1. Are you a friend of ours or mine- In the movie Donnie Brasco, Al Pacino explains to Johnny Depp, the difference from being introduced as a friend of “ours or mine” meaning either you were a made guy, or not. The lesson here is be careful who you allow in your inner circle, because they can be an undercover FBI Agent i.e. meaning the people you associate with can eventually bring you down, if you’re not careful. Be careful who you associate with, because this might be the factor, your Business is not thriving, because these mental blood suckers, don’t sometimes want to see you succeed.
2. Collections- I see a lot of desperate Entrepreneurs invoice their customers, to then turn around not having a service or a team that just focuses on collecting unpaid invoice’s or agreements. Even the Mob is smart enough to know, that they do whatever it takes to collect debts and then make sure to tax them properly, charge a “vig” or penalty fee for the pleasure of giving you credit. Someone once told me the secret of the wealthy is having people indebted to you, and you become debt-free. How many companies focus all their energy on creating passive income, by having people owe them a monthly fee of some sort.
3. This is Business not Personal- In the original Godfather, Sonny Corleone, tells Michael Corleone, “This is strictly Business not personal.” If I had a dollar for every Entrepreneur that buys into Business Politics, Back Stabbers, and the Scum that spread a negative message about your name or business, because they are envious of your success. I can do Business with someone that I don’t like; I just won’t play by their rules. I also don’t ever use trash talk to help me create new customers by bashing other people in my industry, but I will do my research and release facts, and education on the industry at whole not one entity or company. Your only competition is yourself, and the discipline you have to develop your value, and industry worth, by servicing the customer better than the other guy.
4. There is three ways to do things- In the movie Casino Robert Dinero, tells the dumb cowboy cousin of a politician, that there are 3 ways to do things “The Right Way, The Wrong Way, or the Way that I do it.” You’re the Boss of your Business, and your customers, vendors, or team play by the rules you create. In a world of chaos, we are in desperate need of leadership, and people that make decisions. One thing that can have your organization or company fall apart is your lack of Decision and not making it very clear what you expect from people. A gentlemen by the name of Johnny Wimbrey once told me, “Inspect what you expect” meaning check people consistently and never let anything go unnoticed.
5. Create Earners- In the mob world they have foot soldiers that they call “earners”. People that just go out and create revenue for the Family. Every Entrepreneur is in need of Earners, meaning a sales force of people spreading your message when you’re not. If you’re not the master at sales, find a sales leader that feels stuck, and is in need of being able to spread his wings. There are people in the sales industry which only consists of 10% of the U.S., but they are willing to take your company to the next level, if the price is right. Put an ad in the paper, and find a diamond in the rough, because Diamonds are created under pressure.
6. Break some Legs- I don’t mean literally, but you MUST, I repeat MUST, hold people accountable. I mean Customers, Vendors, and especially your team. Don’t allow any missed opportunities pass you by unnoticed. Again, customers want to work with someone that is sure of what they want, and they are attracted to professional in any industry that knows what the hell they are talking about and are willing to hold them accountable. Any successful Company is being led by a man or woman that is willing to break legs, when things aren’t going smoothly.
7. Make an offer they can’t refuse- Too many people in Business or Sales Professionals sell, rather than make offers. Meaning that we don’t as Entrepreneurs, educate the customer, then “make an offer they can’t refuse” as heard by Vito Corleone in The Godfather. Listen to the next words I type. Do not touch your customer until you educate them first, by a series of emails, videos, or any piece of info that educates the customer first. Then when you have educated the customer, they are more willing, to listen to the “offer they can’t refuse”, plus when I offer a service or product to the consumer I make offers, I don’t sell. I make sure they understand that it’s their choice, and I need an answer now or I won’t be following up again. Customers respect this NO BS approach, and it shows you value their Business, but you don’t need it. Teach a Man to Fish, Not Sell-Fish (selfish), Educate!
8. Mission to take over the world- Most Entrepreneurs aim to low and hit rather than aim to high and miss, and Les Brown says, “Aim for the moon, because then at least if you miss, you will lay amongst the stars. Most Entrepreneurs lay on the Ground Floor for LIFE. Start with the end in mind, meaning that your plan for your Business should be so extreme, that you might not even believe it at first. The Mob knows if they don’t have planned to grow, then someone else will take over the territory without them.
