|
Have you ever been shafted out of a fee, a commission, or your share of a deal? If so, read on ...
By Robert Ringer
If you look at the great entrepreneurs of our era - Kirk
Kerkorian, Donald Trump, and Rupert Murdoch, to name but a few - the one thing
they all have in common is that they are great dealmakers. All of them hire others
to handle their day-to-day operations, while they work on identifying and closing lucrative deals.
And so it is with many individuals
in a wide variety of occupations, people who have used their dealmaking prowess
to build empires. Wolfgang Puck is undoubtedly a great chef, but probably no
better than thousands of other great chefs. From what I know of his rise to the
top, it is clearly because he is a dealmaker supreme, who found a way - make that
many ways - to transform himself from a gourmet chef into a culinary empire.
Ditto Howard Schultz, the man who built Starbucks into a
global phenomenon. Start a chain of coffee shops? Are you kidding me? What a
terrible idea. Nevertheless, in the face of declining coffee sales in the U.S.,
Schultz had the audacity to charge $3 for a cup of the world's dullest and most common drink - and served it in a paper cup, to boot!
And this came about at a time when the world appeared to be moving too fast for
people to slow down, relax, and enjoy a cup of coffee, as they did in the good old
days. Now, with $30 billion in sales, Schultz leaves the day-to-day management
to CEO Jim McDonald, while he travels the world making deals to further expand Starbucks' reach.
I could go on and on ... with Steve
Riggio, who built Barnes & Noble into a retail giant and, in the process, transformed
the way bookstores do business ... with Martha Stewart, who built an empire
by teaching women how to excel at being good housewives ... with George Lucas,
who created a one-man industry based on a single story. The list of dealmaking, empire-building entrepreneurs is endless.
The Dealmaking Adventures
of Super-Nerd
But even these giants pale in comparison to Bill Gates. Many people think of
Gates as a computer geek who made good because of his awesome techno-skills.
But Gates is much more than a computer maven. The real roots of his success lie in his incredible dealmaking skills.
As pretty much everyone
knows by now, Bill Gates did not invent the DOS operating system that launched
Microsoft into the stratosphere. What he did do, however, was make the deal
of the century when he negotiated the purchase of DOS (referred to at that time as "86-DOS") - for a mere $50,000!
Funny how life works.
I'll bet you don't even know the name of the guy who actually wrote the DOS
program (for a now-defunct company called Seattle Computer Products). It was
a twenty-two-year-old programmer by the name of Tim Paterson, and he accomplished the feat in - get this - four months.
Paterson got paid pocket change for his efforts, while Gates parlayed the acquisition
of Paterson's creation into becoming the richest human being on the planet.
I guess I could say that life isn't fair - but if you're over twenty-one years of age, you already know that.
Of course, Gates was
just getting started. He then turned right around and set up a meeting with top
execs at IBM. At that now-historic gathering, the IBM corporate types wore pin-striped
business suits, while Gates showed up in a stained T-shirt. According
to one observer who was at the meeting, he looked like a seventeen-year-old kid negotiating with grown men.
But underneath that nerdy-kid
persona was a master dealmaker. Gates managed to negotiate the second deal
of the century when he got the guys in the pin-striped suits to agree to install DOS in all of IBM's PCs.
And he still wasn't through.
Perhaps an even more masterful dealmaking accomplishment was that Gates reserved
the right for Microsoft to sell DOS to other companies. That one dealmaking
coup (which, in dealmaking parlance, I like to refer to as a "throwaway bonus")
laid the foundation for Microsoft's worldwide domination of the software business ... and, to use a fitting clich?, the rest is history.
Or cut and paste this link below into your browser:
https://m301.infusionsoft.com/saleform/nathniflo
The World's Highest-Paying Profession
When I was a young real estate broker, a wealthy builder ("Al") once
said to me, "Though it goes against conventional wisdom, I can tell you with
certainty that having the best product or service in your industry doesn't guarantee
success. The twin keys to making money are dealmaking and marketing. And of the two, I would argue that dealmaking is what makes marketing possible."
I
was fascinated by Al's comments, and anxiously began to pursue the subject with
him. When I asked him which businesses best lent themselves to dealmaking, his
answer not only surprised me, it had a major and permanent impact on my approach to business.
He said, "The nature of the business is
irrelevant. I like to think of dealmaking as a profession unto itself - the world's
highest-paying profession. Things don't just fall into place by accident.
A good dealmaker understands that it's his job to finesse things into place. And that's true in any kind of business."
His words were
nothing short of life-changing. They've been indelibly stamped on my forebrain
for three decades, and have paid huge dividends for me ... in the real estate
business ... in the cellular-telephone business ... in the newsletter business
... and in scores of other businesses and side deals that I've been involved in over the years.
Clearly, good marketing is crucial to
business success, but adept dealmaking must precede marketing. Why? Because if
you don't make the deal, there's nothing to market! Bill Gates is the poster nerd
for this. He's proven to be a great businessman and marketer, but he never
would have been in a position to market DOS had he not first negotiated it away from Seattle Computer Products.
