The Flea market Negotiator - Part 6
Patience – The Waiting Game Champion
Let’s talk about patience.
Patience is the part of your character that doesn’t get nearly enough applause. It’s not flashy. It’s not Instagrammable. It doesn’t come with a drumroll or theme music. But it is powerful. Because patience is what keeps you from yelling at the waiter when your food is five minutes late, or from losing your cool when the guy in front of you at the flea market is still trying to pay for a cassette player with coins.
Now, I know—patience sounds like a punishment. Like something your grandmother tried to beat into you with Bible verses and long car rides. But real patience is less about passively waiting and more about what you do while you wait.
Let me put it this way: patience is like growing your own weed, you don’t smoke the sapling! You plant it. You water it. You protect it from goats and toddlers. And then you wait. Not because you enjoy waiting, but because you know, when the buds are ready, it’s gonna be the perfect high. That’s what patience is—delayed gratification with a purpose.
In negotiation, this is key. You may think you’ve made a strong offer. You’ve laid out your case. Then—awkward silence. The other person looks at you. You look at them. Nobody moves. That moment right there? That’s when patience kicks in.
Because amateurs fill that silence with nervous chatter. “Oh, I mean, unless you think it’s too much? I can lower it. Or throw in a smoothie blender? Do you want a hug?” No. Silence is your friend. Sit with it. Let it make the other person uncomfortable first.
And beyond negotiation, life in general demands patience. Starting a business. Raising kids. Working on yourself. It’s not all instant noodles and express shipping. Sometimes growth is slow. Messy. Frustrating.
But that’s where character is forged.
So next time you’re tempted to rush the process—whether it’s a deal, a dream, or a destiny—remember this: good things come to those who wait. Great things come to those who wait well. And amazing things come to those who wait while still doing the work.
Even if you're growing old in the process—like I said, patience is a little girl you wait 18 years to marry. Twenty-four, if she’s doing a Master’s and, thirty if you want her withe her own mansion, car and independent!