Which is why most people who cannot handle the truth are so vexing: More often than not stubborn mules are smart, talented, and accomplished folks who validate the old saw that the problem with attaining what you want is that it positions you to have something to lose!

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Why I took offense at my client asking a golf pro to validate or improve upon the work we just completed is my problem.

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The problem is that a negotiate-then-validate strategy is just a prettified form of blackmail.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot