Subject: Negotiating Skills
Date: Wed, Jul 11 2001 00:00:04 -0400

As negotiating skills are of primary interest and concern to us all, my father thought we could all learn something from this tale...

9 men and 1 woman had escaped to the roof of a burning high rise building. A rescue helicopter hovered over-head and dropped a rope ladder to the group. Over the loudspeaker, the pilot announced that he could only lift 9 people on the rope ladder. However, all ten scrambled onto and up the ladder, holding on tightly as they stood on the ladder rungs. The woman was the last one to the ladder and hung by her arms as the helicopter tried to rise.

As there was one too many people on the ladder, the helicopter was unable to gain any significant altitude, and as the pilot tried to gain power, the ladder began to swing violently. Everyone was barely able to hang on.

The woman, in a very powerful voice, announced to the other 9 men that one of them would have to make the ultimate sacrifice for the larger good. She said she would make that sacrifice because she knew that each of them had families to provide for, businesses to run, and great commitment to their communities. She said she knew she was making a noble sacrifice, for noble people, who would do noble things.

She raised one arm in a farewell wave, while still holding on firmly with the other. As she said, "it is with honor that I do this for each and everyone of you," all 9 men began to applaud excitedly. She waved again to them all as the helicopter easily ascended, carrying only her, as she looked at the falling 9 men.