Talkin’ Negotiation

I was lucky enough to meet Sara Ryan at one of the most surreal weddings I’ve ever attended.  She told me about a super cool book she was working on and I blathered uncontrollably about my love for Puck in Midsummer.  We were fast friends.

If you don’t know Sara, please, introduce yourself to her work.  She’s an author of two incredible novels … Read More

More Ninja Tips!

For those of you that went, welcome back from Emerald City!  I took crazy advantage of a whole weekend of sunshine and spent most of my time outside.  It was lovely.  I’ve got a post or two in the hopper, but in the mean time, I offer a few more Ninja Tips.  Enjoy.

1.  Good freelancers refer other good freelancers.

Knowing when to say “No” … Read More

“Hi, Mom!”

Have you ever wanted to ask follow up questions about a post or loudly declare, “Lane, you make it sound too easy; gimme the real scoop!”?  Well, aren’t you in luck!

This evening I’ll be chatting with the lovely and lovable Erika Moen on her UStream show at 7:30 PST.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-erika-moen-show

Tune in and watch us talk about art & negotiation and anything else that … Read More

We Are All Ninjas

The more I talk to people about negotiation and what it is, the more I realize how many things can influence a deal. From the first hellos to things that happened long before you laid eyes one another, negotiation isn’t so much about the deal at hand, but about what happens when the experiences, values and beliefs of the two people interact.

Because I am … Read More

&c.

Things.  They’ve been happening.

Just not here.

Which is too bad.  Because I like it here.

To the people that keep coming here looking for “old school batman”: Bless You.

To the one guy that keeps coming here looking for “tina faye porn”:  Sorry.  But not really.

I’m about to head out for a long over due day off, so this weekend there will be, … Read More

Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-BATNA!

Batgirl:  So, didja figure out the BATNA in the last post?

Batman:  Maybe.  But why would I tell you?

BG:  You didn’t figure it out.

BM:  Yes, I did.

BG:  OK, remember, it had to fit three rules, right?

BM:  Right.  Uhh…… Read More

[insert goofy batman reference here]

OK, we’ve talked interests, we’ve talked goal setting, we’ve talked about various ways in which to communicate when negotiating, but we haven’t talked BATNA.

No, that wasn’t an accidental spasm on my keyboard.  That was BATNA.

Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement… Read More

This I Concede

You know how in the movies, when they’re talking about negotiations, and to underscore how important it is some fat, hairy man with too many gold chains says, “Name your price”?

I hate that part.

I hate that part because it’s the wrong thing to focus on.  It’s like haggling without knowing what the currency is.  If the price is 5,000, wouldn’t you prefer knowing … Read More