Agreements Have Rules

I'm really sorry we didn't get along.

How often do you use this expression?

If you use it too often, you may be a difficult person to understand.

But using it often enough can also be a sign that you are a virtuous person.

Some people never use this saying. Because they want things to be as they say, no matter what, and they don't give up what they want easily.

Therefore, they are determined to reach an agreement.

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Yes, an agreement is a good thing. But in order to make a deal, compromises are necessary. Because often what we want is not in line with what someone else wants.

Let me make a deal with you, you do this for me and I will do what you want.

See, that's one way of making a deal. Sometimes one way to get what you need is to do what he wants, something that you can do, something that is simple for you.

But if it doesn't work out no matter what you do, the result can be that we don't agree, so good luck to you, and everybody goes their own way.

As I said, being able to say that is a virtue. It makes it easier to get things done.

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In construction, we negotiate long contracts with employers.

The employer, the one who pays the money, always wants to get the most he can for his money.

In other words, the most work for the least price.

Yes, for an employer, getting as much work done for as little money as possible is the primary point of view.

But sometimes money is not everything. Having the competence to do the job is just as important. We also call this merit. 

In construction works, competence is perhaps more important than the price of the work.

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We talk about getting along, or not getting along. There is another side to it, the ability to get what you want from someone.

I'm talking about the ability to persuade. Not everyone has that ability.

First of all, you have to be calm. You have nerves of steel. No color. It's like playing poker. Even if you're bluffing, the other person won't know you're bluffing.

For this, you need to know all the terms of the deal well.

You also need to know the person you are making a deal with.

If it is a deal between two companies, it is important that everything is open and transparent.

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What if it is an agreement between states?

Agreements between two states do not always have to be openly public. Especially if the agreement contains details that other states do not need to know.

But it is also true that there are methods of agreement that are specific to each state's form of government.

If the state is a democracy, at least the representatives of the nation have a right to know the details of the agreements made.

At the very least, the state's supervisory bodies should be able to inspect such agreements.

But what if those in power have set up something like a sovereign wealth fund to specifically evade this scrutiny?

Then, in the event of corruption, if it is somehow uncovered, you will have to arrest those who manage the sovereign wealth fund.

And if corruption is not uncovered?

Then they will ask, did you arrest them because there was corruption or because you couldn't share it?

***

So what happens if you have an agreement, but one of the parties has indigestion?

That's when the one with indigestion says it is the biggest regret of my life.

***

I think it's better to say from the beginning that I'm really sorry we don't get along, rather than to make an indignant explanation later. 

That would be much more virtuous.

Because if you have made an agreement that will cause indigestion later, that indigestion will be very difficult.

I don't know, that's what I think.

If you have an agreement, you have an agreement. You don't talk about it anymore.

That's the rule of this business. 

Believe me, I have negotiated many contracts in my time. I know the rules of this business.

Love and respect to everyone from Moscow.