It's easy to see this same
principle at work in every kind of business one can think of. For example, anyone
who's had any experience in buying and selling real estate knows that the
money is made at the time a property is purchased. Meaning that if you buy a property
at the right price, your profit is locked in before you even try to sell
it. Your marketing ability then determines how long it will take for you to cash out.
It's a Fact:
Great Dealmaking Skills
Lead
to Seven-Figure Incomes
Al's insights into dealmaking proved to be the spark that catapulted me to seven-figure
income as a real estate broker while still in my twenties. I worked
exclusively on large apartment developments, and was very good at marketing them.
But the real reason for my success was my ability to locate makeable deals, get
the owners to sign my listing agreement, and, finally, close the deal once I had a serious buyer lined up.
Years later, Al's dealmaking
insights were also responsible for my becoming a bestselling author. Now,
you might be wondering, "But wasn't the quality of your writing important?" Of course it was. Quality is important in any business.
In
fact, the most gratifying aspect of being a writer is receiving letters and e-mails
from readers who tell you how much your work has impacted their lives. It's
a high that's almost impossible to explain. Hearing from readers tells you whether or not you are delivering value to your audience.
Nevertheless, had I not become a master dealmaker early in my business career, I
never would have been in a position to share my writing with millions of readers
around the world. Everything that has happened to me in what may appear to be a charmed life is a direct result of my dealmaking and marketing efforts.
Baptism by Fire
On more than one occasion, I've
been asked if I view dealmaking as an art or a science. Interesting question.
In all honesty, I would say that some of the basics are scientific, but, on the
whole, dealmaking is an art form. And the only way to excel at an art is to
learn the best techniques possible, then practice those techniques over ... and over ... and over again.
Problem: Unlike dancing, painting,
or playing a musical instrument, you can't practice dealmaking at home. The
only way to become a profit-producing dealmaker is to jump in and "do deals."
There's no spring training, no preseason, no practice sessions. You can do a certain
amount of preparation for each deal - which you should - but you cannot practice
the art of dealmaking itself. When it comes to dealmaking, it's strictly baptism by fire.
And that means being willing to jump
in and get your feet wet ... which, in turn, translates into rejection ... embarrassment
... and, yes, even failure. The willingness to fail is important, because
no matter how good you become at the nuances of dealmaking, your bottom-line
results are tied to the law of averages. Which is to say that the more you work at dealmaking, the better you get at it and the more deals you close.
In other words, there is no shortcut to dealmaking success.
No sitting at the kitchen table in your underwear, pecking away on a laptop and
watching the money roll in. (The only thing that should roll when you read ads
filled with that kind of rubbish is your eyes.) Professional dealmaking is a genuine skill and should be approached in a serious manner.
Or cut and paste this link below into your browser:
https://m301.infusionsoft.com/saleform/nathniflo
The Money Is in the Details
In many of my books, I relate stories
about various deals that I've made through the years, but I rarely have the
luxury of going into those deals in great detail. The reason for this is that long
stories and an excess of details don't work well in a book, because people are impatient.
I'm the same way when I read. I like authors
who cut to the chase. I don't have the patience to read a lot of detail.
Which is unfortunate, because when it comes to dealmaking, the devil is in the details.
More to the point, the money is in the details.
In other words,
superficial knowledge doesn't work in dealmaking. In fact, as many entrepreneurs
have discovered to their chagrin, a little bit of knowledge can actually be
dangerous. Which is why it's absolutely essential to possess an in-depth knowledge of the intricate details of dealmaking.
With this in
mind, a number of my colleagues have bugged me for years about doing a live seminar
on the art of dealmaking - a forum that would allow me to go into the kind
of detail that is not possible in books. I'm still not sure about the live seminar, because it's an expensive, time-consuming proposition.
I would enjoy doing it, but from a financial standpoint, I'm not sure it makes
sense. For one thing, I would have to charge at least $2,000 for a two-day seminar, which a lot folks couldn't afford.
So, as an
alternative, I agreed to record an easily affordable audio series that allows me
to discuss an array of dealmaking strategies and techniques that I have personally
used to reap huge profits - and I do it in three compact hours. My goal is
to teach listeners more about dealmaking in three hours than they've learned in
everything else they've read and heard on the subject combined. Which is why I decided to title it A Dealmaker's Dream.
I want to make
it clear that A Dealmaker's Dream is not a "system." To be blunt about it, so-called
success systems are B.S. - all of them - and you can quote me on that.
Nor is it a "secret." Admittedly, using the word secret is sometimes justified
as a figure of speech, but, in the literal sense, it, too, is B.S. Again, please feel free to quote me.
By contrast, A Dealmaker's Dream
is a straightforward presentation of dealmaking strategies and techniques that
have worked spectacularly well for me over the years - through good times and
bad, in both strong and weak economies. These include methods and maneuvers that
have not only made me millions, but have made it possible for me to make untold millions of dollars for others as well.
