Many people don’t like to give a presentation (I wonder why).

When they do deliver a presentation, they use tools which divert the focus from them and their message to a huge amount of (PowerPoint) slides.

In this article, I want to share with you why I feel presentations should be done using mindmaps. Also, you will learn why one of the most overrated and most useless features of a mindmap tool is the export-to-PowerPoint option.

The main reason people use visual aids

When you present your information, you are the person who has (most of) the knowledge on that topic. After all… you were asked to share your knowledge and insights.

Many people use visual aids to support or even tell their story.

People are listening to you, because they want to hear what you have to say. When you deliver good content, you may not even need to use additional presentation aids.

Still… it might be good to use images, visual maps, etc. to increase clarity. The visual supports you. This is where most people will use PowerPoint. And this is where it goes wrong.

I’ve seen people create slides with many (many) words. The slide is filled with words which they start to read out loud to the audience. You become the support tool of the slides. You only tell people what is written on the slide.

A slide must increase overview and/or clarity.

This is what you and I do on a daily basis when we create, use and then unleash our mindmaps. Why don’t you do this for your audience as well?

When you use words, it’s good. When you use images, that’s even better. After all, images stick in your mind about 30 times easier than words.

If you really want your audience to remember what you said, you make sure they SEE, HEAR and FEEL clearly what you said.

Here’s what happens when you use PowerPoint in presentations

There are basically three things which happen when people use PowerPoint to deliver a presentation.

1. You as a speaker lose overview
2. Your audience loses overview
3. The PowerPoint slides take over control

The two reasons for this are:

• people tend to create too many slides.
• slides are presented in a linear format

Because of the (huge) number of slides your audience loses track. I’ve seen people deliver a presentation and they themselves lost track of the slides they used!

Since all slides are presented in a linear order, you can quickly lose overview regarding where you are in your presentation. If you experience that feeling… what will your audience think?

Here’s what I do

When I prepare for a presentation, I create one, maybe two mindmaps. This mindmap shows the entire overview and key concepts I will share.

The moment I finished my map, I never, ever transform it into PowerPoint slides. The reason for this is simple: When exporting the map I lose the visual overview and create a bunch of linear slides.

What I do is I use my mindmap software tool to deliver the presentation. I simply show them the mindmap.

Here are the advantages:

• The audience sees exactly where I am in my presentation
• The audience sees what will be and has been discussed
• The audience understands the relationship between the concepts/thoughts
• The audience sees the BIG PICTURE

That’s all I want. I want to give clarity to my audience on a certain topic. This enables me to inspire or inform them, or makes them take action.

My Personal Advice Regarding Mindmaps And PowerPoint

Don’t use the Export To PowerPoint function in your mindmap tool. You don’t need it.

Should you still like to use PowerPoint, make sure you don’t export. Simply copy the (image of the) mindmap into the PowerPoint slide. This way you keep your visual overview.

It is all about creating clarity in your information, for others and yourself.

In your network marketing business, after you have invited your prospects to watch a live presentation or an online video, the next step is to actually show them the presentation.

If they are reviewing a tool(DVD, online video) by themselves, just follow up when you said you would. If you don’t, don’t expect them to trust and follow you as a leader! Leaders do what they say they will do!

If you are thinking of doing the presentation one to one by yourself, you might want to do otherwise. Here’s why.

When I first got started in my network marketing business, I read every book I could, listened to everything I could, and attended all the training events as much as I can. I thought that the best way to grow my business was to become an expert on all the facts so if anyone asked me any questions, I was able to come up with the answers. Then I gradually realized it created a few problems.

The first problem was that no matter how much I learned, my prospects would still hit me with questions that stumped me. And since I was the one doing the presentation and acting as the expert, if I got stumped, that might make my prospects question the product or opportunity.

The second problem was, many of my prospects knew that I wasn’t an expert. So when I presented myself as an expert by doing the presentation, they knew it wasn’t true and would made them question everything more.

The third problem was, even if I was really knowledgeable and successful, my team members in my organization might not have the same desire to learn and become an expert. And this will not create success in the business. Without easy duplication, network marketing is just a job.

I then came across about this quote:

In Network Marketing, it doesn’t matter what works. It only matters what duplicates.

That should a guiding principle for every network marketer.

I studied the successful network marketers in my company and learned that the pros use tools instead of trying to be the expert. The pros use live events instead of their own presentation. The pros use other distributors to present the information instead of giving it themselves. The pros simply act as messengers and invite people to learn more about the product or opportunity and let the third-party resource provide the information.

