INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.

Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed Michael Marino.

The Michael Marino Commentaries

Good faith is the foundation of any negotiation. It signals sincerity, establishes credibility, and creates the conditions for workable agreements. All the familiar tools of negotiation—leverage, respect, knowing when to hold or fold—depend on a genuine commitment to clear objectives and fair dealing.

A modern example of broken trust appears in Taylor Swift’s dispute over her master recordings. As a young artist, she relied on the assurances of those across the table. Years later, when her masters were sold without her involvement, she viewed it as a deep breach of good faith. Her response—re-recording her entire catalogue as “Taylor’s Version”—demonstrates how someone who once lacked leverage can return prepared, strategic, and unwilling to repeat past mistakes. It also illustrates how the absence of good faith at the start often resurfaces at the end.

Negotiations collapse for two primary reasons: superficial commitment and poor preparation. “Yes, but…” is not a path to resolution. Parties must distinguish between essential objectives and throwaway demands. Unrealistic proposals can be made in good faith only when paired with flexibility, transparency, and a willingness to explain their importance. Without clear reasoning, a proposal appears frivolous or insincere.

Preparation is equally vital. Failing to understand the facts, the impact of a proposal, or the needs of both sides destroys credibility. Good faith also requires integrity, listening, and the ability to revise or justify terms with thoughtful reasoning.

This dynamic mirrors the pendulum effect reflected in Swift’s song “Father Figure,” where early promises eventually expose control rather than partnership. The moment clarity arrives—“You want a fight, you found it”—is the moment leverage shifts.

Across union negotiations, sports, business, and daily life, the lesson remains: people remember how they were treated. Good faith prevents the pendulum from swinging back with unnecessary force and keeps the narrative—and the relationship—intact.