Welcome to the premiere issue of The Master Negotiator. It is my sincere hope that this newsletter will help strengthen your negotiating skills and ensure a win-win outcome for you every time you negotiate. We'd love to hear your feedback and  your suggestions on how we can make this newsletter even more valuable in the days to come. Please feel free to contact me with any negotiating questions or article ideas. We'll do our best to address them in upcoming issues. (peter@pbsconsulting.com)

Remember, almost everything in life is negotiable.

Peter B. Stark

Any negotiation--whether it involves settling on the price of a product or service, agreeing to the terms of a job offer, or simply deciding on a bedtime for your children--ends in one of five possible outcomes: (1) lose/lose, in which neither party achieves his goals; (2) lose/win or (3) win/lose, in which one party achieves her goals and the other does not; (4) no outcome, in which neither party wins or loses; and (5) win/win, in which the goals of both parties are met. It’s easy to see that numbers 1 and 4 are less than ideal, as is number 2 if you are the one who loses! But what about the other two outcomes? Isn’t win/lose just as desirable as win/win, as long as you are the winner?

Read article . . .

Like any skill, negotiation can be learned, practiced and mastered.  Personal and professional growth in any area of life usually involves a combination of awareness and risk taking.  Fill out this questionnaire on the personal characteristics necessary to be a great negotiator.

Take the test . . .

Buying a car can be a daunting task, but with the right information and preparation, you can get your dream car at a dream price. Car salespeople have earned a reputation as "slick" and seem to always have the upper hand in the transaction. This insightful article will give you the "inside scoop" on how to negotiate YOUR deal, and not get taken for a ride.

Read Negotiating Your Next Car . . .

We would like to offer you a special invitation to our Negotiation Teleconference by bestselling authors, Peter Stark and Jane Flaherty, on Oct. 21 from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm (PST).  As a subscriber to The Master Negotiator you can register for just $36.00 (a 20% savings).  To receive this special price, please click on The Master Negotiator Subscriber link on the registration page.  For more information on the teleconference or to register please visit:

 http://www.negotiatingguide.com/shop/index.htm