9. The Mob has their hands in everything- Most Entrepreneurs start out with one product and service in my mind, but don’t realize that every Business has unlimited opportunities for growth, revenue, and all have more product or services they haven’t even created. The Mob knows “if you have an itch we will be there to scratch it”. They are smart enough to be open to any Business opportunity in making money, as long as it goes in line with their mission, which unfortunately is illegal or they’re not in. Listen to your customer, and sell them what they want, and if you currently don’t have that product or service, itch that scratch when asked. Become a Millionaire, and if you are so bold Billionaire!
10.Create Made Men- Too many so called “Entrepreneur Groups” promote and preach, Small Business, Solo-Preneur, Mom-Preneur, and the list goes on. Even the Mob is smart enough to know they can’t grow without some “Made Men” to take the Business to the next century. If you don’t develop your leadership skills, and start mentoring people in your Business or find some people to mentor in your Business, your Solo-Preneur A$$ will die eventually, and your Business will go with you. Even though I despise jobs, we as Entrepreneurs are the ONLY people doing anything about creating them. You service no one by shrinking your ability, and potential to create greatness to change this world, like a Steve Jobs, or a Bill Gates. Promote Made Men!
11.Mob’s Business is to be in Your Business- Once someone asked me “what Business are you in?” I responded with “it’s my Business, to be up in your Business” meaning that I’m here to serve and protect the consumer from being taken advantage of, by this world filled with bull$hit information, and spreading philosophies that benefit nobody, but the snake oil salesman that sells you magic potions, and shiny objects that are no better than that, but looks good, feels good, and sounds good. Look for the organization, that takes you out of your comfort zone, and challenges you to think and grow rich, even the mob knows there are half a$$ wise guys looking to pick pocket you, and hold you ransom preying on your fears, and ignorance.
12.The Mob Plays to WIN, by any cost- There is no benefit into being the “other guy” or number #2. Call it Ego; I call it great Business and common sense. If I didn’t get in Business to be #1, then what’s the damn point? I want to attract an affluent customer, and be known as the Top-Shelf in my industry. Always take care of the Family, and the Family will take care of you, meaning customers, your team, and vendors. You again service no one, by not spending all your energy and time on how you can service the customer so well that your competition is too lazy to keep up with you, and stay the smaller family, which no one respects, because they deliver the cheap goods or service. Take over your backyard first then, go postal on the world!
13.Wipe out the competition- When I say wipe out the competition, when there is mob wars, it’s the family that is more intimidating that keeps collecting from small mom and pop shops, not the weak. In this case the only way to keep your customer is service them, so well, that they fear going anywhere else, because you just might not let them back. I had a private client that left me for one month, and I told him that’s fine but when, not if you decide to come back. I am doubling your coaching fee, and I require you follow our lead, and not be tainted by what the rest of the people are delivering in our industry, and that’s crap. I never beg for people’s Business, I value it, and that’s why organizations compete with us, and we pay them no mind, because we only compete with ourselves! We eliminated the competition by being on their minds, so that they focus all their energy on us, mostly negative, and not paying attention to their own organization or customer. “Another Quaalude, they will love me in the morning” Al Pacino Scarface I’d rather be respected by my customer, team, vendor, or competition not liked.
14.Have Ball$, and always keep your word- Speaking of Scarface he says in one line “There is only 2 things I have in this world, my ball$ and my word, and I don’t break them for no one, understand?” Yes, that’s misspelled, that’s how he said it. In Business, weakness doesn’t last, and that means you have to be willing to offend, and be fearless, make strategic moves, and never be afraid of growth. Become immune to criticism, and never break your word, understand? I was talking to a Chicago Entrepreneur Henry Alegria, and I asked, “what is Chicagoland saying, about Joe Cross” He said “well you are pissing people of and you are too aggressive in your marketing, but I will give you this, you have ball$.” Here is the bottom line “the biggest promoters, make the most money” and the greatest marketer known to man, Dan Kennedy said his organization touches its network 250 times a year. I thought I was aggressive… I wasn’t aggressive enough. In closing, even Kenneth Cole when he couldn’t get into a trade show, bought a license outside the trade show to video record, loaded up a truck of shoes, had a crew with camera’s and no film, outside in the front selling shoes out of his truck, and that takes ball$.
For More tips go to www.14weapons.com
About the Author:
Joe Cross
“The Comeback Coach”
Entrepreneur since he was 12. Says “I was born an Entrepreneur, and I will die an Entrepreneur, and before I leave this earth, I will leave a legacy, teach the real philosophy of being an Entrepreneur, and leave the movement behind the 1%ER”s to go on without him”