There is a saying old saying among poker players: If you can't identify the mark at the table, you're probably him. The mark is the sucker. The guy who is caught with enough money to play, but not enough sense to keep it.

Situation #1: A company which aims at being a major global player in its industry adopts an aggressive growth-by-merger-and-acquisition strategy, which is largely fueled by the price of the company's stock. This strategy makes the company an important client of its investment bank, which is paid lucrative up-front fees for handling the transactions behind the mergers and acquisitions.

So it seems that Harry Reid has decided to force a Senate vote on the financial reform bill. Good. The vote should serve to polarize the positions of the parties. You cannot adequately police Wall Street without giving the cops on the beat enough ammunition. This should be the constant refrain from the Democrats.

Many times, the key to a successful negotiation is the ability to convince your opponent that he or she is getting the better end of the bargain. When your opponent is convinced of the illusion of control, he or she is is less likely to resist your advances or become defensive. The impression of control is many times created by slowly giving ground to your opponent while subtly diverting them in the direction you desire. In short, some of your best successes come when the other side thinks it has won, and you know better.