Having said that, it will come to a point in time where you might need to present, especially for your team members’ prospects. So it’s important to learn how to present effectively for your personal recruiting work, and also how to present to groups of people.

There is a saying, “The person with the marker makes the money.” – it makes sense. The person speaking on in front of the room and presenting usually has a higher income.

Your Story/Why

Learn to tell your story because while people might not be interested in how much you know, they are interested in your story, as long it is not too boring. As the saying goes, ‘Facts Tell, Stories Sell’. No matter what your background and experience are, you can learn to tell a compelling story. Every good story consists of four parts:

1. Your background/situation
2. What you didn’t like about your background/situation
3. Why did you decide to get started in your company
4. Your results or how you feel about your future

Start practicing and telling your story more. The more compelling and better you get at telling your story, the more results you will see in your business.

Nowadays, we are faced with the presentation almost every time. Generally, many of us use slide applications, like Microsoft Power Point or Open Office Presentation. Obviously, the simplicity of this slide application provides for limitation to be able to display an interesting visual presentation. Therefore, the multimedia application, like Macromedia Flash can help a lot.

Like a story, a multimedia presentation also needs to be preceded by an interesting intro and in accordance with the theme of material presented. For example; a multimedia presentation of Pepsodent Nightbrushing by SmartShell tells about the program and Pepsodent strategy that invites consumers to brush his teeth every night. The threat of night germs is the prologue of multimedia presentation.

Told in the intro, a child who sleeps at night is not free from the threat of oral bacteria. The germs remain in action even though the child is sleeping. For that reason, it is important to brush your teeth before sleeping. The use of music and sound effects also helps to build the atmosphere of the presentation. If you do not create an uninteresting multimedia presentation, it is impossible for the audience to be interested in seeing the presentation material further.

Then, you should pay attention to the content division of presentation, the right stage, and the presentation order. Visual, music, and sound effect that are relevant with the presentation material will keep the audience on being interested to pay attention to your presentation.

If the presentation material that you give is full of texts, set the gap among others by inserting illustrations, photographs, video or other applications. This step is should be done to relieve the burden on viewers’ eyes who tend to be tired when being confronted with continuous text.

Finally, end the presentation with the conclusion that directs viewers to the message you want to convey. If necessary, complete it with video or animation to visualize the various possibilities you can get from the implementation of the materials that you deliver.

You did the research, you prepared the deck, you printed out the handouts, and finally you delivered the presentation. But somehow there seemed to be a big disconnect between you and the audience.

In fact, when you glanced out at the audience, you noticed that people were looking down at their smartphones, fidgeting in their seats, and you even witnessed a few yawns.

Chances are your presentation contained one of the five biggest PowerPoint mistakes – the kind that make people in the audience wish they were at their dentist’s office instead.

Let’s face it: all us have sat through many painful PowerPoint presentations that leave a lot to be desired. But it really doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are five of the most common and biggest mistakes to avoid when delivering a PowerPoint presentation, with recommendations on how to avoid each of them. Although there are a lot additional factors, the emphasis will be on the visuals, which capture people’s immediate attention.

1. Too Many Bullets

You may have heard that bullets kill, and the same holds true for your audience when delivering a PowerPoint Presentation.

When you display a multitude of bullet points all at once and then read from the slides, you are essentially killing your audience’s.

As soon as you present the list of bullets, guess what do people do? They tend to read the bullets ahead of you, while you are still talking, and they are no longer listening to you. Their focus is split between you and your bullets.

Keep the bullets hidden and tucked away in the presenter’s notes portion in PowerPoint. The presenter notes were put there for a reason: to keep you on point.

Convey the information visually so it complements the points you are speaking about. To stop using bullets as a crutch can be difficult at first and will take unlearning a bad habit, but you can do it through practice and repetition.

Limit the number of bullets; bullets kill.

2. Not Enough Visuals

We are visually-oriented and sight-dominant. Sight is the sense that we rely on most. In fact the nerves that lead from the eye to the brain are twenty-five times as large as those leading from the ear to the brain. Our mind thinks in pictures – or as the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

Your slides are meant to complement your presentation, not distract your audience from the presentation. Use pictures to present your idea or concept. Instead of showing a spreadsheet, talk about a compelling figure and focus on that.

