Post by faust on Jun 6, 2005 17:47:16 GMT -8
Once again my associate Mr. Mafioso has provided me with an excellent read for you boys.
Picking A Right-Hand Man
By Mr. Mafioso
Choosing the perfect right-hand man is a bit like choosing the perfect suit. You want him tailored to your specifications, you want to be able to breathe and be comfortable when he is around you, and when you need him to make you look good, you want to know you can rely on his quality and polish.
So where do you find this magical right-hand man? It's not going to be in a Cracker Jack box. A right-hand man will usually come from your inner circle or be someone you've known for a long time. A right-hand man is someone you need to trust almost implicitly, so a history between you is very important.
You want to know if the guy is willing to get his fingernails dirty for you or how he handles himself under bright lights. You can't do that with someone who is newer to your life than your last pair of underwear.
why he's important
So why do you need a right-hand man? Well, because you can't do it all yourself. If you have ambition and you want to grow, you eventually need help. You need to surround yourself with people you can rely on, people you know will keep the boat sailing straight.
Chosen well, a right-hand man will act as your interim replacement, your diplomat, your man of the "people," your ear to the ground, your enforcer, and your sounding board. Chosen badly, he can make you look stupid, weak, diminish your standing, and cause dissent in your ranks.
A right-hand man is crucial to expanding your power base. He can strengthen your position as leader, give you credibility, and act as an advisor. He won't replace you, but during short periods of time, he can take your place and act as your proxy.
right-hand man's traits
So what are the traits of a good right-hand man? I'd like to think the most important is that he'll be your enemies' enemy first and foremost. If the people you can't stand can't stand your right-hand man, you're on the right path.
Some other traits he should possess:
Loyal: He has to be loyal to you, and be 100% behind you. You don't want any eager beavers getting your back. Trusting him is paramount.
Complementary characteristics: I'm not saying he has to be your polar opposite, but he shouldn't be your twin. If you are the big picture, he should be all about the details. If you like to lead with an iron fist, he should enforce with soft words. Short temper for you, patience for him. Etc.
Competent: If your right-hand man is a cafone, the rest doesn't matter; your right-hand man has to know what he is doing and be able to do a good job, or else you might as well put a monkey up on the throne while you're out of town.
Quiet leader: Ideally, your right-hand man isn't necessarily the screamer, he is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy that leads by example and not with his mouth. Doesn't always happen if your right-hand is named Dino and is 6'6", 250 pounds.
Gets his hands dirty: He has to be willing to do your dirty work. Sometimes you can't get involved and you have to do the good cop/bad cop thing; you should be the good cop and he should be the one person no one messes with.
He's respected, quiet and never expects to take over...
Respected by others: It's easy to forget that if your right-hand isn't considered a right-hand man by others, he won't get too far. He has to be respected and seen as your worthy sidekick.
Silent in support: Like loyalty, every disagreement he might have, he tells you in private, never in front of others, even if you insult his mother.
Isn't too ambitious: Sure, he has to be able to stand in as your substitute, but he has to know you are not replaceable. If he gets ahead of himself, he can start plotting your downfall. As your right-hand man, he has front-row access to your weaknesses. He should use that position to act as your consigliere, not to undermine you.
Takes care of your needs: Whether someone needs to be taught a lesson, or you need a broad to relieve your "tension," a message sent or extra cash flow this month, he will tell you "it's done," and get it done. You don't have to repeat things, you say things once and he takes care of it.
Well-spoken: People will assume he speaks on your behalf, so he can't be an illiterate buffoon. If you cringe when he speaks, he might not make a good representative.
b]make your choice wisely[/b]
Choosing a right-hand man isn't something you should take lightly. Some people take years before settling on the right person. It doesn't mean you can't have people around you that you trust and who do a good job for you, but it means no one will ever ascend as your successor.
Choose a right-hand man wisely, and you will grow, it's that simple. Frankly, we all need one. They take care of the details while we focus on dominating the world. Just make sure he doesn't turn into Brutus.
