Steps on soapbox.

"There comes a time in this thing of ours.

A time when all the sleepless nights, all the petty crimes, all the felony risk crimes, all the sliding in someone's pockets, all the breaking out family members/friends/strange but rather familiar mafioso from jails, all the murders of other mafioso, of BGs, of attempted murders, possible attempted murders on you.

A time where all the speeches, all the organizing of crimes, all the hours sitting in a coffee shop, all political madness. A time where rubbing the right elbows & smelling buttholes....oops I must've wrote that on the wrong paper!

Err...you get the point!

There comes a time when all your hard work & elbow grease gets noticed. I'm not talking about the normal promotions a.k.a rising in the rankings. I'm talking about a time when the Don or Godfather of your city says, "You know what? It's time to set this man/woman up nicely. They've dedicated many hours, much money, too many killings to this here lifestyle. They deserve their very own HQs. Most importantly I deserve not to look at their ugly face everyday."

Yes people. I'm talking about the time when YOU, the ugly one, get the recognition to get their own La Familia. You get put in a position where you now have to question yourself. Not for good or bad. But you have to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself: Am I ready to leave the bird's nest? 

Not many present will be able to become a hand, let alone grace a bold suit one day like I will. But let's all speak hypothetically here. If given the option to start your own crew today, position from the top of the top, do you take the opportunity or do you keep your loyalty with your current family and decide to keep working on what's already there.

Do you take the auth? Or do you remain present?

This question also doesn't just apply to the non-leaders. Our present leaders can also answer as well."

Steps off soapbox. 

Lucky had been in the streets, happily puffing on a cigarette as he watched another speaker step up on the soapbox. Had he been doing something, Lucky would not have spared his time but being that he had made off with a fairly big haul of dough from his latest drug trade, he found himself free from anything - unless Marie wanted him for something; to which he was more than inclined to drop everything to be there. He propped himself up against the nearby wall as the speaker began to speak. 

Despite it all, these speeches were soothing to him. Or at least broke him out of the monotony of the day. 

The question was no sooner flipped on them, the audience. Lucky shifted his weight as he thought about the opportunity. Of course, there was a time and place when a bird flies the nest but that was it - a time and place. For him, it was not yet. Experience had to be gathered, stored and used for newer additions to the family. He wanted to stay and learn all he could. Loyalty was an important word for him, at least something he could stand by his guts with. His mother and father, though both down on their luck and couldn't give a rats ass about him, had remained loyal with one another and as a family.

"I ain't sayin' that I would want to fly the coop, it's a time and place, y'know?" Lucky began, the cigarette dancing between his lips as he spoke. "Work with what's there, and gain the experience from the older members of the group. If it happens, it happens."

loyalty beats oppurtunity

Alex was wandering around looking for good company when he saw Boogie on his soapbox, having heard him talk before and know that he often brings up interesting topics he decided to take a closer look. Having struggled with this debate internally for quite a while, this was something quite close to Alex's heart. He decided to share the conclusion he himself had come to.

"Thank you for bringing this topic to the streets I appreciate you sharing your time with us. I personally think it depends on whether you feel like you have something to bring to the table, whether you feel like you can make a difference. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying if you don't feel that way you are any less important as there are many equal talents and gifts. Some of us prefer to be a strong and loyal soldier, some people are great earners, and a few people like yourself are inspirational speakers. If you are one of these then you owe it to yourself to do that thing, if you feel like you are a great leader and have something to add to this thing of ours through your leadership, I say do it. Make that difference and don't look back but never forget where you came from and never forget that this world needs all types of people not just leaders."

Pauses briefly to readjust his hat and drinks a couple sips of his aged scotch before responding

I wouldn’t want to presume that loyalty and authority to set up a new crew or family are mutually exclusive.  I think there are two ways we earn the opportunity to lead a crew or family of our own - by working for it and proving ourselves to higher authorities or by seizing it by force.  

I think this issue is timely however, in that a handful of individuals have had to measure the consequences of deciding to apply for auth in Seattle or to remain a part of their current family.  Whereas the latter is a safer move, it does not imply the fore is a disloyal one.  I think talent and wisdom should be shared and those with either or both deserve the opportunity to do more.

With that said, each person needs to look deep down inside at what they really want from all this.  Running a crew is a profound commitment that many are typically not ready for.  There is a great deal of time required for this commitment and while some of us may have the time now, not all of us will.  Timing is just as much a deciding factor as anything.

I know I could successfully lead a crew and a family just as many others may, who currently do not.  This does not mean we are unwilling, but that the timing simply isn’t right at the moment - for one reason or another.  And many of us are quite happy with our family/crew choices.  In my case, if the family were to ask me to run a crew one day, I might - but not because I am unhappy with mine, but because the family asked me to.  Loyalty is always earned, not freely given.

