Negotiating: Happy 4th of July

As we spend this 4th of July weekend with family and friends, let’s pause for a moment and think about what this Independence Day really means. As our country goes through hard times, let us remember that the sacrifices of those that have gone before us paid so we may enjoy the opportunities and freedoms which make this the best country in the world.

Happy 4th of July to you and yours, and don’t eat too much BBQ.

James A. Gage

Negotiating Tip of The Month Feb 2010

Never be the first person to name a figure

This is an expensive lesson to have to learn, but a good one. I do a lot of contract work, and one of the first questions I'm usually asked is "What's your hourly rate?". This is a high pressure question, and I often found myself blurting out a figure that was lower than what I really wanted.

These days, I've learned the importance of getting the other person to say a number first. Now, I respond to that question by asking "What's the budget for this contract? Or, what were you expecting to get for this....". Often, I'm surprised to discover they're offering me a better deal than I thought they were.

For more negotiating tips Click Here

Negotiating Tip: No Today, Doesn't Mean No Tomorrow

To many times we as negotiators give up on sales calls, contracts or just plain one-on-one negotiating because someone told us no. Why? Because somewhere along life's journey we have been told if someone tells us no today, that means tomorrow the answer will be the same - nothing could be further from the truth!
Over the past 20 plus years that I have been negotiating, there have been numerous times that if I did not revisit the issue after a client or prospect said no to me, I would have missed out on the transaction or deal.

Once you have received cutting edge negotiating training like I provide my students, it will become second nature to you when it is appropriate to revisit an issue or prospect. To learn more about my training program or sign up for a Free Newsletter click here .

Negotiating For A Living: 2010

Hello All:

Well, here we are at the brink of 2010! The past year was a great and profitable year for those of us who have taken our negotiating skills to the next level. In the coming year I will share with you, my faithful subscribers, some new strategies and tactics I'm currently using to bring in consistent cash flow in a down economy.

That being said, on behalf of myself and everyone here at Negotiating For A Living may the New Year bring you and yours many blessings and success in all your endeavors.

Happy New Year.

James A. Gage

www.NegotiatingForALiving.com

Negotiating Wishes

On behalf of myself and everyone here at Negotiating For A Living we wish to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah.

As we rest and spend time with our loved ones and families, let's get ready to make 2010 the best year yet!

Peace be with You.

James A. Gage

Negotiating Tip For 2010

Hello All:

I know everyone, including me, is doing their last minute Christmas shopping and that's all that is in our cross hair's - but....
I would ask everyone to take a few minutes and ask yourself what 2010 will look like for you in relation to negotiating? Will 2010 be another 2009? Will you end up on the short end of the stick because you have not learned how to negotiate on your terms? Maybe you have been side tracked by life and all that goes along with the journey, or maybe, you have been on the fence on whether you should open your own negotiating business?

My point is what you need, is not someone to force you into something you are not prepared to embark upon, rather you need information and education! If you are committed to make 2010 a profitable year, then click here and sign up for my Free Newsletter with all the tips and strategies I use to run a profitable negotiating business for the last 20 plus years.

Until next time.

James A. Gage

Negotiating For A Living: Jump Start Your 2010 Finances

How would you like to be financially secure in 2010?

I know a lot of people are worried about the economy right now --
but YOU don't have to be one of them!

That's because you still have a chance to recession-proof your income
by building your own lucrative negotiating business.

And I want to help you do it in just 5 days !

Sounds crazy? Well, consider this...

In September, 36 regular people with no negotiating skills what so ever... no
websites... and a start up budget of $100.00 ... went away from my
website on a Monday morning.

By Friday afternoon, they ALL had their own REAL Independent
Arbitration business up and running.

It was an incredible success -- and now I'm offering the chance to
you again in 2009; we are only weeks away from 2010 – why not hit the ground running in the New Year?

Click here now to find out how YOU can be one of them.

http://www.negotiatingforaliving.com/negotiating-tools.html

To your success,

James A. Gage
www.NegotiatingForALiving.com

Negotiating Tip: Why clients don’t say YES

There are only 2 reasons, other than money, why clients don’t say YES.

#1 They don’t understand the information presented.

#2 They don’t see how it benefits them.

And the only way you’re going to know is by asking questions. Becoming a powerful communicator is the number one skill you need to be successful. The best part is that this is an easy and painless way to catapult your business to the top.

You can learn how to communicate effectively with anyone, really.

To be incredibly successful, you need to realize the person who makes the most money is the best communicator. Learn the principles of communication and practice them. Perfect the principles before you worry about learning specialized techniques for your particular business.

The communication skills you need to be successful in earning money are the same skills you need to be successful in any area of your life. I can tell you for a fact that the people you’re going to be talking to don’t care if you know every little thing about your topic, they care that you care about them.

If you show that you care about who they are, and what they need, and what they want, they will be incredibly forgiving of your level of knowledge of the product, or technique or whatever you’re discussing. Right from the beginning, even if you don’t have everything all figured out, you can be very successful just by caring about the people that you’re talking to.

