The Flea market Negotiator - Part 5

Responsibility – No More Finger-Pointing

You break it, you buy it.

Not just in flea markets, but in life. That’s responsibility. It means stepping up, even when things go sideways.

Responsible people don’t wait for someone else to fix it. They look at the mess, sigh deeply, and grab a mop. It’s not glamorous, but it earns you respect—and results. Responsibility means saying, "I did that," without ducking, deflecting, or disappearing.

This doesn't mean perfection. It means owning your actions, your words, and your consequences. Good or bad. Especially bad. It means you show up, not just when things are smooth, but when they’re uncomfortable.

Imagine you botch a negotiation. You promised a price you can't honor. Or you misunderstood a clause in a deal. What now? Responsibility says: own it. Apologize. Clarify. Rebuild the trust.

Because nothing tanks a deal faster than a blame game. And nothing builds trust faster than, "Yep, that was on me. Let me fix it."

Responsibility is grown-up energy. It makes people want to work with you again. And in the long run, that’s more valuable than any one deal.