"If the chance to advance is offered, it's usually a well thought over thing." Frankie pushes her dark hair behind her ear.  "It's not a decision an established Don or Crew Leader comes to, after all - if nothing else it costs a lot of dough to take one of your best people and set them up elsewhere... not to mention the losses one incurs upon letting go of a valued family member.  Because of these points, I think it's perfectly acceptable to accept the honor of authorization if it's offered."

Frankie pauses a moment and then adds, "But, that said, it's not for everyone.  Just because someone is a good member of a group, doesn't mean they have what it takes to be a leader.  That's not meant to be an insult... in fact, some folks are impressive contributors but painfully shy or relatively new to this thing of ours and aren't yet desiring of a position in leadership."

"Likewise there are plenty of folks whose bloodline has been around a very long time, who desperately want leadership and think the promise of obtaining it is the only reason worth staying here on our shores.  Yet... if they're not satisfied with the life of a Mafioso, who satisfied will the y be when the shine wears off the penny of authorization?  And what happens when they become bored or dissatisfied with leadership as well, finding it to be nothing like they hoped?  Such inactivity of leadership often leads to tragedy for the whole crew."

"I think that it's that once you become a crew leader, it's pretty thrilling at first.  There's a ton to do and organize in order to get your crew rolling, but once the daily grind comes... is it so much different than the grind that we slog through now? Maybe, but if you listen to the people speaking on the streets, it sounds like most of the things which make leadership different from the normal life of a mobster... well, they aren't what one would call 'fun."

"First off, there's trying to keep your crew's morale up and the people entertained.  Some folks feel it's on the crew leader to entertain the masses and if they aren't entertained... the crew leader is clearly failing.  There is the paranoia of your fellow leadership that effects each leader differently.  Always wondering if others are being honest about their hitters and their feelings about you and your crew.  There's the constant politicking and the need to make sure you reach out often enough that others don't become worried about what you're planning and kill your whole crew."

"There's the constant judgement from those under you who believe ardently that you're a corrupt bastard oppressing this thing of ours and that they would do better than you if only they were given the chance to lead.  There's the constant trying to keep your crew from screwing up in the streets and making amends for them when they do.  Let's not forget about having to buy off hits or pay-off rogues who blackmail you by saying 'if you don't pay us we're going to kill your low level gangsters and then tell them that you wouldn't pay to save them."

"Then there's the situations where you barely have the cash to pay the mayor off (so you don't land in jail) while also begging your family for contributions so you can actually do stuff.  When they don't donate you get to enjoy them bitching that you never give back and alleging you're like some dragon of old laying about on a giant hoard of cash.  And when they're not mad at you, crews of 30-some people often have personality clashes you need to sort out... timmy and joe both like you but they hate each other and they are CONSTANTLY sending you mail asking for you to see things their way and smite the other."

"All that on top of trying to get enough bodyguards for yourself so that you're not an easy take down, while also keep your criminal skills sharp, and trying to maintain some skill with a gun so you're able to fight when the time comes - which it will.  It always does.  And for what?  A bold suit?  To say you were able to do it?"

"If you don't have a mission, a goal, a reason to lead that is something more than the suit, the title, and the authority that comes with it... if you live long enough to experience the aforementioned things... you're probably going to come to hate being a crew leader.  OR you'll find someone or something to blame for the heights your crew never really reached.  All the while, not knowing, that maybe you weren't really right of the job."

"I think a lot of people come to authorization without thinking about what their short and long term goals are as a crew and a leader.  They aren't sure what they bring to the table that's different or better than any other crew leader.  They are excited about the title of Leader - but having the name leader and actually leading is something entirely different.  Many people know quite a bit about what we do here and so they feel they are qualified to lead - but knowing how to do something, and being able to teach it to someone else (perhaps someone who is not a native English speaker, or who is not as intelligent as you) is NOT the same thing."

"And being able to be a strong mobster isn't the same as being a socially capable person; I know a lot of guys who are good with a gun, but if they had to talk their way out of a death sentence ... or one of their crew members ... they would be hard pressed to do it.  Yet that's the sort of thing that Crew Leaders sometimes have to do.  If you're the sort of wise guy who is shy and not able to reach out to people who haven't reached out to you first - you might not find leadership all that appealing."

"There's a lot of factors that go into being successful as a leader and think it's a huge disservice to our community that most of the guys doing the daily grind have no idea what their crew leaders (meaning Don and his/her hands) do each day.  It's really easy to become disillusioned with leadership when you constantly see them around but never hear them speak.  You start to wonder if all they do all day is collect taxes and train with their weapon - meanwhile you and the rest of your buddies are dying in the streets for them."

Frankie shakes her head.  "Some leaders come to their power absolutely ignorant to what they need to do or how to do it because no one ever told them what a leader in this thing of ours does daily, weekly, or monthly to keep the crew successful.  I'd bet there are at least a few leaders right now who could say that they came into leadership utterly blind... maybe that's why we have so many vocal agitators in the streets?  They really don't know what's happening at the top and so they invent stories to justify their own frustrations at their bloodline dying again and again and never getting a taste of the bold suit?"

