DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' Unless...

DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' Unless..

Yes, from time to time, we do have those tempestuous moments when we want to flex [not literally though] our muscles, that kind of saber-rattling moments but hey, DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' unless you can fulfill this short list of DOs and HAVEs.  Otherwise, forget that temptation else your efforts can easily go for naught.  Just DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' unless...

If you get entangled into an argument that turns into a tug-of-war of words, hold your ground and remind yourself DON'T Play 'HARDBALL'.  UNLESS you got all the cards stacked in your favor.  UNLESS you get into a position of strength.  UNLESS you have everything running in your favor.  UNLESS things are so lopsided in your favor  

NBA superstar Kevin Durant is our most recent basket case of NOT to play 'HARDBALL' unless you meet all the UNLESS qualifiers.  Imagine the Brooklyn Nets' superstar earning $40 million per year demanding for a trade?  Was he crazy?  Probably not.  Probably he [wrongly] thought he can easily bamboozle and play 'HARDBALL' with Brooklyn Nets billionaire Joe Tsai.  In the end, KD blinked.

Lesson here is that in negotiations, DON'T be the first one to blink, that's just a NO-NO because that could the START of your END. For jobhunters who lay down on the table their salary demands, they better be cocksure that they have all the top-tier credentials to boot for them to have at least that china man's chance of angling for the max $$$

Now, here's the tough nut to crack.  How do we negotiate if that guy across the table is several tiers much more senior or more powerful than you?  Not an easy way to wiggle out of that situation but do come fully prepared because your ace cards up your sleeves are your preparedness to bolster your positioning.  Just DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' unless..❗❗❗