The Gambler broke even

Today we learnt that Kenny Rogers passed in his sleep at the age of 81.   His song "The Gambler" is so vivid in my memory from childhood.

He made it through five marriages, a successful recording career and a business empire.  I like to think that the wisdom of those lines in the Gambler kept him  one step ahead of the game.

You've got to know when to hold'em
Know when to fold'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

You can see how these words can guide even the worst negotiator. In negotiation you need to know how to do all of these things.

​Hold'em
You need to be determined about your priorities, but importantly you need to know which those are.

Fold'em
You need to know when to give up on something that is unrealistic or counterproductive.

Walk away
You need to know when to leave the table and either quit the fight or find another way forward.

Run!
And then sometimes you need to run.  Whatever it takes to get away from the table, close the deal or end the conflict, you need to do.

Thank you Kenny Rogers for your wisdom and your music.

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