Lets Make A Deal Successful negotiations are based on respect, not hard-sell tactics.

How we negotiate reflects our respect for the customer and how deeply we care about the life of that relationship. Too often salespeople and entrepreneurs listen to bad advice about hard-core negotiating tactics. In reality, those who are peak performers at negotiating show a lot of style and grace under pressure--something their co-negotiators remember and appreciate.

Here's some negotiating advice from me and some legends in the art.

1. Be prepared. Always go into a negotiation well-rested. Long, drawn-out meetings--or, worse, negotiating over the long haul for several months--are exhausting. Make it a rule that you're not allowed to get exhausted. If you do, take a powder for a while.