17/07/2020
Timing Kills the Deal
One definition of wisdom is to do the right thing at the right time to get the right results. This principle of wisdom applies in greatly when bargaining. The right timing puts you in a position of power. In fact, unless you like to lose, it is better not to engage until you are in the position of power. There is a reason Jesus said, "Tarry ye ..."
When Jakes bargained with Esau, it was well-timed to favour his interest. He had always had his eyes set on the birthright but he did not mention anything about it before then. He waited until he knew that Esau was vulnerable enough to stake everything. Guess what? It worked!
When he negotiated with Lab, Jakes himself was vulnerable. His lack of self-regulation made him lose his sense of timing and ended up as the victim of a poorly negotiated contract.
Before he called for the second episode with Lab, Jakes took his time to cultivate high-demand skills which made him resourceful, so he knew that he had nothing to lose since he could now create wealth anywhere he found himself. He also built a track record which Lab could not overlook since many other business owners would be ready to poach him at the slightest friction.
So, when Jakes invited Lab to the negotiation table, he was on the more powerful side. Lab was willing to do everything to keep him. “Name your price,” he said. And Jakes got what he wanted. Right timing, right results. Q.E.D.
Many years later, while on his deathbed, Jakes blessed his son Issachar thus: _“Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between two burdens; he saw that rest was good, and that the land was pleasant; he bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a band of slaves.”_ This is the exact strategy that Jakes used to win in his bargain with Lab: he envisioned prosperity, positioned himself for it through service and seized it through right timing.
Fast-forward to centuries down the line and it was written of the tribe of Issachar that they had an uncommon sense of timing with which they preserved and prospered the entire nation of Israel.
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PS: Culled from the soon-to-be-launched book WEALTH WITHOUT CAPITAL, CAPITAL BEYOND MONEY by Bright UK
You can now pre-order here: bit.ly/WWC-preorder