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Press Release

May 7, 2007
Marcela Farah Guerra
(281) 360-8205
mfarah@keynegotiations.com

Metroplex author teaches best business practices found in the Bible with the principal contractors for Solomon's Temple, the ancient Phoenicians, as a model. Dr. Habib Chamoun-Nicolás outlines these principles in his new book, co-authored with researcher and historian, Dr. R. D. Hazlett, entitled Negotiate Like a Phoenician. Dr. Habib Chamoun-Nicolás is developing a series of workshops available through his company, KeyNegotiations, to bring these concepts to the forefront of the business community. While the premise of this heavily researched book is supported by the writings of numerous ancient historians, many examples are extracted directly from Hebrew and Christian scriptures.

According to Dr. Chamoun-Nicolás, "I started out to write a book in support of some new ideas on negotiation. Instead, this project evolved into a wonderful mix of history and philosophy relevant not just to business, but to life." The book has drawn critical acclaim cutting across professions, cultures, and religions. Dr. Lawrence Susskind of MIT said, "Using a system he calls Tradeables ™, Dr. Chamoun shows how this ancient wisdom applies in a wide range of contemporary business settings." Beirut archaeologist Georges Ch. EL-HAJJ summarized, "In his new book, Negotiate Like a Phoenician, Dr. Habib Chamoun sounds like he lived with those masters of the seas and professional negotiators, and went with them from harbor to harbor and negotiated the traded goods. This book is not only about negotiation, but it is a part of a new domain in history known as the history of daily life." Dr. Hazlett adds, "It should be no surprise that the Bible holds wisdom for every walk of life, including business principles and ethics. The unlikely business relationship between Phoenicia and the kings of Israel, chronicled in the Bible and culminating in the construction of Solomon's Temple, is rich in lessons equally applicable today."

In the book, Dr. Chamoun-Nicolás says, "The Phoenician business philosophy steered them through a period of rapid expansion and wealth amidst regional wars, coupes, and revolutions." He further adds, "I believe we are going through changes as profound as those of the Phoenician era. If we train [the next generation] to think, speak, sell, and execute agreements that satisfy everyone, we will be equipping the leaders of tomorrow with negotiating skills proven to build and maintain empires with integrity."