Takeaway #16: I get the paper so I don’t care…the art of Negotiation from Audio 2

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Milk is chillin, Giz is chillin

What more can I say?  Top billin

That’s what we get, got it good

And since you understood, would you

Do a dance, dance the Two

If, you can dance it’s easy to do

Audio 2: Top Billin’; What More Can I Say (1988)

Hell, this made no sense even back in 1988, but BPM still loves the cut.  Well….actually it does, “I get the paper so I don’t care.”  This will make no sense to a lot of people but for BPM this cut has always been synonymous with the negotiation maxim of if-you-don’t-ask-you-don’t-get.

In any negotiation you have to state your opening gambit with authority or no one will bite.  The momentum of the negotiation is yours to control if the first salvo is convincing and backed.  Milk and Giz have no trepidation; all they want you to know is that they are always given top-shelf.  Do you understand our track record, my friend across the table?  Once Milk and Giz get you convinced that they are serious about this stance, the momentum of the deal falls into place shortly thereafter.

BPM TAKEAWAY#16:

  • OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A CLEAR AND DECISIVE STATEMENT

  • INITIAL MOMENTUM DICTATES THE EASE WITH WHICH SUCCESSIVE EVENTS FALL IN LINE

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Takeaway #11: Ice Cube inspires mission statement discipline

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When you first start rhyming

It started off slow and then you start climbing

But it wasn’t fast enough I guess

So you gave your other style a test

You was hardcore hip-hop

Now look at yourself, boy you done flip-flopped

 

Ice Cube   ♦    True to the Game; Death Certificate (1991)

 

One of the hardest lessons in the corporate world is determining how to excel without selling out.  I don’t mean, without cashing out – I mean without abandoning your core competency or mission statement.  Companies expand into different industries and sectors while telling the investment community that in fact it is a related, vertical or horizontal integration move.  Executives turn into social climbers and status seekers shunning the fundamental diligence and thoughtfulness that created their original success. 

This is not to say that people should be change adverse.   New styles and new methods are the heart of innovation, which is the corporate driver – soul of success.  However, innovative methods do not justify abandoning a fundamental corporate mission.  Keeping it real, does not have to be keeping it real dumb.  Just don’t lose your focus.  I suppose Steve Jobs would say, “stay crazy, stay wild.” 

BPM TAKEAWAY#11:

  • STAY ON MISSION (STATEMENT)

  • FOCUS

Bonus Video:  Developing the CEO in You

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#156: Strategic thinking inspired by Jay-Z

We ain’t focused on naps
Cuz I don’t run rap no more I run the map
A small part of the reason the President is black
I told him I got him when he hit me on the jack
Talkin’ bout progress I ain’t lookin back

Jay-Z   ♦ What We Talkin’ About

Takeaway 156: Is your strategic vision a scalable global system or just a localized, isolated good idea? A slogan is not a strategy and a complete strategy not a short-run tactic is what is needed for success.

Extra repeat:  6-habits-of-strategic-thinkers

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