To most people, that probably sounds ridiculous. Fifty cents per square foot does not seem like much. Over the course of a year, it came out to about $750. Around $62 a month. It was not going to break the bank for either side.
But to my dad, it was never about the money.
It was about principle.
He believed $15.50 was the fair number, and he was not going to cave just to make the conversation easier or faster. He stayed firm, made his case, and kept negotiating. Eventually, the other side agreed to $15.50, feeling like they had won.
When the contract was finalized, the actual rate came in at $15.
Dad never rubbed it in. He never made a show of it. But the lesson was clear. You do not give in just to avoid discomfort. You stand your ground when you know you are right.
That is how my dad has always operated. In business. In life. And now in public service.
