View From the Publishing Trenches

I’ll have to admit that I’ll Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse: Insider Business Tips from a Former Mob Boss by Michael Franzese is the first business book I’ve read in a very long time that I enjoyed.

Franzese was a capo in the Colombo crime family, earning millions of dollars per week. During a stint in federal prison, he allegedly read the Bible (particularly the wisdom of Solomon), decided to quit La Cosa Nostra, and turned his life around. To which I say, good for him.

This, his third book, is filled with a lot of excellent business advice…which boils down to this – you have to decide whether you’re going to operate your business according to Machiavelli or according to Solomon. I agree with him that there’s no middle ground; you can’t conduct part of your business with a “the ends justify the means” attitude and the rest of it with a dedication to integrity.

Franzese’s stories about life as a mob boss, replete with fascinating insights into the operations and attitudes of the mobsters, will keep you entertained and force you to think about how too many supposedly “honest” businessmen act more like “made men.”

He delves into lessons he learned in the mob about negotiating successfully in a variety of situations, keeping your mouth shut more often than banging your gums together, the pitfalls of gambling in all its guises, and the importance of minding the details in all aspects of your business. Throughout the book, he provides relevant quotes from Machiavelli’s The Prince and from Solomon, illustrating the crucial differences in their approaches to life (and, thus, business) with concrete examples drawn from his own, colorful, past.

The book contains many gems of advice like:

• Your words can be a greater weapon against you than a gun or a knife. Know when to keep your mouth shut!
• Your character and integrity will ultimately be reflected in the way you run your business.
• Assemble the right crew to support your efforts – capable, reliable, and most important, honest people.
• Keep good records. Keep one set of books, and keep them straight.

I found almost all of his business advice solid and important. Apparently, Franzese now makes a living writing books and conducting motivational training for business owners. If this book is any indicator, I’m sure he’s an engaging public speaker.

I just have one major reservation. A reservation that colors my overall impression of the book and that would make me unlikely to seek out his advice or attend his sessions.

I just don’t believe that people, at the core, really change in fundamental ways. They certainly can alter their behavior, for a variety of different motives, but they still remain who they always have been. When things are going reasonably well, no problem. When confronted with major obstacles, most will revert to behaviors that reflect who they really are.

Now, it’s possible that Franzese was a decent, honorable man who was, more or less, forced into the mob since it was the “family business.” Most boys, after all, want to please their fathers.

The problem is that I don’t know whether he’s a good man who, for a time, went astray or a not-so-good man who’s trying to repent. As a result, I would never want to turn my back on him. Nor could I really trust him in business dealings.

But it’s still a fascinating books, and one fromn which you can learn something valuable.

Just keep in mind what the author used to be.

For that reason alone, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend the book. It just goes against my grain to take ethics advice from a former mob boss.