How to run a successful business: 7 practical tips from the mafia
Bernardo Provenzano, who was arrested in 2006 as the "boss of bosses" of Cosa Nostra, an extensive mafia group that has been causing fear in Italy for many decades, led the mafia in the mid-90s of the last century. At that time, the organization entrusted to him, which suffered irreparable losses under the blows of the authorities in retaliation for the murders of judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, was a battered and demoralized structure.
Thanks to the fact that Provenzano outlined a far-sighted strategy, carried out important tactical steps and deep reforms, and these transformations are documented in writing, we now have the opportunity to get acquainted with what the boss of Cosa Nostra considered important and very useful for the mafia to conduct business, the London Guardian reports.
His advice fits into seven rules.
The first rule is "disappearing". When the affairs of a company or enterprise, in this case, the mafia under the guise of "Cosa Nostra", go out of hand badly, you need to disappear for a while and hide out of sight in order to get rid of negative characteristics that stick to this particular business, such as "experiencing difficulties" or "in trouble", for example.
Provenzano advised mafia members to be patient for 5-7 years before their business, and, therefore, profits, will go uphill.
In addition, the mafia, as an organization, needed to shake off the image of a "parasite" and appear in the public eye as part of the industrial and political community.
The second rule is "mediation". Be calm, express your thoughts clearly, correctly and persistently, take into account any negative experience, do not reject what people tell you, but also do not believe everything you hear. Before you open your mouth, look for the truth, and before making a judgment, never use only one source of information. Provenzano instructed his subordinates to study the art of negotiation and the importance of maintaining dialogue. These tips of his are called the "manifesto" of Provenzano.
The third rule is "consensus". Provenzano did not consider it shameful to respond to letters received from various public services and organizations, including with questions about the availability of vacancies, exam results, the state of local health care and hospital facilities. The Mafia should be presented as a positive member of society, he believed.
The fourth rule is "God must be on your side." Provenzano sent copies of the Bible to his henchmen and said that people's trust in Cosa Nostra could be restored only by showing piety, piety, and reverence. The investigators tried to "decipher" the lines and sections underlined by the mafia boss in the Bible, but it turned out that he sincerely followed and advised others to follow the wisdom of the Holy Scriptures.
The fifth rule is "be politically flexible." Provenzano easily changed his political alliances and preferences when it was in his favor.
The sixth rule is "rethinking". In the event of a political scandal, or a business failure, a new leader needs to be able to distance himself from failed cases. So, using a similar approach, Provenzano managed to ensure that negative headlines for him stopped flashing in the media, and even previous scandals were no longer associated with his name.
The seventh rule is "modesty". During his career, Provenzano managed to turn from a criminal bully into an investor, a political manipulator, and, ultimately, into a strategist and leader. In order to achieve this, he, in particular, pretended to be illiterate and deliberately made spelling mistakes so that he would be treated as a "simple, small, modest person."
As the Guardian ironically notes in this regard, Provenzano went so far in his "modesty" that he demonstrated to his colleagues in the mafia a willingness to step away from the leadership of the organization and agree that someone else would lead it. Unfortunately for him, after his arrest in 2006, these wishes of his were fully realized.
The material was prepared by the information service Point.Ru
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru06.05.2008