Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Part 2

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  A few weeks ago, I attended our NRF (National Retail Federation) mid-year Board meet and summit. On our board are retail leaders from Neiman’s, Saks, Macy’s, Brooks Bros., among others. Our Trade Association represents retailers both large and small. Retailers from across the country came to Washington DC to have their concerns heard by… Read more »

Gifting in the Age of the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act

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Gifting has a long tradition in the history of trade and diplomacy. The Gift was a token of respect and appreciation, an opportunity to share culture and art. Unfortunately, rampant abuse of gifting, with intent to bribe, tainted this thoughtful tradition. This, in turn, has led to governments to combat the corruption and bribery of… Read more »

Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow, Thinking Gift!

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Dr. Kahneman won the Nobel prize for his work on behavioral economics. He was able to show how our minds think and how we do not always make decisions in our own best interest (The Rational model).  He shows how we are susceptible to influence through how arguments are framed or anchored.  His book “Thinking Fast… Read more »

General Mattis & The Power of Gifting

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“Give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers and I’ll do better” -Defense Secretary Mattis I was interested in the recent comments of Defense Secretary Mattis on the practice of torture. In effect, the Secretary of Defense was saying that a well-chosen gift had the power to create an environment where a… Read more »