I was packing up my book stand at the Business Start-Up exhibition when I noticed a chap standing nearby. He looked worried and perplexed. Being helpful, or perhaps just nosy, I sauntered across and asked if he needed help. Noticing my picture on the backdrop to my stand, he seemed flattered to have attracted the attention of a 'best selling author'. (In fact he was doing me a favour because I can write about him here!).
He had been made redundant from his job and had come to the show to find inspiration. A supplier of promotional products at the show had offered him the 'franchise' for his home county. The problem was, they wanted him to decide straight away, or a) the franchise would cost more and b) they would not wait longer and might sell it to someone else.
I told him to go home, open a bottle of wine and discuss the opportunity with his partner, then ring the firm on Monday. 'But that's past the deadline,' he told me, looking even more worried. My reply to him was simple. If they'll wait for you, they might be worth working with. If however they're so inflexible that it's today or never, then you're better off without them.
Moral: Deadlines are rarely as firm as they seem. Bend and flex them as much as you can to see how you can better the deal. Shift the pressure from yourself to the people offering you the deal. Stand your ground because if you allow yourself to be pushed into a deal, you'll probably live to regret it.