The Man with the Moustache

Back in the 1980s, I negotiated a deal with an upmarket Chiropractic Centre in Neutral Bay, a suburb full of married woman who practised Yoga because they hadn't heard of Pilates yet. Luckily, Alexander was in vogue back then, so I could demand my terms.

I told the Manager: I can pay you when I teach, that's it. No monthly rent, sorry.

I was happy to walk away from the deal.

*** SIDE BAR ***

That's the simple secret to being strong in a negotiation. As English billionaire Felix Dennis puts it in 88 The Narrow Road:

"Whoever depends the least upon the outcome will usually prevail... If in doubt, walk out."

*** END SIDEBAR ***

The Manager caved in.

Which is how I came to meet man with the moustache.

An ancient man like him would never normally bother with a youngster like me. It was a chance passing of two generations. He was tall, majestic - a Hjalmar Schacht figure supplanted from the 19th Century.

I was a wild young boy with a foolish idea that I could change the world. And Yet – there I was in an posh clinic in one of the most expensive suburbs of Sydney, peddling my Alexander wares for whoever cometh…

He cometh.

I was a chair-and-table guy back then, but my Manager (finally asserting his authority) allocated a room so small, no table could fit. Oh dear.

I did a 30 minute chair lesson with the man with the moustache.

Up and down, up and down…

ME: Did you notice?

No.

Up and down, up an----WAIT!

ME: Did you notice?

Perhaps.

He was monosyllabic and utterly unreadable.

I did my "hands-on" thingy and hoped for the best. Finally, the lesson was over.

He stood up one final time, walked to door, stopped, turned back and peered at me like a wonder in a Science Museum…

What an extraordinary way to earn a living!

And he left.

I never saw the man with the moustache again.

Cheerfully

Jeremy

To Your ATSuccess !

P.S. If you enjoy my emails, you or a student of yours might also enjoy the 2nd Edition of my cheerful little book on Alexander's discovery - full of stories that have populated my long career.

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