Ranjay Gulati

And then a developer decided he wanted it and started chasing her for the land.

I was home from boarding school one weekend and the guard from her gate came, said, there's a gentleman on the door insisting on seeing your mom.

Can you talk to him?

So I went to the gate.

He was from the developer, a big burly fellow.

And he said, man, I want to see your mother.

I said, no, she's not going to see you.

So don't waste your time.

He said, no, tell her last time I will bother her five minutes.

We'll never bother her again.

So I went to my mom.

She says, okay, five minutes, bring him in.

And she told me, she says, you stand at that door and make sure he's out of here in five minutes.

So I bring him into the living room.

He sits down opposite her on the sofa.

I'm at the door.

Very immediately, he takes out a checkbook with a blank signed check and a piece of paper.

He says, ma'am, we're not here to negotiate.

We'll give you whatever you want.

Mother immediately pushes back, says, it's not about the money.