In this series, we’re discussing five guiding principles on negotiating agreements. The final principle is to lean towards being generous.
In the story of Joseph, Egypt had seven years of famine. To afford to buy food, all Egyptians sold their land to Pharoah.
Pharoah, however, needed them to farm the land, so Joseph worked out a win/win sharecropping arrangement.
In Genesis 47:24, Joseph said to the Egyptians, “But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.”
By only requiring 20% for Pharoah, Joseph received favor from the Egyptians and provided them the opportunity to create wealth for themselves and for Pharoah as well.
