A famous author found himself seated beside an attractive young woman in a dinner tendered in his honor. He couldn't take his eyes off that seductive-looking woman. When they were left alone, he looked at the woman straight in the eyes and said, "Would you like to go to bed with me if I were to give you $100,000?" The woman initially felt insulted, but after a moment, said, "I guess I would." Silence.
Breaking the pregnant pause, the man fired his second question, "Then would you go to bed with me if I were to give you $10?" This time the woman really got mad. She stood and said, "Just what do you think I am?" To which the author replied cooly, "But, my dear, we have already established what you are, I am simply negotiating for the price."
It has been said that all of us has a price. And looking at the things we assign premium value to, it just might be true.
Sometime ago I was introduced to a foreign businessman who wanted to sell his products locally. He gave the right to me, and with that resolved, the deal was on.
But a few days later, I found out the same products sold to practically all my competitors. The foreigner vehemently denied this. After I gathered all the necessary physical evidences, I flew to visit this foreigner in his country.
I gathered that this well-dressed, smooth-talking businessman was not honest in his dealings with me, so I decided to cancel my orders
I set up an appointment for dinner to formalize the cancellation. A long Mercedes Benz limousine was sent to pick me up from my hotel and be brought to an elegant Italian restaurant. The dinner was expensive but the gift he gave during the meal was even more expensive -- an antique collector's watch.
He was insistent that I accept the watch so, for fear of being poisoned to death, I accepted it. "Isn't this the price in exchange for a few signatures on the order sheets?" I thought to myself.
I can't seem to understand why because bribery is not the style of business in this country. Later on, it became clear to me that the problem is not his country; but rather, mine. Many of our businessmen accept gifts from him; those whom he can buy with the "right" price.
Finally, after a night of prayer, I returned the watch together with the cancelled orders to this businessman with a note, "Please accept my apologies, but I cannot receive your gift, for I view it as a form of bribery. I just would like to let you know that not everyone from our country could be brought for a price."
Exodus 23:8 says, "And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just."
I went home that day fulfilled. And by the way, I never enjoyed that expensive dinner. Who cares if it's Italian?"
Breaking the pregnant pause, the man fired his second question, "Then would you go to bed with me if I were to give you $10?" This time the woman really got mad. She stood and said, "Just what do you think I am?" To which the author replied cooly, "But, my dear, we have already established what you are, I am simply negotiating for the price."
It has been said that all of us has a price. And looking at the things we assign premium value to, it just might be true.
Sometime ago I was introduced to a foreign businessman who wanted to sell his products locally. He gave the right to me, and with that resolved, the deal was on.
But a few days later, I found out the same products sold to practically all my competitors. The foreigner vehemently denied this. After I gathered all the necessary physical evidences, I flew to visit this foreigner in his country.
I gathered that this well-dressed, smooth-talking businessman was not honest in his dealings with me, so I decided to cancel my orders
I set up an appointment for dinner to formalize the cancellation. A long Mercedes Benz limousine was sent to pick me up from my hotel and be brought to an elegant Italian restaurant. The dinner was expensive but the gift he gave during the meal was even more expensive -- an antique collector's watch.
He was insistent that I accept the watch so, for fear of being poisoned to death, I accepted it. "Isn't this the price in exchange for a few signatures on the order sheets?" I thought to myself.
I can't seem to understand why because bribery is not the style of business in this country. Later on, it became clear to me that the problem is not his country; but rather, mine. Many of our businessmen accept gifts from him; those whom he can buy with the "right" price.
Finally, after a night of prayer, I returned the watch together with the cancelled orders to this businessman with a note, "Please accept my apologies, but I cannot receive your gift, for I view it as a form of bribery. I just would like to let you know that not everyone from our country could be brought for a price."
Exodus 23:8 says, "And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just."
I went home that day fulfilled. And by the way, I never enjoyed that expensive dinner. Who cares if it's Italian?"