Negotiating Tip: How To Keep in Control of Negotiations

How do you keep in control of negotiations has been an age old problem since the time of the Romans. Many times the negotiations start out with you in control, and rapidly spiral out of control allowing your opponent to gain control and eventually claim victory in the negotiations.

So here is the million dollar question, how do you prevent this from happening? Good question, I’m glad you asked! Let’s say your in the heat of negotiations and suddenly you feel the scales of power tipping in favor of your opponent – what do you do?
Do you sit back, let it happen and chalk this one up in the lose column? Do you become argumentative and get up and leave? Or do you take what you can get, and walk away with the notion that something is better than nothing?
Absolutely not! You employ a tactic known as a side bar : definition: a discussion between the judge and attorneys at the bench off the record and outside the hearing of the jurors or spectators, often focusing on issues other then the main issue.

So this is what you do. You have 2 choices, you can ask a question or start addressing an issue that is off the main point in order to regain control, and once you feel your back in control of the negotiations you can revisit the main point(s) of the negotiations.
If there is a single issue you’re negotiating, ask for a break to use the restroom, or to make a phone call, or even to retrieve something from your vehicle! The purpose of this tactic is to break your opponent’s rhythm, stop their forward progression, throw their game off and cause them, when reengaged to revert back to their submissive position in the negotiations. Contrary to popular belief, not all negotiations are a “win – win” situation; the mark of a great negotiator is always striving to be on the win side of the equation.

To your success,

James A. Gage

Negotiating: Happy Father's Day

To all of you that are Fathers out there - Happy Father's Day!

I wish you a great day with your family.

Be well.

James Gage

Negotiating Tips : Internal Revenue

Hello All:

Did you know that you can negotiate tax liabilities with the IRS? Yes, that's right - you can! There are a number of ways to obtain a favorable settlement with the IRS, here are a few:

1. Installment Agreement : Simply a payment plan.
2. Offer & Compromise : Lump sum settlement.
3. Hardship : Allows elimination or postponement of tax obligation.

Keep in mind the longer the debt is owed, the more interest and penalties accrue. However, interest is mandated by Federal Law, but penalties can be negotiated and eliminated. So don't be afraid of negotiating your tax debts with the IRS; you'll be surprised what you will be able to achieve.

Negotiating Tips: New Video

Hello All :

My new video on Negotiating For  A Living has just been released, why not stop by :
http://www.NegotiatingForALiving.com  and learn how you can make a 6 figure income on a part-time basis.

Be well,

James A. Gage

Negotiating Tips: Real Estate

Hello All:

It's been awhile since my last blog entry, so I wanted to let you know what I was up to! I have been in the process of negotiating a pre-foreclosure deal (aka Short Sale) with a bank, which will remain nameless. This is one of the things I do with the income I receive from my Negotiating For A Living business! That being said, many have e-mailed me saying they do not beleive that you can buy property 50 cents on the dollar, even in this economy.

Nothing could be further from the truth, it's all about negotiating and your skills and ability to get your position across. You see this particular home was on the market with a $250,000.00 mortgage, I offered $75k, and guess what? They took it! I beleive that equals 30 cents on the dollar! This house needs only inside paint and then will be ready to do a lease option or straight sale, which ever one materalizes it will equal $$$$$$$$$$ for me to the tune of 40-50k - not bad. That equals about a 58%-70% return give or take on my money.

In up coming posts I will breakdown some of the tactics and negotiating stratergies I used in this deal.

Be well...

Negotiating Tips

Hello All :

I want to personally invite you to following me on Twitter : http://twitter.com/JGage
in addition to my blog I will be posting other valuable negotiating articles.

Here is to a prosperous 2009.

Be well,

James A. Gage

Negotiating Tips: Predications for Our Economy 2009

Hello all:

As I do every year I would like to give you what I see happening in the coming year in our economy.

1. You will see more and more businesses experiencing financial problems, and most will have to shut their doors !
2. You will see there will be an enormous need for professional negotiators to keep businesses viable !
3. You will see gasoline prices increase once again.
4. You will see oil prices escalate once again as speculators and corporations manipulate the oil and oil futures market !
5. You will see unemployment increase further towards 10% or more !
6. You will see the stock market increase to Dow 10,000 or even 11,000 in the months following the installation of the new President, after the optimism is gone and reality sets back in the stock market will retreat back into negative territory. We could possibly see Dow 6,000 before all is said and done !
7. You will see Gold escalate to $1600.00 or higher an ounce !
8. You will see the further devaluation of the U.S. Dollar against other foreign currencies !
9. You will see a temporary stabilization of the housing market, and then we will return to the downward trend in home valuations and the foreclosure arena !
10. You will see more banks fail and more bank mergers, until we end up with 1 or 2 banking institutions. Note: this may take an additional year or two !
11. You will see your state and local taxes escalate, because federal funding will be greatly reduced or cut off entirely, not to mention business revenue paid to the states will greatly be impacted because they will be going out of business in alarming numbers !
12. You will experience inflation on the rise in every aspect of our economy !

These are just a few of what I see happening in 2009, I hope they don’t happen, but 90% of my predictions last year have unfortunately have come true…

The good news here is if you start planning and taking steps with the info I have given you in these few lines you will be able to survive the storm, Remember, even in the “Great Depression” there were people who profited and actually became millionaires.

