sits at a table and hits the timer on the chess board

So as I am beginning to see the light towards that next step I have begun to think about how I have managed to get where I am this moment. I wonder what my approach will be once I get to where I want to be. For me I am proud of myself, I have managed to uphold my family heritage but tone down the sarcasm and venom a tad. For me when I look in the mirror if I do not see someone looking back who stands by his standards and convictions of voice then I am ashamed and embarrassed at what I see. I look to change bringing myself to a place where my great, great, great Grandpa would be proud. I guess when I look in the mirror currently I see the following:

Someone with passion about the way of life.
Someone who stands by what he says regardless of the cost.
Loyal to those whom he considers family.

What is it that you see? Where do you need to improve or are you perfectly happy in what you are currently. Do you see yourself where you imagined or planned you would be? If you are, now that you are there is there anything you want to improve upon?

For me I would imagine I need to work on my earnings, and acceptance of others ways. I tend to have a my way or your wrong mentality. It lends itself to a short lifespan at times in our world. I would like to become more of a voice in my families HQ as well, I spend a lot of time in the streets and it at times is at the expense of what is right next to me.

surveys the board and moves his knight forward and too the left

What is it that you see when you look in the mirror?

~HF~

I see Bovine

I see a man who has the hunger for more, but is wise enough to know that he hasnt learned it all yet. He knows its better to learn from the God Mother and Don, than to just run amuck, doing it his way. I see a man who is loyal and trustworthy, someone who values his friendships above all else. I see a man that can and will make his family proud.

I've seen many instances where older bloodlines have tried to make the transition into the modern world. These streets aren't the same as those that we walked down so long ago and what is expected of Wise Guys is significantly different than it used to be. This poses a problem for many of them and standards used to be far less rigorous than they are now. I know your line have felt the sting of modern expectation and it is something you continue to deal with.

At least you make the effort to do so. I'm sure we all know someone who has tried their hand at this life that they've heard so much about from grandparents and frankly haven't been able to cut it. I think we should all be proud of that fact and whilst we may not always agree with some of the decisions that have been made, it should be apparent to us all; challenge and improvement go hand in hand. Some of us have had to raise our game in order to succeed and I can only think that we'll all benefit from that.

What do I see when I look in the mirror? I speak passionately when the need arises, but I speak sensibly which is probably more important. I have strong opinions on some issues, but I put them across in a way that isn't going to offend a Godfather. I'm a leader and I do that by example. I don't help my members or my city by running my mouth off and getting myself and all of them shot.

Probably most importantly, I see someone who knows what they are doing. I am confident, with the knowledge and experience to know it isn't misplaced. When people speak they know I'll be listening and when I speak they know they should be listening. I've worked long and hard to forge that reputation and I'm damn proud of it.

In short, I see someone worth following and I intend to pass that on to my RHM so that he can be a worthwhile leader himself. I think we've stopped asking what qualities a leader should possess and simply accept whoever is authed. High ranking members should be looking at themselves and knowing that whoever is looking back is capable of living up to the rank they've been afforded. I think if half of these people took the time to seriously evaluate themselves and their own abilities, they would be very disappointed.

Take Mr. Bovine for example. He is currently working for me in Vegas. He's a Wise Guy who will probably be knocking on the door for a Made Man promotion in the weeks to come. Now to me a Made Man has to be someone who is capable of recruiting and training an associate. They have to have the knowledge themselves that they can pass on to another and above all else they have to be worthy of joining our family before I would even think of suggesting them to Aurora. They are introducing someone to my crew and I expect them to take responsibility for that.

Ask yourself again GiovanniBovine what you see when you look in the mirror and I hope this time it is a Wise Guy with aspirations to progress further in our organization.

~T~

Many apologies boss Tallien, I try again. Many thanks to Hazel for this interesting qspeech.

When I look in reflection glass I see a young criminal with green dreams.But youth does not mean weak because the image is a determined, strong Bovine with dreams of mounting the Aurora stable and making a famos name for himself. But then I must climb down as I am not ready yet so I see determination with a willingness to learn, a keen criminal mind mixed with pure animal instincts to rob and steel even pillage on a Tuesday (Ragnarok approves).

I see a mafia beast who struggles because he wants more money for the boss and tries to help out in the headquarters but lacks the experienze. Sometimes he makes mistakes but he gets up stronger and goes again.

I hope to grow quickly.

When I first got to these shores and looked in the mirror, I saw a lonely teenager not really knowing any direction in life. I didn't have any family or even a bloodline that I could refer it was just me on my own until I found my family.

Now I see a man who has not quite got to where he wants to be but is striving towards. I see someone who has confidence but is not as confident as he wants to be. I see a man with a plan who is loyal to his family and will always do all he can for his family. I see a man who wants to become the best Made Man in Las Vegas.

I also see a man who wants to have a more vocal presence on the street rather than just listen to what everyone says. I see a man who is proud of himself but wants to be prouder. I see a man who wants to work his way up in his family and prove himself to be one of the most loyal members that a family has ever.

In my mirror I see me a rough diamond who us unbelievable potential.

I see a hardworking,dedicated,and trustworthy individual that can give a damn bout what somebody else says or thinks, because he knows nothing but good things and opportunities will come to him.I see a 5-Star G,on my way to becoming the illest,cruelist,and richest person on the street.MONEY,POWER,RESPECT!That sums it up.

What do I see when I look in the mirror?  Well, unlike our friend DeathKnight_JR, I don't see someone who doesn't give a damn what others say or think as I know there are certain people who can make me or break me and to whom I owe all my allegiance and loyalty above and beyond our friends or family at home and those people of course are my Philadelphia family and our leaders as well as our Godmother and her family.

I see someone who tries every day to do more then their best to jump a higher hurdle then yesterday and knows how to pick herself up and go on when she doesn't succeed.  I also see someone who knows what hurdles to stay away from as there are many things in this world not meant for all of us.

To sum it up, I see someone who tries daily to be a credit to my family and a proper mafioso.

When I look into the mirror I see myself as a wanderer, with high hopes high dream, looking for more, searching for answers, looking for the next day beauty and ugliness.

A wanderer that looks for the good omen that will give him the true value of life, destined to be betrayed and to see the world's greatest lie.

When i look into that mirror, I can see the soul of the world, telling my heart that fear is suffering, and courage is a quality to understand the language of the world.

I am a man of hope, man of dream, a wanderer of life, a learner, a teacher

Looking in the mirror I see an individual, a little different from the rest, maybe a little more confusing at first, Someone whose kindness can lead to a very dark place when backed into a corner.

I also see someone eager to learn more about this life and always willing to lend a hand when she can. Someone whose making a new start and breaking free from the past. 

I see a survivor. A person of loyalty and kindness and enough of it to share with those that cross her path.

Thats what I see when I look in the mirror. 

I see darkness. It's unrecognizable as my future will be determined by the mercy and generocity of others. At the moment I see a person of loyalty and character. Unfortunatly I also see the scars of past mistakes. The future may be cloudy but I believe its better not to know the future.

When I look in the mirror, the only thing that I see is my family. For without them, I am nothing.

I see my sexy ass face like im supposed to.

True story.

Sometimes I see an incredibly powerful and capable person. A well balanced, intelligent, and driven individual with more potential than he could possibly use in a lifetime. Head up, shoulders back, smile on the face, and a sparkle in the eyes.

Other times I see a weak and broken soul that is running around scattered just trying to find a place to sit and experience some peace if only for just a moment.

I try to choose the first of the two as often as possible, but at times the second face shines in the world more than I would like it to.

Oh dangit the mirror broke.