"I don't say all this (which if you've stayed with me on this rant - thanks!) to insult people or to discourage future leaders from standing up and taking a shot at it.  I say it all in the hopes that some of those with stars in their eyes can be better prepared.  You need to start thinking about all the things (good and bad) that are coming, if you do get authorized; whether that's in Seattle or in your home city under your own Godfather, so you can be ready to have the best chance of being successful possible."

Me personally, I would try my best to stay in my current situation rather than to take the opportunity of being granted a HQ. People often forget that throughout history of not only this world but also of other worlds, that some of the most respected, followed, and admired people weren’t in “actual” leadership roles. Meaning they weren’t a CL, a HSL, a GF, a SCL so on so forth. Sometimes you don’t need a bold suit or a slanted hat to sit at the big boy table. Your greatness will show and you’ll ooze sauce regardless.

That being said. Sometimes every opportunity isn’t a great opportunity. Many people think that taking the opportunity to take auth will be a step forward when in fact it could be the move that stagnates you. I’ll give an example.

Let’s say, hypothetically speaking, that Novia was granted her own city. Dandy! She worked her way up and shortly after moving to said city she built her very own GF HQ. She looked at me, her most handsome, most loyal member and said to me, “Oh Boogie bear, do you wish to have your own crew”. Had I said yes, sure, I’d be bold. I’d get many applauses and many strippers. But I’d be just that. A CL. Fast forward a few months now where there’s room to be moved to another city, had I stayed in Novia’s crew helping out, just maybe I’d be granted the opportunity of also getting a hold of my own city. Just one of many possibilities. This thing of ours is like Chess. And sometimes in Chess the best move is to either stay put or to move back.

In some cases though being loyal IS taking opportunity. Sometimes there is no choice but to that that chance your boss is giving you because if not you then who will?

But as I’ve stated, unless in a situation where my boss NEEDS me to take that opportunity? I’m good staying in the nest. I don’t need opportunity to be a leader.

I'm confused, which isn't uncommon. Since when has taking opportunity in the form of official authing been synonymous with disloyalty? 

From my point of view, the only thing becoming an auth'd CL should change, between the relationship of the author and authee, is the transition from subordinate to full-fledged ally. Even that may be a stretch in some cases, especially if remaining in the same district. 

More to the point though, its dependent on a few variables. The amount of time you feel like you can dedicate for the next 50-100 days, your level of experience and wisdom, your personal ambitions, your morale code(if your leader taps you, your ethics may require you to answer the call).

If you have no interest in leading your own crew, then don't.

I will warn all those new auths that have not experienced the privilege, or haven't had the pleasure of reading about it in their family journals. Do not take the position lightly, it is an entirely different ballgame. You are no longer batting 7th in the rotation for your high school club. You've been drafted top 3, there will be a lot of expectations, new responsibilities, and with it a lot more benenfits and rewards. Most importantly, remember to enjoy the ride, a happy and fun CL creates a happy and fun culture for their crew.

walkthetalk hears "this thing of ours" once again

I don't agree with the being authed theme to be a leader. This here is slowing up business.  Quite frankly, I support any leader who knows how to conduct business. A leader who puts their family of all ranks at work that depict their particular ranks duties.  For  those that are familiar with the true meaning of "This thing of ours" know exactly where I am going with this statement. If you need me to spell it out, I will. 

The true meaning of "This thing of ours" lacks substance anymore. Wwaters are muddied out of pure selfishness among a select few.

Jive you are on the right path of an observation, perhaps some experience. I'm not into second guessing, especially publicly.  

Hello walkthetalk,

How do you mean that “this thing of ours” lack substance anymore? Isn’t “La Cosa Nostra΅ just what people in charge decide what their cause is? It’s never been about socialist, fair or highly moral ideas to my knowledge. The term isn’t some umbrella that offers unity and peace to all. There is no definition of what it should be, there only exists memories of what it once was to a group of people that once were as well. The past.

The difference in what “this thing of ours” is across times is never a reason to blame those in charge. Those who make the calls will most likely do what they do, because it aligns with their cause, needs and desires, qualities and motivations. Therefor whenever ever “this thing of ours” is, it is current and real to the times that are.

Like with any organisation that involves humans, the issue is what people allow it to evolve in. What is either is because majority is comfortable with it, or because the majority isn’t capable to bring about change.

Columbus and his people managed to defy flat-earth reality and discover the Americas. Hundreds of years later, with all the knowledge and technical advancement we had as a species, we tried to sail across the atlantic once more on the Titanic and failed, because of a sleepy lookout, good faith and misplaced self-confidence.

The question here is, when someone says “this thing of ours” is good, do you commit to them in simple faith or would you promote a better version? You can’t complain that a ship is crappy and expect people to swim instead. You’re gonna have to build a better ship and show people why yours is better. If you can’t convince this thing of yours is the best, it’ll never become “this thing of ours”.

If you have a problem, it’s because you don’t have a solution.
Don’t blame those who had a solution, even if it’s only doing a mediocre job.