Top 10 Useful Mafia Habits

1) The personal touch
Sicilian boss of bosses, Salvatore Maranzano, did not communicate to his business associates via email. He didn’t even pick up the phone. No, Salvatore visited his contacts face-to-face and found the personal touch delivered the necessary results for his business.

2) Espressos all round before meetings
Benjamin ‘Lefty Guns’ Ruggiero was a stickler for ‘good murdering’, but more importantly he was an aficionado of fine coffees. Strong espresso for everyone in your meeting ‘focuses the mind’ and provides a ‘relaxed atmosphere’ for your business assembly. Apparently.

3) The old heads know best
When one of the Gambino family looked for advice on a pressing business matter, they didn’t look to Little Enzo Gambino, the stylish upstart making a name for himself in accounts. No, they’d always go to the most experienced member of staff and Grandpa Gambino’s business knowledge was always utilised fully.

4) No arguing with boss
If John Gotti decided his firm’s extortion department needed a new photocopier, his workers didn't hold a ‘focus group’ to discuss whether HP or Canon copier would provide more efficient results for their photocopying needs. The boss’s word was final, making for a more competent company hierarchy.

5) Stylish attire
Vincent ‘The Chin’ Gigante never partook in a dress down Friday. Bespoke suits, with stylish accessories such as fedoras, braces and silk pocket-handkerchiefs are the only options for demanding respect in the work place.

6) Delegation
Have you ever seen Joe Colombo getting his hands dirty collecting his firm’s protection racket cash? Of course you haven’t, that’s because delegation is a key part to running a successful Mafioso business.

7) Long business lunches
The lunch meetings of ‘Fat’ Tony Salerno would be leisurely to say the least. With as many as nine course spread out over the afternoon, the relaxed atmosphere helped discuss pressing business matters in a calm and relaxed manner.

8) Employ only people you trust
The Lucchese family firm weren’t called ‘the Lucchese family’ because they employed the Costello’s and DiBiaggio’s from down the road. Keeping your employees as people you’d trust with you mother’s life, allows you to get on with pressing business matters without fretting about the reliability of your team.

9) Work from home
Have you ever seen ‘Crazy’ Joe Gallo squashed into a tube train during his daily commute to work? Of course you haven’t. That’s because the discerning mafia boss would always work from home. The stress free environment always provided the best results.

10) Have post work brandies
After a day’s hard work, the board at Roy Demeos’s firm would always chew the day’s fat over a fine cognac or cheeky brandy. This relaxed evaluation of the day’s work would always tie up loose ends to guarantee tomorrow starts in an effective manner.