So what do I suggest?

1. Start your own Independent Arbitration business as soon as possible to cash in on the mounting business that are having financial difficulties and need your help.
2. Buy silver to hedge against inflation - it is getting ready for a big move per ounce.
3. When investing in the stock market use “Options” – play the cycles, get in and get out.
4. Play the cycles in the Forex market.

Until next time be well.

James A. Gage

Negotiating Tips: Happy 2009

Happy New Year!

As we look forward to the great opportunities of 2009 in the Negotiating For A Living industry I want to share with you an e-mail that was sent to me; it said …

94% of people dwell on the negative, and 6% see an opportunity in nearly everything that comes their way.

I'm looking forward to 2009. I'm convinced it will be a year of great opportunity, as it will also be a year of great change and paradigm shifts!

The best advice I can give is to "prepare for change". Keep a level head, work-out what is working and what is NOT working, mix this with an opportunity, and change accordingly. If your horse is dead, get off it and find another (I'm into riding several horses at a time). If your horse is wounded, then decide if you are going to fix it or shoot it. BUT whatever you do – DO SOMETHING - take action.

Good business is a combination of hard work, commonsense, grit determination, and gut feeling!
In the coming weeks I will be giving you my take on what I see happening in the 2009 negotiating industry and how you and I can profit from it. To follow my insight and strategies, please visit my blog on a regular basis :

To a prosperous 2009,

James A. Gage

www.NegotiatingForALiving.com

Negotiating Tips: Negotiating & The Stock Market

Hello All:

Many of you know that I have an ongoing challenge to the world at large, that is, I have challenged anyone to prove me wrong concerning:” There is nothing in finance, business or relationships that can not be Negotiated !”

One of my faithful newsletter subscribers Bob has poised the challenge! He thinks that there is no negotiating when it comes to buying stocks, bonds, Forex or options in the financial/stock market.

I’m sorry Bob, but my undefeated record stands ! Yes, it’s true that the market makers set the buy and sell prices; however, there is nothing engraved in stone that says you can’t throw an offer out to see if they will take it – let me give you an example.

If you were to trade stock options you might see the following:

Bid 1.20 Ask 1.35 ( we buy at the ask, and sell at the bid )

In this example if we were buying the option the Ask is 1.35, but we could place an order for 1.25 and there is about a 60% chance the market makers will fill that order !

Remember, everything is negotiable even in the trading markets !

So with that, I’m sorry Bob as you can see it is possible to negotiate your price/terms in the stock market – I hope this opens a new avenue of negotiating for you.

Until next time, be well.

James Gage

www.NegotiatingForALiving.com

PS: Don’t forget my 50% off Holiday Sale on my Independent Arbitration Home Study Course, and 20% off of my One-0n-One Mentoring Programs !

http://negotiatingforaliving.com/negotiating-tools.html

Negotiating Tip

Don't Argue

Negotiating is about finding solutions...Arguing is about trying to prove the other person wrong. We know that when negotiating turns into each party trying to prove the other one wrong, no progress gets made. Don't waste time arguing. If you disagree with something state your disagreement in a calm ,but assertive way. Don't demean the other person or get into a power struggle.

Be well,

James A. Gage

Why Do 90% of Home Based Businesses Fail?

Everyone has dreamed about starting a business and being their own boss at one time or another in their life. Most who pursue that dream find only frustration and failure.

Since the mid 80s, as many as 90% of new businesses have closed in their first year. According to a recent survey of failed business owners, "lack of planning" was the number one reason listed for new business failure. Other reasons included were: lack of experience, money, and low sales.

It may be that most people just get tired of feeling used and unappreciated at their jobs. They get their inspiration for entrepreneurship out of frustration. They see a company that they feel could be operated better, and they make the decision to go out and try it themselves. They are sometimes shocked at the overwhelming task of operating and growing a successful business. From lack of planning, and out of total frustration, they close their business and return to their employee status.

It's really a shame; there are numerous talented people out there who could possibly build a better company. But their lack of planning from the start closes the door on their odds of success, sometimes before they even open the doors of their new business.

To read the rest of this article please visit:
http://negotiatingforaliving.com/home-based-business-failure.htm

Negotiating Penalties & Interest with The IRS

Negotiating with the IRS is not as hard as one would imagine when it comes to penalties and interest! Let me qualify that statement before I get a flood of e-mails telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about.

First, interest is statutory, meaning its federal law, that under no circumstances and or situations can this interest be waived! However, interest can be deferred if you enter your client into an installment agreement or if you obtain a moratorium.

Secondly, penalties can be waived – finally some good news! However, they can only be waived after the initial principle, interest and penalties have been paid in full. Then you may apply for “Abatement”, AKA waiver of all penalties; of course this is not a guaranteed approval, but is based on the circumstances behind the delinquency ( this is where you negotiating skills on paper will serve you well ).

This is one of the many factors you must keep in mind when negotiating an IRS tax situation for your client as an Independent Arbitrator. Stay tuned for more helpful tips and strategies…

James A. Gage