Post by Wolfgang Faust Giovanni on May 15, 2005 13:59:26 GMT -8
Well boys Mr. Mafioso has sent me another lesson to give to you boys. Learn it well and you too may be a bosse someday.
Buona Sera boys, I'd like to start by thanking those of you that send me your kind regards. For those of you that send me nastier e-mail, you know who you are, read page 2, you could be next.
While I'm on the subject of e-mail, let me tell you that the most common question I receive is regarding people who want to do business with me and want me to help make them "made" guys.
What the hell do I look like, a genie? "Hey Mr. Mafioso, I want to be you!" Listen up boys; there is only one me, so be yourself. Anyhow, this week I'm going to talk a little bit about favors.
the point of doing favors
The more powerful you become, the more likely it is that every knucklehead you come across will be asking for a favor. They always approach you asking for "a little favor"... like having their 10-year prison sentence dropped.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't do favors for just anybody. You have to choose which ones are worth doing. The point of doing someone a favor is two-fold:
1. You are helping someone out of a pinch.
2. You may need a hand sometime and they'll owe you one.
when to do what
In the first case, you will likely be helping out family and close friends a lot. They'll ask you to pick up some cannoli on your way home from "work," or ask you to drive little Giovanni to the park for his soccer practice. Your pal might ask you to tell his wife he was with you a few nights back lest she find out he was with that hot redhead with the double Ds.
Basically, these kinds of favors are only minor inconveniences to you, but are very helpful to someone else. These are usually people you actually care about so when you can give them a hand, you should do so. A simple "thank you" is often reward enough. Think of it as your good deed for the day. In my case, I try to do a few a day to balance out the bad stuff. Go figure, as much as I try, I'm still in the negative.
business "favors"
In the second case I'm talking about business related favors. You do these kinds of favors to smooth things out or gain more business in the future. You don't have to like these people... so long as they can return the favor when needed.
Keep reading to learn more about using favors to boost your business. Also, I answer some cranky broad's e-mail and tell her the way it is.
favor for you, favor for me
The best example I can give here is helping some politician get elected. If you are the first in line to help him when he's small, he'll be there to protect you when he gets bigger. He knows that if you have a hand in his coming to power, he'll owe you something. So don't be shy to call in the favor when needed.
The cardinal rule with business favors is to always get something in return. Don't give away free advice unless you know you'll get some back.
A few of my pals own restaurants, I own a strip club. When they stop by with some important people, I treat them like kings -- comp them, send the best girls over, all on the house. It makes them look good. When I go to their restaurants with associates, I get the same treatment. It's a give and take situation. We don't always do this, but if I comp him once, he'll comp me once. Keeps things fair.
The last thing to remember about doing business favors is to never do a favor for someone that you know cannot repay you. Some guys are bums, don't waste your time on them -- they ain't going anywhere in life but down the gutter. So unless you want them to send you a bottle of sewer water, I suggest you stay away.
Watch your back boys and keep your noses clean.
Buona Sera boys, I'd like to start by thanking those of you that send me your kind regards. For those of you that send me nastier e-mail, you know who you are, read page 2, you could be next.
While I'm on the subject of e-mail, let me tell you that the most common question I receive is regarding people who want to do business with me and want me to help make them "made" guys.
What the hell do I look like, a genie? "Hey Mr. Mafioso, I want to be you!" Listen up boys; there is only one me, so be yourself. Anyhow, this week I'm going to talk a little bit about favors.
the point of doing favors
The more powerful you become, the more likely it is that every knucklehead you come across will be asking for a favor. They always approach you asking for "a little favor"... like having their 10-year prison sentence dropped.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't do favors for just anybody. You have to choose which ones are worth doing. The point of doing someone a favor is two-fold:
1. You are helping someone out of a pinch.
2. You may need a hand sometime and they'll owe you one.
when to do what
In the first case, you will likely be helping out family and close friends a lot. They'll ask you to pick up some cannoli on your way home from "work," or ask you to drive little Giovanni to the park for his soccer practice. Your pal might ask you to tell his wife he was with you a few nights back lest she find out he was with that hot redhead with the double Ds.
Basically, these kinds of favors are only minor inconveniences to you, but are very helpful to someone else. These are usually people you actually care about so when you can give them a hand, you should do so. A simple "thank you" is often reward enough. Think of it as your good deed for the day. In my case, I try to do a few a day to balance out the bad stuff. Go figure, as much as I try, I'm still in the negative.
business "favors"
In the second case I'm talking about business related favors. You do these kinds of favors to smooth things out or gain more business in the future. You don't have to like these people... so long as they can return the favor when needed.
Keep reading to learn more about using favors to boost your business. Also, I answer some cranky broad's e-mail and tell her the way it is.
favor for you, favor for me
The best example I can give here is helping some politician get elected. If you are the first in line to help him when he's small, he'll be there to protect you when he gets bigger. He knows that if you have a hand in his coming to power, he'll owe you something. So don't be shy to call in the favor when needed.
The cardinal rule with business favors is to always get something in return. Don't give away free advice unless you know you'll get some back.
A few of my pals own restaurants, I own a strip club. When they stop by with some important people, I treat them like kings -- comp them, send the best girls over, all on the house. It makes them look good. When I go to their restaurants with associates, I get the same treatment. It's a give and take situation. We don't always do this, but if I comp him once, he'll comp me once. Keeps things fair.
The last thing to remember about doing business favors is to never do a favor for someone that you know cannot repay you. Some guys are bums, don't waste your time on them -- they ain't going anywhere in life but down the gutter. So unless you want them to send you a bottle of sewer water, I suggest you stay away.
Watch your back boys and keep your noses clean.
