Relationship Negotiator Gifts

"I'll agree to a pre-nup if you'll agree to a non-compete clause."

"I'll abandon my medium-and shorter-range missiles if you'll abandon yours."

Will work on relationship for food.

'Can we broker a deal?'

"I'll have to get back to you—I'm going into a tunnel."

"Why do you have to come? Because I went to your Super Bowl, that's why."

Living Room Complaints

"Sophia, will you agree to form a joint exploratory committee for marriage?"

"O.K., let's compromise: First we'll talk about baseball and then we'll talk about our relationship!"

"Well, buster, I've just decided to unbury it!"

'According to this pre-nup, if I marry you I have to wait 24 months to upgrade.'

'I believe in aggressive mergers, Celia...'

"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.'

"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!"

'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.

'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.'

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

Changing Minds

'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.'

"That's Hicks from the corporate office. He's adorable, but trust me—when it comes to acquisitions, he's an animal!"

'Face it, we're never going to reach a consensus.'

'Could we finish these negotiations via e-mail? That will allow me to think before I respond to your proposals.'