I met an Angel in 1997- he literally disappeared in plain site. He gave me this incredible gift, The Razor – So I trademarked it and made it my own, and share it with the good guys.
Back in 1997 I was negotiating my salary increase as Regional Manager with my new boss. I had survived five (5) mergers and acquisitions and was in another one. My new boss was exceedingly smart, and while at Harvard, he was the captain of the debate team. Our first discussion about my potential raise was a crushing defeat for me. He was a good leader and good man, but to get anything from him, one had to build a sound case. Being the relentless soul that I am, I went back into the fire and demanded a face-to-face meeting in North Carolina at his office. So, I flew up to meet with him. Truth be known, I was totally unprepared.
Through fortune and blessing, after arriving at the airport, I met a stranger at dinner the night before the big meeting. The story is quite an interesting one, but for this posting, I will not go into much detail. This stranger could tell something was on my mind and asked me what was bothering me. I told him I was in town to meet with my boss, who was a true badass, to build my case for a compensation increase. To my complete surprise, this gentleman asked me if I had ever heard of The Razor™, and proceeded to share it with me on a napkin. We put together an argument. I was blown away.
The Razor™ is simple in theory, but not so simple to use effectively. With practice it is a powerful negotiation and debate tactic. It takes three (3) well-conceived and simplified points, and plays them in a relentless repetitive manner.
The stranger was an angel. I have never written about the fact he was an angel. He drew out The Razor on a napkin. As we ate dinner, he spent time helping me learn to use it, hone in my 3 points to debate my boss, and he was incredibly comforting and kind. A total stranger. He had red hair. In the parking lot of Landry’s Seafood, as I parked my rental car, I caught a glimpse of a man in a white pickup truck parking and walking towards me. We happened to approach the entrance about the same time. I got their first and opened the door and held it for him. He thanked me and we randomly approached the hostess at the same time. She said, Table for two? I looked at him and we awkwardly laughed. For some reason I said, “Sure. Can we sit at a table in the bar.” For the record, I never have or ever would have done that. I tend to be a loner when traveling. I am happy to sit and eat alone.
The angel looked at me in a way nobody else ever has. It was not intimidating. It was humble. Grandfatherly. Kind. Powerful. Wise. Strong. Trusting of me like he knew what I was going to do in the future. He said several times, “I am going to give you something nobody else has. It is for good. I know you will use it for good.” When we had finished eating, after a conversation that resonated with doing good and having the power to do good, the last thing the angel said to me was, “I know you will do good things,” and then he literally vanished. I turned my head for less than a second, was brushed with an invisible cold pass-through draft of air, and he was gone. It was 100 feet to the nearest exit.
The short end of the story is that I used The Razor™, however weakly I could the first time, and was able to stalemate my brilliant new boss into a tie. I knew it was working when he called for a break, relaxed for a while and then came back at me hard to beat me. I played The Razor™ as best I could. We agreed to a raise! My boss was impressed that I came to town, bellied up to his desk, and held my own in a respectful, unemotional debate. He was still the superior businessman and debater, but I held my own. We both left feeling hopeful about each other in our new relationship. I was managing a big chunk of his division.
Let’s look at The Razor™:
The Razor™ is simple in theory, but not so simple to use effectively. With practice it is a powerful negotiation and debate tactic. It takes three (3) well-conceived and simplified points, and plays them in a relentless repetitive manner. The skill required focuses on:
- Conceiving three really solid points simplified into short sentences
- Being disciplined to state and restate the 3 points in a circular reinforcing manner without sounding like a broken record or a politician.
- Tenacious and relentless discussion: It also requires tenacity and the will to win. So many times in debates, arguments or negotiations, we have to fight our internal willingness to get frustrated and quit. When used effectively, The Razor™ almost guarantees a tie, if not a win.
This is important because it is very tempting in arguments and debates to get off on pig trails and get off your game. The discipline here is to play your three points in random order in reinforcement of each other.
How to Use the Razor:
The Razor™ is only as effective as our mastery of the three skills listed above. If we take time to really develop a solid tip of The Razor™ that is impactful, resounding and simplified, then we are off to a good start. Each of the base points needs to strongly reinforce the tip of The Razor™ and be resounding and formidable as well. Once the three points are conceived, simplified, and we have practiced their effectiveness together, then it is ready for use.
- Lead the debate or negotiation with the tip of The Razor ™. This is your strongest point. State it. Then let the burden of response fall on the other party. Remember, do not negotiate with yourself (previous blog post).
- No matter what response you get from the person with whom you are negotiating, reinforce your argument with one of your two (2) base points. This is important because it is very tempting in arguments and debates to get off on pig trails and get off your game. The discipline here is to play your three points in random order in reinforcement of each other.
- Stay disciplined and stay on your three points. The person with whom you are negotiating will likely have strong points as well. They may get emotional. They may become angry. They may try to rattle you or get you off on an errant sidebar discussion. Do not take the bait. Simply restate the tip of The Razor™.
- Continue in a circle stating the tip of The Razor™ and reinforcing it with the two base points. You basically state, restate, change the wording, but not the points, and speak to the three points relentlessly.
In leading my executive teams over the years, and in coaching great leaders and executives now, The Razor™ has rendered some amazing prowess for my leadership teams. It is effective in personal and business settings. It is important to note, though, that it does take some coaching and practice to get fluid and smooth with The Razor™. I have taught individuals and teams, alike, how to learn this methodology and how to leverage it for good and right in the world. I have found it to be an amazing arrow in the quiver for top executives.
Happy Spring! Until next time, cheers!