jrvan said:
I'll be the first to admit that I wouldn't have thought of any of that. It sounds really dirty and cutthroat though. Is this sort of thing common in the business world? If people pulled stuff like this on me then I'd probably curse them.
If I get into business and investing in the future, I think I will try to program my aura to attract straight shooters/honest men and women as business partners and whatnot. I'm not personally fond of manipulation on this level, and I couldn't bring myself to do it to someone. If I felt I had cause to be that ruthless to someone, or if I really really needed them out of my way, then I would probably do magick to sink their business or whatever.
If one lets such immature tactics influence them, or influence their business dealings, they really aren't suited to do business whatsoever.
Hypothetically someone "uses every trick in the book", and proceeds to laugh at their "guest" for it, to humiliate them, etc, what would this really accomplish anyway?
To feel humiliated is a personal choice at the end of the day. Tactics like this may only work if your guest desperately needs a business deal more than you, and thus one can push them around.
If they aren't desperate for it, it won't do anything as they can just get up and leave without saying a word, leaving you hanging and looking like a buffoon.
The most important thing in any dealing with another person, is to never come across as if you are desperate for it, or need it more than them, but that it is your choice to be there and that it makes no difference to you whether you walk away with nothing or with an agreeable deal.
One must always know what they want from another person, and never let anyone else push you around for it.
Stand in your own shoes, let people act like the clowns they are by using their little beta business tactics, when the talks are about to begin give them a gesture with your gaze "and what of it?" Conveying to the other party you are exactly aware of their little clown tactics, and that it changes nothing.
Or just get up and leave just as they are about to get into the meat of the issue after all the bravado is over. Tell them "If you're serious about discussing a dealing with me, you know where to reach me", get up and leave calmly, without looking back at them or saying another word.
Chances are, if someone is lacking in confidence to have to clown around like this in order to try and position themselves in an advantageous position over you, they are the ones who care about face and humiliation, and who will feel the hurt for days to come after you handle them like that, while you go on with your life unbothered as you were.
Taking initiative, not letting others walk over you, being confident and knowing what you want out of an interaction before you get into it are more important than any such little "cutthroat" tactics.
Whether you are the one humiliated, or they are, depends entirely on how you receive the attempted humiliation of another.
Hail Satan!