Winner-take-all

In Glengarry Glen Ross (1983), the salesmen at a real estate office are informed of a contest where the top salesman wins a Cadillac, the second-place gets steak knives, and the rest are fired. The announcement is delivered by Blake, a ruthless sales manager. Blake’s pitch is brutal, using fear, financial incentives, and aggressive language to motivate the sales team. The negotiation tactic is clear: produce results or face dire consequences. There is no room for negotiation—only compliance. The focus on competition, high stakes, and a clear winner-take-all mentality encapsulates the American approach to negotiation as a high-pressure, performance-driven endeavor.

understand-culture
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