Most people don’t realize it, but we all trade and negotiate every single day. From early childhood, we learn to get what we want. Kids negotiate with parents, with teachers, with each other — and while it might look like “just playing,” it’s actually their first lessons in business communication.
I love watching children figure out these little trades. One kid wants what another has, so they start negotiating — sometimes sweetly, sometimes sneakily. They offer, they bargain, they test the value of what’s being exchanged. What’s especially fascinating is how they decide what something is worth. It’s all about perception: how much do they want it, and what are they willing to give in return?
I’ll give you a fun example. A few years ago, I was in Egypt with my daughter, who was seven at the time. She found a towel she really liked, but the vendor wanted €20 for it — and I had only given her €8 to spend. She came to me, a bit frustrated, and asked what she should do. I told her, “Okay, write your offer in the sand. Show him what you’re willing to pay.”
So she did. She knelt down and drew “€1” in the sand with her finger. The vendor looked stunned at first, but then he smiled — and just like that, the game was on. What followed was a full hour of back-and-forth, hand gestures, laughter, and bargaining. In the end, she walked away with the towel, and he walked away with €8 and a great story. Both of them won.
The point? Real experience teaches more than any theory. No one can take it away from you — and often, the best teachers are the moments life throws at you unexpectedly.
Over the past 20+ years in business and management, I’ve come to believe this: if you want to get better at trading — at negotiating, selling, influencing — you need to do it consciously. You need to notice what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how you're doing it. That kind of awareness gives you a serious edge. It helps you recognize your position, adjust your strategy, and use every tool available — from intuition to charm to subtle influence.
And here's the thing: you can train this every day. Every time you talk to someone, make a decision, or try to influence an outcome — you're practicing. And if you're not training regularly, don't be surprised if your results aren't where you'd like them to be.
There are many other factors to consider too: efficiency, effort, environment, timing, your strategy, your product. For example — is it better to sell one product for $1 million, or the same product to 100 people for $10,000 each? That depends on your goals, your market, and of course, your experience. But also, it depends on your mindset.
Because if you can’t picture yourself doing it, you won’t. Period.
Let me give you a wild example. I once got involved in a deal where someone in Dubai wanted to sell 10,000 Bitcoins — at $70,000 each. That’s about $7 billion. Now ask yourself: could you walk into a negotiation like that? If your gut says “Yes, let’s go,” then you’re already halfway there. But if your brain immediately jumps in with reasons why it’s impossible — you’re also right. Your mindset defines your ceiling.
In my view, nothing happens by chance. Everything unfolds the way it’s meant to. And if you’re open to it, you can use tools like visualization and intention-setting to shape what happens next. That's a whole other topic, but it ties back to this: the more you develop your skills and awareness, the more likely you are to create the outcomes you want — even if they seem beyond the limits of this reality.
So I’ll leave you with this:
What would your life look like if you knew that you’re negotiating every day — and started doing it on purpose?
Because whether you like it or not… you already are.
With respect and gratitude, Jakub Karásek, MBA et LL.M.