and also more experienced boarders who want to perfect their technique.

2) KI FIT:

Ki Fit is step up from the traditional heart rate monitor and pedometer. Instead of focusing on 1 main function such as counting how many steps you take each day or monitoring your heartbeat, Ki Fit checks a variety of lifestyle factors. It records the foods you eat, the exercise you perform and the amount of sleep you get. It then uses this data to provide you with a list of fitness goals. Ki Fit is an excellent fitness gift for getting a newbie to focus on their fitness and also a brilliant present for a fitness enthusiast who likes to track everything down to the last detail.

3) NU DOLPHIN MP3 PLAYER:

The Nu Dolphin MP3 player is another of the really cool Christmas presents on this list. What makes it so cool is that you can play it underwater. So if you know anyone who enjoys swimming at any level, get them the Nu Dolphin MP3 player. They won’t be disappointed.

4) XBOX KINECT:

The Xbox Kinect is a viable option If you are having problems finding a substantial present for that special someone. If they are a hard core gym goer it gives them the extra option of exercising at home. However, even if they are not a huge fitness fanatic the Xbox Kinect allows them to get a bit more physical activity that they normally would whilst playing video games.

SUMMARY:

I hope this article has helped you choose the perfect fitness gift for someone. The presents in this article are suitable for people of all fitness levels so don’t be put off if your recipient is not very active. Even if they are a complete beginner I am sure they will be happy with 1 of the cool Christmas presents off this list.