To give you an example, a presenter delivered a talk about her home town of Bangladesh. Each slide was covered from edge to edge and covered the entire slide in vivid detail. As she progressed through each slide she let the visual on each slide convey and support her main point. The same can be done for facts, figures, etc.

This is similar to Steve Jobs’ style of presenting. His slides are highly visual and have no bullets! Use more visuals.

3. Use of Inadequate Clip Art

Using clip art from the web or the clip art browser contained within PowerPoint may be convenient enough and cost-effective, but there is a downside: It is usually a bore, often a poor choice, and looks unprofessional. There are plenty of other resources available.

There are three excellent choices which range from free to more expensive. As the saying goes you usually get what you pay for.

Pixabay is an excellent choice for free photos and illustrations. iStockPhoto is a middle-of-the-road choice, and GettyImages are the most expensive but are of high quality. For high-end clip art, consider Shutterstock.com.

Ditch the wrong clip art and choose clip art from better sources, it will have a more profound impact on your audience and make it appear much more professional.

4. Too Many Colors

While it is tempting to use a variety of colors, limit the color palette to preferably one or two dominant colors. This will simplify and enhance the overall look of the presentation.

To decide on a primary color, consider the content and what you want the presentation to convey. Colors convey attributes like passion, dependability, or youthfulness; you need to consider exactly which attributes relate to your content.

Colors have meaning. To give you a quick trip through the spectrum, red is energetic. Blue, the color of the sea and sky, portrays permanence and solid dependability, Yellow, the color of sunshine, is associated with joy, happiness, and energy. Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and vitality.

Chose a color based on the attribute you want to convey, and limit the color palette to one or two dominant colors. Anything more than this can look busy.

5. Poor Use of Fonts

As with colors, you should limit the number of fonts to one or two. Just as colors convey attributes, fonts convey and project a personality. Each font is unique, and there are a variety to chose from.

And forget Comic Sans and Arial; they are overused and do not convey much personality. A popular font used for headlines is bebas neue, and it is available for free at Font Squirrel.

Another faux pas is using small type sizes. Anything under 30 points is too small for your audience to read. If by chance you are using fonts that are smaller than 30 points, chances are you are still using bullets. Remember what we said about bullets earlier?

If you must use text, consider using only one to three words on a slide, and place them at a large size. Once again, this is what Steve Jobs did, and he should know.

To wrap up, get rid of the bullets, use more visuals, upgrade the clip art, simplify the colors, and choose better fonts. By incorporating these suggestions, you can connect with your audience, wake them up, and be remembered for the great PowerPoint presentation that you delivered.

The human body is just a physical form that expresses the mental energies generated by the human mind. That is to say, when we experience something good or bad, our minds interpret it according to our different perceptions based on our senses. These perceptions are always “in the past” because the human brain can react only through the senses, and such reactions always put the perceptions in the time frame of the past. In other words, you are always living in the past, rather than living in the present, because what is happening to you right now, when perceived and interpreted by your mind, has already become a thing of the past. Your sense of immediacy is only an illusion of the mind-one of the many illusions of the human mind.

An example of an illusion of the mind is our conditioned expectation to be sick. To illustrate, if you have been hearing that over 90 percent of the seniors aged over 85 develop some form of dementia, you mind is then conditioned to “expect” dementia when you turn 85. This expectation has become some sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The explanation is that information is sent to your central nervous system, where it is then converted into mental energies to be stored in the subconscious mind. These mental energies in your subconscious mind are instrumental in directing your conscious mind.

Even though we are living in the present, our subconscious mind always relates to past events and past experiences (mental energies stored in the subconscious mind), which may create illusions or self-delusions for the conscious mind. Our actions in the present moment are directed by the conscious mind; however, the conscious mind is indirectly impacted by the subconscious mind, which is a storage of past memories and past experiences in the form of mental energies. To some extent, we are all living in the past, not living in the present.

But living in the present holds the key to the art of living well. Living in the present is being aware of the present moment. Being aware of the present moment means you are not judging, reflecting, or thinking: you are simply observing the present moment in which you find yourself. Moments are like a human breath, coming in and going out, with each breath being replaced by the next one. You are there with no purpose other than being awake and aware of that particular moment. Being aware of your breath is the first step towards mindfuness of the present. And meditation does just that-keeping your conscious mind fully aware of the present moment through focusing on each breath, coming in and going out. Just like your breath, the present moment comes and goes. The rhythm of your breath puts your mind into a trance: you seem to go far away, but, in reality, you are still here. Nothing has changed: the present moment simply repeats itself. The past is gone, and there is nothing you can do about it; the future is not yet here, so there is no need to worry about it. There is only the present moment, and it continues to repeat itself. It is in this sublime state of mind that your mind can truly relax. The only gift of life you have is the present moment. That is why this gift of life is called “present.” Just think about that!

