Recently, I was reading a blog entry from a noted domainer in regard to his negotiation style with domain name sellers. He posted a piece outlining a somewhat aggressive approach in which he aims to ”knock them off their high horse”. The domainer’s context had been his attempt to buy a domain name from a seller who was asking “too much”.

In reading this piece, it reminded me that domainers have varied personality types, as well as core underlying beliefs and principles which drive their attitudes, choices, and behavior in business, and in life.

Much has been written about personality types and the constellation of qualities associated with being successful, whatever one’s aim. Remember the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”? One of the key components includes a “Think Win/Win” approach when dealing with other people. Some hold the belief that in a negotiation one person must win & the other must lose. This is an incorrect view, and an underlying attitude which will repeatedly lead to poor outcomes.

Most investment-oriented individuals do share certain common traits such as an analytical nature, an innate curiosity and a thirst for learning. Maybe it’s here that domainers sometimes begin to split onto different paths.

My step-father, now retired, was a car salesman for 30 years. Not only was he one of the most financially successful, but one of the most genuinely respected people in his field. He was a high school graduate. He was not a showboat, or a fast-talker. Most importantly, he was not a phoney, or an aggressive salesman looking to exploit people who walked into the dealership.

He knew about “Win/Win” before anyone ever wrote about it. As a seller and buyer in his role as dealership manager, he understood there was greater value in working with others instead of against them. He also understood the value of simply bowing out when mutual terms could not be agreed upon between he and someone with which he differed. I call that class. And in the end, it’s the place to be.

There are many approaches to dealing constructively with buyers & sellers. Quite unfortunately, some look at a potential customer as an object to be manipulated to their end. In which one must win and someone else must lose. Isn’t there a downside to creating this type of polarization in a possible sales transaction? Of course.

I once heard a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur say “It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. You have to screw them before they screw you!” What does this underlying belief say about that person? And is this the type of person that you would be comfortable doing business with? Lastly, makes me wonder what kind of reputation this fellow had in the greater business community where he traveled.

If you’re interested in taking a personality profile online, you might try this site which appears to be based on the famous Myers-Brigg Personality Inventory. It’s free. Not comprehensive, but may shed a little light on some of your own foundational values and style of interacting with others –>

iPersonic Personality Test 

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting.

Internet Domains business ethics, domain negotiation, negotiation strategy