Nautical Negotiator Mugs

'He's trying to talk them into giving themselves up!'

'As I was saying, in all my time as a stockbroker I've always put the interests of others first. How much did you say you stand to inherit?'

"And need I remind you, the 'art of the deal' is the lifeblood of this company."

Brian wanted to call the presentation "Synergy". Paula wanted to call it "Cooperation". They could never agree.

'When we get there let me do the double talking.'

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

'I'm glad you guys could work this out in a reasonable manner.'

UK/US Free Trade Deal

"They're having a fight over how best to handle client conflict."

"When faced with a tricky ethical issue, I always ask the question, 'What's in it for me?'"

"Then we have an unspoken agreement?"

"That's it lads, 364 days annual leave...what would we have done without our union!"

Captain in a storm

'You think I'm crazy; I think you're crazy...finally some common ground!'

'We're making progress. I just got a firm 'maybe'.'

'Try and be negative in a positive way.'

'I ace 'wheeling' but I flunked 'dealing'' - Boy on leaving Business Administration.

"Mind the whale, dear."

'Are we there yet?'

'Ok, here's the meeting agenda ... it's gonna be a long one.'

'Gentlemen, I've been authorized to sweeten the offer.'

'Negotiations have reached an impasse, legal recommends we resort to violence.'

"Eww - that whale's breath smells awful!" "You could use a breath mint yourself, lady!"

Changing Minds

"Just one more thump. . . just one more thump."

How can I enjoy that clean, fresh, salt air when I'm up to my neck in garbage?

Goldfish bowl on raft...

'How did the 'I want you all to take a pay cut or leave' strategy go down?'

'To close the deal, I had to make some minor concessions.'

'Slip Ahoy!'

'It's a senior management position. We need someone who can listen politely, and then say no.'

'Well, it wasn't my lucky day... first there was that shark and then I bimped into a bunch of beaver!'

'It's true what they say: People often look like their pets...'

"We have a potentially serious problem accruing on the poop deck."

"Touché"