Meditation is an attempt to stay in the present, even just for a brief moment, in order to go deep into the subconscious mind. In meditation, the focus is exclusively on the present moment, such that the mind becomes still, with no thoughts of the past or of the future. Only through complete silence can one access the subconscious mind. That is one reason why meditation is a means to self-enlightenment. You explore your deep subconscious mind and find out who you really are, and what your priorities in life should be. Only you have the answer, and this answer is in your subconscious mind for you to discover.

In life, living in the present means living with mindfulness, which is focusing on what you are doing at that exact present moment. Mindfulness is an amazing tool for stress management and overall physical and emotional wellness. If you always find it difficult to stop the rapid streams of thoughts flowing through your mind, you are not living in the present. The good news is that you can train your mind to live in the present by engaging in mindfulness daily activities. For example, when you are driving, concentrate your mind on the road, instead of listening to the music, or, worse, talking on the cell phone; when you are doing the dishes, concentrate on washing, and listening to the sound of water, instead of watching the television. Virtually any daily activity can be a mindfulness exercise for the mind. Without mindfulness, and without the practice of meditation, you are more like living in the past than living in the present.

Copyright (c) 2011 Stephen Lau

It’s a cutthroat commercialist world we’re living in; and in order to survive, sales negotiation training is absolutely essential. Whether it’s a business arrangement or a personal transaction, how well you negotiate can spell the difference between profitable gains and financial disaster. Here are some sales negotiation training guidelines to keep in mind so you’re never at the losing end of a deal.

Common sense dictates that the better the product and/or service, the lesser you’ll be wanting for customers. And if the price is right, they’ll come in droves. But this isn’t a perfect world, and there will always be a better price, a better commodity, a better competitor than you in the market. So the best way to stay one step ahead is to make your product unique. How? By making yourself unique.

You, the seller, are part of the package. If you can’t be the best or the most affordable, get back by being creative. If you can make the buyer’s purchasing and bargaining experience quite memorable for them, rest assured they’ll be back for more.

Be truthful about what your customers should expect and always get to the point. Don’t bore your buyers with long-winded sales pitches. Cut to the chase and let your product/service do the talking. Build good rapport so that buyers will see you as dependable and someone they can trust so that they will be more than willing to part from their hard-earned money.

If your buyers are happy, they’ll tell their friends about it, and their friends will tell their friends, and so on. Your business will have grown exponentially by word of mouth, and all because you made a customer satisfied.

Customer service should be your top priority, and buyer satisfaction ought to be paramount, but only within reason. You have yourself to think about as well. Give in to every whim or demand and you’ll be closing shop long before you close a deal. Take control of the negotiation process. Remember that buyers nowadays are market-savvy and they’ll come prepared to whittle you down to the bare minimum while snatching as many concessions as they can get their hands on.

A smart buyer will wait for you to talk first, but if you can get them to name their price first, then you hold the advantage. Try asking about their budget. They will give you the lowest possible figure, and it’s your job to make a balance between what they are willing to pay and how much you are willing to accept.

If a compromise cannot be reached, know when to say ‘no.’ Don’t treat a deal like your very life depended on it. If you can show the customer that you are able to walk away from a potential sale, then you hold power over them. Believe it or not, they will respect you more for it and may even return to do business in the future. Buyers won’t want to deal with overeager sellers who fall apart so easily and try too hard to please.

Just as it does for sellers, sales negotiation training works for buyers as well. If you are the buyer, having other options is the trump card in any negotiation strategy. Never appear desperate and needy or you’ll have practically given the seller permission to milk you for all you’re worth. Know also when to walk away from any product or service. If you can do that, expect more trading to tip in your favor.

So next time you find yourself at the negotiating table, wear your sales negotiation training like a badge and negotiate your way to a better deal.

Negotiating the price of the house you intend to buy is quite a tedious process, but very rewarding if done the right way. In fact, you could actually save a few thousands of dollars on the final price if you are able to negotiate in a fair but firm manner. There are few methods that you should adopt so that you are able to get a good deal; something which is fair on the buyer’s as well the seller’s part. Negotiating is normally done at two points, one is the loan which you negotiate with the bank or lender, and the second is the price of the house, which you negotiate with the seller.

