Deal Brokering Mugs

"This month it's been lack of business as usual."

'And were there a point to your proposal, Henderson - What would it be?'

"Forget five-year plans. Let's just figure out how to make it to lunch."

'Now that I have your attention...'

"These projections don't make sparkles shoot out my ass."

"Miracles happen, gentlemen, but they don't come cheap."

'Which 'win' is ours? Because the one on the left looks bigger.'

The president's men

A fight in the Boardroom.

'It's a deal, lets sniff bottoms!'

'The prevailing wisdom is that markets are always right. I think that luck is always right.'

"Then we have an unspoken agreement?"

"Well, it looks like the merger is off."

'Well the good news is that we've landed some huge contracts in China!'

"It was terrifying experience being faced with that kind of compulsive, insane behaviour...I tell you it's positively the last time I put foot in the sales!"

"What do you think I can get for it on the blackboard market?"

'They sold the company in 2001? I was wondering why things were slow.'

Sales chart is buildings in background.

"What if he's bluffing? What if he's not? What if the room just gets too hot?"

"Mr Frimley will see you now."

'Pick a contract...any contract!'

'We divested ourselves of a division here, a subsidiary there, a branch here, an affiliate there...there's nothing left!'

It's okay Mom! As a broker, I'm under supervision of the SEC!

"Great plan. Could we get some more details?"

'I went into that meeting with a hidden agenda and then forgot where I put it.'

"I see we're going up against the Big Guys."

'I'm sorry I missed your recital. Daddy was on the phone with his broker, checking on bond yields. It's another form of bonding, son.'

"It's Swamp & Swallow - they're making an offer we can't refuse!"

"We structured the deal so it won't make any sense to you."

"Until we get a bigger chart, we're estimating it's now about up to here."

Do you want to win the game or my business?

"They've agreed to the merger, the sticking point is who is swallowing who?"

'If we have only fractional ownership, it's not a private jet anymore, is it?'

"I'm not telling you to stay. I'm talking to the stock market."

You gotta hand it to the old man, he still knows how to motivate!