Break the Rules

When I was first getting started, I accidentally broke rules because I didn't know better. For instance, when I went to my first trade show, I didn't even have a booth. I just went dressed in whiteboard costume with my product in little bags and started selling them.

Later, a mentor told me that breaking the rules could work in my favor. But I already knew this from my adventure at the trade show.

Of course, you have to be smart when you break the rules. In other words, you can't be offensive or insensitive. You also have to be lawful. One way that I break rules is by approaching some of the unspoken rules playfully.

For example, one of my rule breaking escapades was recently featured on the blog Women Negotiating.

A supposedly smart person told me that I could not sell my product to a big box retailer without a man accompanying me to negotiating table. So when I managed to get an appointment to present my product, I glued a large photo of a man's to a Popsicle stick so I would have a man with me. This tactic got a big laugh AND landed me the deal.

What kinds of rules have you broken in order to get what you want and need for your product. If you are not a rule breaker and you want to learn how to get what you want, check out the Women Negotiating website for lots of great ideas.