As far as negotiating the house price is concerned, the most critical phase of negotiating comes after the inspection. Even though you would have made an initial offer before even inspecting the house, it is after inspection that you actually come to realize if there are indeed any defects in the property and whether the price that you have offered is worth it. A few important steps that can help you negotiate the right way are included below. As a first step, ensure that you always offer a lesser price than what you have in mind as an initial offer. This gives you a margin to increase the amount in case the seller does not evince interest in the initial offer. Secondly always make sure that you inspect enough properties that are similar to the one you have short listed. Compare the condition of these houses along with the prices that are on offer. This gives you a fair idea as to what exactly the market rate for such a home would be.

After you have inspected the house of your choice, the actual negotiation starts. Here you have an idea about the condition of the house as far the structure and amenities are concerned. Ensure that you ask an authorized inspector to carry out an inspection and carry the report that the inspector has submitted. While negotiating, ask for more than what is actually required. In case there are several points to be rectified as far as the condition of the house is concerned, it is easier for you to lead the negotiation as you could end up conceding a few not so important points to the seller, so that the seller also feels that the final amount is justified. Finally, make sure that you are aware of the market rates as well as the time frame for which the house has been on the listing. This gives you a fair idea about the situation of the property as well as the seller, and you could negotiate accordingly. Negotiating is an art that you can always learn more about. There are various literature on this subject that could be of immense help.

When you work in commercial real estate you will be up against some proven performers in listing, negotiating, and closing. The industry is built on a base of business and investment. The landlords, business owners, tenants, and investors know what they want and will drive a tough bargain. This then says that the average commercial property agent cannot be ‘average’ when it comes to negotiation. They have to hone and develop their personal negotiation skills and abilities.

To be really good in the industry you should build a level of confidence from a system of market knowledge and property strategies. You have to show that you really know what it going on and how to control it. This is what I would expect from a very good agent:

• Excellent market knowledge of local listings, prices, rents, and property types.
• Sound and proven strategies of marketing when it comes to the different property types and the needs of selling or leasing as the case may be
• The ability to negotiate difficult deals with difficult people using third party evidence of prices and rents to support momentum
• Knowledge and accuracy when it comes to documenting every step of the deal into correct and legal documentation that accurately reflects the intentions of the parties.
• Inspection processes that feature the property in its best aspect when taking qualified prospects into and around the premises
• Negotiation skills for taking the property transaction through to contract or lease finality for the client
• The ability to follow through on all the terms and conditions of the deal to ensure that all parties are acting towards completing the transaction as intended.
• A database of leads and opportunities that is accurate and up to date so it can be used on new listings or new opportunities as they arise.

These are all quite specific skills that will help the client get the best outcome from the property sale or lease in the shortest possible time. All of these processes can be improved and practiced personally as a package of services to the clients that we act for.

Central to all of these points is the fact of negotiation. Negotiation appears in just about everything we do as agents today. The fact is that the best negotiators complete more listings and convert more deals on a regular basis. Negotiation skills can be learned and improved through:

1. Constant daily negotiation practice with other members of your team
2. Applying market knowledge as third party proof that your case or argument should be considered
3. Documenting all discussions and stages of the negotiation so no errors or omissions occur to threaten the deal.
4. Understand the real position of the parties and the ‘must have’ requirements or outcomes for them.
5. Understanding the ‘best alternative to no agreement’ in the case of both parties, so you know the ultimate downside if they do not agree.

The best property negotiators know the opportunity of the market and can show the clients how to reach it with minimal discomfort. Develop your negotiation powers in commercial or retail property through regular practice and up to date information.

Most of us negotiate every day without realizing it. However mention the word “negotiation” and some people get nervous. It frightens them. They imagine themselves at the car dealership and the hassles and pressure associated with making a deal with someone who is an expert negotiator. However, 99.9% of the time negotiation is simply working with someone to find a solution that benefits both parties equally. Whether you’re negotiating with your two year old about bedtime or your biggest customer, the principles are the same.

1. Creating a Win-Win situation. When you approach a negotiation with the right attitude, it takes the pressure off of both parties. What is the right attitude? The desire for both parties to get what they want. To create a win-win situation. If one party is only in the process for themselves, a resolution will be difficult to come by.

