(Ps. Alejandro De La Barrera Brito. Psychologist and ESL Specialist)
Have you ever felt like a stranger among many people?
Have you ever wanted to interact with new people but they are so different from you that it feels impossible? Have you ever felt outnumbered? Well, you are not alone.
In 1620, a group of dissenters pitched an idea where they decided to travel to America and bet they could make it big in the new continent. This is the story of the pilgrims.
What they wanted
In the 16th century a small group of settlers came to the Americas in the hope of starting a new colony, but they were not well received by native people. They were outside of their territory, in new lands, trying to sell an idea: the christianism. They thought of spreading the word of a new good thing, by advertising it directly to the consumer. Even though they claim they sailed just to be free, it is clear that that would only be phase one.
Before they arrived, they wrote a set of rules, something like a contract for the settlers, once they arrived in America. This is often called the world’s first written Constitution. However, we don’t know what would happen if you breached the contract.
Like good salespeople, the settlers looked for a good spot to set camp; they say it is all about “location, location, location”. So, once they found the perfect place for them, they well settled. Then they got to building. They built let’s say the headquarters first, followed by hospitals and workshops. This, however, was not done properly nor on time, so by their first winter, from 102 people, only 47 remained. They had to find a new way to do things.
Squanto entered
When Squanto arrived, he came in with 60 warriors behind him, but he was more like the public relations manager of one of the local tribes. Squanto negotiated with the white man and the chief to sit down and talk. This was to be the first business meeting they would have, to call it somehow.
The chief briefed the governor of the pilgrims that he had problems with other tribes and if the settlers were to defend them with their guns they could do an economic trade. The natives would teach the pilgrims how and what to plant while the pilgrims would first try to convince the other tribes to peacefully back off or they would be shot dead. Quite a deal, huh?
Bargaining gone wrong
When the pilgrims started helping the assassiwet people, they hid their true intention which was to convert the local people in christians. However, the settlers smiled and nodded yes to everything the natives said, at least in the beginning. They knew that soon it would be them who had an ace up their sleeve.
The two sides declared friendly relations and celebrated with what we now know as the first Thanksgiving. This something comparable to when you close a deal with a new customer. They all laughed, ate and drank for, allegedly, three days; what a party!
An ace up the pilgrim’s sleeve
Now we know that the natives should have read the small print. The settlers soon changed the deal and broke the contract they had with the assassiwet people when more of their congregation arrived and their numbers doubled those of the natives. The business takeover had begun: after their first celebration, things took a turn and the settlers quickly indoctrinated the natives, or they were murdered.
So, the story of the pilgrims and the natives is comparable to a good deal for you, but a horrible one for your client.
Vocabulary
Pitch: We pitched a new idea to our customer to see what he wants for his product, he saw them all and liked one of our ideas:
Bargain: there was a great sale today at the mall, I didn’t have to bargain once! I bought an iPhone 14 for 300 dollars, what a bargain, right?
Bet: I bet you money that my team beats yours. Do we have a bet?
Breach of contract:the negotiation fell through due to a breach of contract.
Brief:my boss briefed me of the things they said in the meeting because I arrived late and I could not hear it for myself. The information was brief.
References
Encyclopedia Britannica Online https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day
Smithsonian Magazine https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/thanksgiving-myth-and-what-we-should-be-teaching-kids-180973655/
Bonds, C. (2019). The Real Story of Thanksgiving. [versión en línea] Recuperado el 27 de octubre del 2023 de https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6krH93pU5Y&t=1s
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