Making a deal usually involves two or more people on at least two different sides of the bargaining table. For example, in a flea market, you have the customer and the vendor. They will haggle over a price and eventually the customer will pay for the price or decide against it and move on.

Other negotiating situations can be much more complicated, such as a divorce. Then you have the wife versus the husband, but you most likely will at a minimum also have the wife’s attorney and the husband’s attorney. And, sometimes it gets even more complicated, like children and parents with concerns, or new boyfriends or a mistress with an interest and influence on the bargaining.

The best outcome is when both parties are satisfied that they get something they want. The worst outcome, which is typical in divorces, is that neither side leaves happy.