2. Listening skills. In order to know what the other party hopes to get from a negotiation, you have to listen. In fact, your ability to ask the right questions, and listen to the answers, is your #1 most important negotiating skill. A skilled negotiator enters a negotiation with a questioning mindset. When you make it your mission to learn more about your customer, you are more likely to learn quality information, information that you can use to build a rapport and establish a collaborative environment. Look to learn what your customer needs, wants, what makes them successful, and how you can sell to them.

3. Creativity. This relates to creative problem solving. When you’re approaching a negotiation as a win-win situation and you’re listening to the needs of the other party, creative problem solving can help design a solution that meets everyone’s needs. Negotiation is about more than winning the highest contract.

4. Patience. Many negotiations take time. This is particularly true when forging new territory with a client or vendor. Creating a solution that works for both businesses can take several drafts, have to be approved by several parties, and quite honestly many businesses aren’t accustomed to win-win negotiations so they may take some time to adjust to the concept. Give them the time they need because when you show you’re willing to be patient and that you’re invested in their interests too, they’ll be willing to work with you today and ten years from now. You’ll form a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

5. Research. Take the time to learn all you can about the business you’re negotiating with and you’ll be one step ahead to understanding their needs, concerns and how you can work together to come up with a mutually beneficial solution.

6. Confidence is the key to a successful negotiation. If you show fear, the person or company you’re negotiating with can perceive that as power over you or a lack of confidence in your business product or service.

7. Knowing when to Walk Away. All negotiations do not result in a win-win situation. Sometimes it’s better to walk away but more importantly it is better to be prepared to walk away. When a negotiation is a MUST then it gives some of your power away. Go into a negotiation with a positive attitude and a desire to make it work; however keep the awareness that it may not in your back pocket.

Negotiating is an art, there’s no doubt about it, however with the right attitude, planning, and confidence it is an art and a skill that you can master.

To win more negotiations, you must know how to unlock your imagination. It’s your imagination that will determine how well you do in the negotiation.

As a child, your imagination was limitless and boundless. You could obtain and achieve anything that your imagination could conceive. No matter what it was, all you had to do was imagine it and it became your reality.

You can capture that same sensation when negotiating by using the following insights to heighten your imagination. The heightening of those senses will lead to more winning negotiations.

Know how you think:

When addressing your reasoning skills, do you note if it’s sequential or random; a person with high sequential reasoning skills is better equipped to create a systematic series of actions directed to a specific outcome. You should be aware of the thought process you engage in to maximize your efforts. Doing so will allow you to see the gaps in your imagination, which in turn can lead to heightening your thought process.

Know your senses:

Are you more visual, kinesthetic, or auditory? The answer is dependent on the environment and circumstances. So, how does the environment impact your thoughts? And, in what situations are you guided by one sense versus another? Again, to engage your imagination more effectively, you need to be aware of what and how to ignite it. Having that information will be the key that brings your imagination to life.

Before you can explore the depths of your imagination, you must know how to reach it. Knowing the answers to the questions above will be the conductor that directs you on the path to that opening.

To enhance your imagination process:

1. Don’t be restrictive with your thoughts. That means, be willing to consider the inconceivable.

1. Mix elements of your thoughts that may appear not to be related. Even when thinking disparate thoughts, there may be connecting threads that lead to deeper contemplation. Your imagination will reside in that place.

1. Converse with selected people in your circle that can help you delve deeper in thought.

1. Heighten your emotional sense of awareness. The more you’re aware of your emotions, the greater the opportunity to control them. Controlling them allows you to alter your perspective, which can lead to an enhanced imagination.

1. Meditate – Sometimes, your mind becomes so encircled by negative thoughts that you can’t think succinctly. During such times, if you’re at the negotiation table, call a timeout, remove yourself from the table and meditate. Meditation will slow your thought process and allow you to relieve the stress that comes from negative thoughts. Once you feel a sense of serenity, consider sublimating the sublime where your thought process is concerned.

1. Watch the meaning you assign to an outcome. If you suspect that it will be negative, your thoughts will flow in that direction. Your mind will enter a different thought process than if you’d considered the outcome to be positive. When you’re not sure of an outcome, consider the possibility of it turning out negatively or positively. Prepare for the worse, but don’t dwell on it. Think about the way you think.

When you sense you’re in a negotiation position that generates angst, use the strategies above to unlock your imagination. By unleashing that inner power, you’ll begin to think in a manner that’s more progressive towards winning the negotiation… and everything will be right with the world.

Remember, you’re always negotiating!