Watch your backs and keep your noses clean.
Picking A Right-Hand Man
By Mr. Mafioso
Choosing the perfect right-hand man is a bit like choosing the perfect suit. You want him tailored to your specifications, you want to be able to breathe and be comfortable when he is around you, and when you need him to make you look good, you want to know you can rely on his quality and polish.
So where do you find this magical right-hand man? It's not going to be in a Cracker Jack box. A right-hand man will usually come from your inner circle or be someone you've known for a long time. A right-hand man is someone you need to trust almost implicitly, so a history between you is very important.
You want to know if the guy is willing to get his fingernails dirty for you or how he handles himself under bright lights. You can't do that with someone who is newer to your life than your last pair of underwear.
why he's important
So why do you need a right-hand man? Well, because you can't do it all yourself. If you have ambition and you want to grow, you eventually need help. You need to surround yourself with people you can rely on, people you know will keep the boat sailing straight.
Chosen well, a right-hand man will act as your interim replacement, your diplomat, your man of the "people," your ear to the ground, your enforcer, and your sounding board. Chosen badly, he can make you look stupid, weak, diminish your standing, and cause dissent in your ranks.
A right-hand man is crucial to expanding your power base. He can strengthen your position as leader, give you credibility, and act as an advisor. He won't replace you, but during short periods of time, he can take your place and act as your proxy.
right-hand man's traits
So what are the traits of a good right-hand man? I'd like to think the most important is that he'll be your enemies' enemy first and foremost. If the people you can't stand can't stand your right-hand man, you're on the right path.
Some other traits he should possess:
Loyal: He has to be loyal to you, and be 100% behind you. You don't want any eager beavers getting your back. Trusting him is paramount.
Complementary characteristics: I'm not saying he has to be your polar opposite, but he shouldn't be your twin. If you are the big picture, he should be all about the details. If you like to lead with an iron fist, he should enforce with soft words. Short temper for you, patience for him. Etc.
Competent: If your right-hand man is a cafone, the rest doesn't matter; your right-hand man has to know what he is doing and be able to do a good job, or else you might as well put a monkey up on the throne while you're out of town.
Quiet leader: Ideally, your right-hand man isn't necessarily the screamer, he is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy that leads by example and not with his mouth. Doesn't always happen if your right-hand is named Dino and is 6'6", 250 pounds.
Gets his hands dirty: He has to be willing to do your dirty work. Sometimes you can't get involved and you have to do the good cop/bad cop thing; you should be the good cop and he should be the one person no one messes with.
He's respected, quiet and never expects to take over...
Respected by others: It's easy to forget that if your right-hand isn't considered a right-hand man by others, he won't get too far. He has to be respected and seen as your worthy sidekick.
Silent in support: Like loyalty, every disagreement he might have, he tells you in private, never in front of others, even if you insult his mother.
Isn't too ambitious: Sure, he has to be able to stand in as your substitute, but he has to know you are not replaceable. If he gets ahead of himself, he can start plotting your downfall. As your right-hand man, he has front-row access to your weaknesses. He should use that position to act as your consigliere, not to undermine you.
Takes care of your needs: Whether someone needs to be taught a lesson, or you need a broad to relieve your "tension," a message sent or extra cash flow this month, he will tell you "it's done," and get it done. You don't have to repeat things, you say things once and he takes care of it.
Well-spoken: People will assume he speaks on your behalf, so he can't be an illiterate buffoon. If you cringe when he speaks, he might not make a good representative.
b]make your choice wisely[/b]
Choosing a right-hand man isn't something you should take lightly. Some people take years before settling on the right person. It doesn't mean you can't have people around you that you trust and who do a good job for you, but it means no one will ever ascend as your successor.
Choose a right-hand man wisely, and you will grow, it's that simple. Frankly, we all need one. They take care of the details while we focus on dominating the world. Just make sure he doesn't turn into Brutus.
Watch your backs and keep your noses clean.
