I am an emotional, impulsive person by nature. That doesn’t mean I have to be at the effect of counterproductive behavior. Very gradually over the course of my life, I have learned to step back from tense or crucial situations, hold my tongue when appropriate, and refrain from making rash decisions. Slowly I’ve developed a greater awareness for desirable outcomes, and focus my attention on that rather than being engulfed in my emotions.
 
This week I was negotiating with travel tour company “XYZ”, offering them an entire edition of this publication in exchange for a dramatically reduced rate for the tour I wanted. Initially their reduced price was not much of a reduction, and the “old me” would have blown them off in the huff (or at least a minute and a huff). “What an insulting offer!” I would have thought. “Screw them!” Or maybe I would have haggled with them over the price, and met with resistance that triggered my frustration.   
 
Instead, I took a timeout from the circumstance, regrouped and went back to their website and noticed they had another tour that was appealing to me, a tour that I was considering with a different tour operator. But if “XYZ” gave me a better deal in booking both tours with them, I can offer them exclusivity in the publication and they would be the only tour company to get publicity in this special travel edition.
 
“XYZ” was far more excited about booking two tours from me and gaining exclusivity in the publicity. Therefore, the price negotiated was far better, probably just a smidgeon above their cost, yet they were happy with the deal.  

Sheik Salim came from a wealthy Saudi Arabian family, but was surely an oddity among fellow dignitaries. On one particular occasion, he stunned a group of American corporate presidents hosting a banquet in his honor, by playing the harmonica instead of giving a speech. Another time, he arrived in Cairo to find no rooms available at a five star hotel. Even a multi-billionaire’s temper tantrums wouldn’t have budged the situation; but that was not his style anyway.

“If I play the French national anthem for you on my harmonica,” he asked the surprised hotel manager, Madame de la Porte, “will you give me a room?” “That’s a funny way to get a room,” said the Madame. “It’s the only way left,” answered the pragmatic Salim. He played "Le Marseillaise" for her, and she found him a room. Composure + creativity = results!
From the Amazon best-selling book, "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Lighten Up!" by Terry Braverman c1997

NOTE: Braverman's Blog will be moving to our new website soon...stay tuned!
 

I've spent so many hours at airports that stretching the boundaries of creative time management has become an avocation of sorts.

The little trickster in all of us can be summoned to add spice and ease boredom in our travels. If you are yawning your way through a long layover at an airport, instigate some mischievous fun while you wait, and observe the reactions from fellow passengers. During flight delays and between connecting flights, go up to the airline counter and have them page a famous person or character. Brad Pitt, Darth Vader, George Costanza, and Elmer Fudd are just a few names that have been trumpeted over airport terminal speakers at my prompting, provoking chuckles from passengers and airline personnel (Brad Pitt caused a momentary ruckus when asked to report to a Delta flight gate)...just one whimsical way to lighten up your load while on the road.