Alcohol: a Business Tool?
John F. Kennedy
In 1999 I found myself in a bar, in Monaco, together with my business partners and a lawyer. We were slowly getting drunk. Since we were planning to sell our company for millions the next day I asked the lawyer if we shouldn’t try to stay sober to avoid a hangover. He replied that the best way to go into a negotiation is with a hangover.
His theory: The unpleasant physical effects following the heavy use of alcohol actually work to your advantage during a tough negotiation. Seemingly uninterested you will be slouched in your chair, responding slowly and talking softly and looking generally unhappy with whatever the other party proposes.
I’m still not sure if this strategy is the right one and I would advise to keep your head clear for any serious conversation. However, at that moment it relieved some of the tension we had towards the conversation the next day and I always think about that story when I am preparing for an important meeting…
Serial entrepreneur and founder of V3 Redirect Services (sold), HubHop Wireless Internet Provider (sold), TwitterCounter.com, PressDoc & The Next Web. Boris is very active on Twitter and would love it if you started following him @Boris.
Better than negotiating with a hangover, you should try masturbating right before the exchange begins. Something about endorphins empowering your expectations . . .
Aaaah yes……..I remember the good old days, when I was introduced to Alcohol from my 1st employer in the Banking Industry. Having 2 stiff drinks a day, was nothing but a normal way of life……..for oh, 30 yrs.
Funny, but when you’re successful, with perfect health & financial income, its amazing how this scourge can destroy you without any warning. As that’s exactly what happened.
There are 5 current/common health afflictions, solely caused from moderate drinking (in no particular order):
-Grand Mal Seizures
-Rapidly Progressive Blindness
-Rapidly Progressive Deafness
-Rapidly Corroded Livers
And good old Heart Attacks.
Suddenly, your perfect, well managed, immaculate life is torn asunder in a moments notice, with no cure either.
Gee……its not funny then, or now !
What we need is health warning labels on all liquor containers, otherwise, with the path our youth are taking, they won’t be long behind us.
Hi Sheila, as made clear in the post I don’t advocate drinking during working hours at all. The moral of the story was that the lawyer put us at ease in an original way…
I understand Boris. I didn’t mean anything derogatory, other than, while Alcohol can temporarily ease ones nerve’s, it cannot ever restore your peace, nor solve problems. Only become a far worse one !
Thankyou & God Bless !
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