Harvey Mackay, author of The New York Times #1
bestseller Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, puts it this way:
"What
I like about Robert Ringer's teachings is that his unique ideas and insights
can be employed immediately. Every corporate executive, sales and marketing person,
small business owner, and entrepreneur can reap immediate benefits from his wisdom."
Stuff that Works
My objective in A Dealmaker's Dream is to pack every session with moneymaking
ideas, techniques, and strategies that I know, from firsthand experience, work. A small sampling of what I'll be sharing with you includes:
-
How to consistently locate deals with the greatest profit potential.
-
How to determine whether or not a deal is makeable, so you don't waste time working on deals that have little or no chance of closing.
-
How to negotiate deals in such a way that you end up with serious money in your pocket.
-
How I maneuvered behind the scenes to motivate
the editor-and-chief of a major paperback publishing house to contact me (even though
she had absolutely no idea who I was I at the time, nor had I ever tried to
contact her), then negotiated a deal that ultimately led to my making millions
of dollars in royalties and advances. (Yes, this tactic can be used in any kind of business.)
-
How I gained controlling interest in an American
Stock Exchange company without putting up any of my own cash, without having enough
credit to borrow the money needed, and without any experience in the company's business.
-
How I negotiated a deal that brought me a cash flow
of $25-$50,000 a month - requiring only about two hours of my time a week.
-
How I was able to take over a company that produced a cash flow of about $300,000 a month, again without putting up a dime of my own money.
-
How I convinced a 150-year-old company to put up millions of dollars
to back me in a venture that was so successful that it resulted in Fortune magazine's
publishing a three-page article about my unorthodox strategies and techniques.
(All this was accomplished during the severe economic recession of the early 1980s, one of the worst recessions in decades.)
-
How I made
more than $800,000 on a $15,000 investment by publishing an unknown author's
book and marketing it into a New York Times #1 bestseller- a book that no one else wanted. (Again, during the severe economic recession of the early 1980s.)
-
And much, much more.
Are You Ready to Double, Triple,
or Even Quadruple Your Income?
Or cut and paste this link below into your browser:
https://m301.infusionsoft.com/saleform/nathniflo
I've always
been a teacher at heart, so I admit that I get a big kick out of teaching the art
of dealmaking to serious entrepreneurs. I can tell you this for sure: Dealmaking
is a learned skill, and it's something that everyone (including me) can always improve on.
It's not about trickery or cunning or cleverness ... it's not
about playing hardball ... it's not about grabbing all the chips off the table and leaving the other guy empty-handed.
It's about maneuvering your way through
the minefields of the dealmaking world and finding the most makeable and profitable
deals, laying the groundwork for projecting a strong posture, negotiating
the best terms possible, and making sure that you don't walk away empty-handed.
Today, I am absolutely convinced that dealmaking is the highest-paying profession
in the world - by far. And further convinced that there is no such thing as a successful, non-dealmaking entrepreneur. In fact, it's an oxymoron.
Which is
why I urge you to take advantage of this special offer to protect yourself against
the obstacles that the "new New Deal" are sure to place between you and your financial objectives. The time to act is now.
Here's what you get:
-
Special Discount Price: A full $120 off ... The regular price of A Dealmaker's
Dream is $229. But if you place your order today, the cost to you is only $109. That's a savings of $120 - 52% off the regular price.
-
Downloadable MP3 Audio Files: Three full hours ...
Three full hours of Robert
Ringer's best dealmaking ideas, techniques, and strategies - insights that
have produced millions of dollars in income for him. Via special links, you will
be able to listen to these audio files over and over again - and even download them onto your own computer or iPod.
-
Free transcript: All three calls ...
You will also receive PDF transcripts of all three sessions immediately
downloadable to your own computer, which will make it possible for you
to read and reread the invaluable dealmaking insights and strategies that Robert
Ringer will be sharing with you. And you can, of course, print them out if that is more to your liking.
PLUS: Special bonus if you act today ...
Robert Ringer on "The Art of Recasting" ...
What is the one thing that Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart,
and Starbucks have in common? What did founders Stephen Riggio, Jeff Bezos, Sam Walton, and Howard Schultz see that others did not?
Great success stories are
always motivating, but in this classic audio session, Robert Ringer takes things
a step beyond motivation and zeroes in on one of the most overlooked strategies
used by some of the most super-successful entrepreneurs throughout the world.
In this knowledge-packed downloadable audio session, Robert Ringer not only reveals
this million-dollar insight, but explains how you can utilize it to build a mega-company of your own.
If you're ready for a treasure chest of proven
ideas, strategies, and techniques that are guaranteed to dramatically improve your
dealmaking skills - and, in the process, increase your income many times over - you won't want to miss out on Robert Ringer's landmark audio series,
A Dealmaker's Dream.
By acting today, you can lock in the special price of
just $109 - a savings of $120 off the regular price of $229 - which gets
you the three-part audio series, 3 typewritten transcripts covering all three recordings, AND Robert Ringer's invaluable audio session
The Art of Recasting.
Or cut and paste this link below into your browser:
https://m301.infusionsoft.com/saleform/nathniflo
|