Why Negotiation Should Be Learned Early

Most of us think negotiation is something you do at a table.

That’s not where negotiation actually begins.

Negotiation begins much earlier, when a child asks for something, when a parent says no, when we decide what to give up to get something else, and when we balance fairness, patience, and desire.

In daily life, we negotiate far more often than we realize.
But almost no one is taught how.

Most negotiation books assume confidence, maturity, and experience.
They start with tactics, leverage, and outcomes.
They are written for adults who already know the rules.

Berries for Greens exists for a different reason.

It is written to introduce negotiation as a life skill rather than a technique.
A skill that can be understood early, practiced gently, and carried forward naturally.

The book uses an illustrated story instead of theory.
Not to simplify negotiation, but to make it visible.
The book allows readers, especially beginners and children, to see how to get what they want.

There are no formulas in this book. No aggressive strategies. No winners and losers.

Only a simple idea: negotiation is about exchange, understanding, and learning to ask.

This idea is explored in the story "Berries for Greens". If you are a parent of a young kid or a teen, then you could teach them negotiation early. If you are a beginner or an adult, never been taught negotiation in a formal way, you could learn negotiation basics through this book.

Don't Negotiate Against Yourself

Effective negotiators don’t negotiate against themselves.

Why would anybody do it?

Have you ever negotiated against yourself?

We often make such mistakes without even knowing or realizing it. Silence is very uncomfortable, and we can’t bear it. We talk and make the next offer, bidding against ourselves.

This is a self-defeating behavior, and we must avoid it. Encourage the other party to make a counteroffer rather than making one yourself.

However, you can only avoid it when you know and understand the concept. In Berries for Greens, he did not make this mistake when the counterparty challenged him on his offer. He stood by his offer and simply justified it, which was the right step.

Why Do We Fear Negotiation?

Why don’t we negotiate?

What stops us from asking for more?

What reasons are we inventing not to negotiate? When we know our honest reasons for not negotiating, then only can we correct them or seek a solution. It is essential for us to identify these bottlenecks so that we can address the next challenge.

Next time, take a moment and think about why you did not want to negotiate your salary offer, push back on a non-promotion task, ask for a raise, ask for a discount in the marketplace, or even limit screen time for kids. Figure it out.

Once you understand what holds us back, you can try to overcome the hurdle and be ready to ask for more. Effective negotiation is an opportunity to find transformative possibilities in life. It is indeed a life-changing companion that helps you overcome your fear of negotiations.