Category Archives: Negotiations

How to Negotiate with a Liar

How to Negotiate with a Liar

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Robust social psychology research indicates that people lie—and lie often. One prominent study found that people tell, on average, one or two lies every day. Negotiators are no exception. Judging from studies done in 1999 and 2005, roughly half of those making deals will lie when they have a motive and the opportunity to do so. Typically they see it as a way to gain the upper hand (although it can actually cause backlash and prevent the kind of creative problem solving that leads to win-win deals). Deception is thus one of the intangibles that negotiators have to prepare for and take steps to prevent. Read More

50 Quotes on Leadership Every Entrepreneur Should Follow

50 Quotes on Leadership Every Entrepreneur Should Follow

By | Business, Management, Marketing, Negotiations | No Comments

Every entrepreneur knows that the success of their business ultimately rests on their shoulders. Yes, the product you build and the team you hire are important, but your ability to lead is what carries your company.

With that kind of pressure, it’s easy to feel stressed, lonely and overwhelmed at times. Every great leader has faced a challenge that defined their greatness, which is why we often turn to their advice when needed.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or team leader, here are 50 inspirational quotes on leadership for when you need a little pep talk. Read More

Star Wars

What is Negotiation in Business? The Star Wars Negotiations and Trust at the Negotiation Table

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What is negotiation in business? Negotiation research has identified it as a process of building trust and negotiation tacticsfor building trust at the bargaining table have proven effective in helping negotiators create, and claim, more value out of dealmaking scenarios. On October 30, the Walt Disney Company made a bold leap into the world of fantasy movies with its surprise announcement that it was acquiring Lucasfilm, home of the immensely successful Star Wars brands, from its founder, George Lucas, for $4.05 billion, split evenly between stock and cash. Lucas is the sole shareholder of his company. Read More

The Ernst & Young building rises above Times Square in New York June 18, 2014.  REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Jury finds Ernst & Young liable over investor’s Madoff losses

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Ernst & Young LLP was found liable on Friday by a Washington state jury for the losses of an investment firm from the collapse in 2008 of fraudster Bernard Madoff’s multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme.

A jury in Seattle sided with FutureSelect Portfolio Management Inc in finding the auditing firm was negligent in its work for funds that funneled money to Madoff.

Steven Thomas, FutureSelect’s lawyer, confirmed the verdict. Ernst & Young did auditing work for funds managed by Tremont Group Holdings Inc’s Rye Investment Management unit. Read More

5 Rules for Closing the Deal With Investors

5 Rules for Closing the Deal With Investors

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How much capital do you really need to get your company up and running with money left over to operate? Answering that question is one reason a solid business plan is so important. If you raise too little, you risk running out of money before your business gets off the ground. Keep in mind that if your projections show that you’ll have positive cash flow in a year, that future cash could be available to fuel your growth, in addition to any start-up capital raised from investors.

When raising money, here are some rules I’ve learned from experience with my own companies: Read More

Crowdfunding 2

Insider Tips On When, Where and How to Get an Investor’s Attention (Infographic)

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You never get two chances to make a first impression, as the saying goes. But when you are trying to get face time with an investor, sometimes it can feel impossible to get a chance to even make that first impression.

For entrepreneurs with passion and an idea, access to an investor can be the difference between sitting idle and actually launching and growing a successful business. That’s why securing a meeting with a venture capitalist — getting your chance to make that first impression — can be critical. Be strategic. Mount the odds in your favor. Read More