Michael Franzese

And then look, I'm going to be honest with you, you know, as honest as I possibly can. It's a violent life at times. If you're part of the life in some shape or form, you're part of the violence. And if anybody tells you differently, they're either not being honest or they weren't a made member of that life. And that's just how it goes.

And then look, I'm going to be honest with you, you know, as honest as I possibly can. It's a violent life at times. If you're part of the life in some shape or form, you're part of the violence. And if anybody tells you differently, they're either not being honest or they weren't a made member of that life. And that's just how it goes.

Let's put it this way. They got to have enough faith in you that you can be capable of doing whatever it is they tell you to do. They have to understand that and feel that because if they don't feel that, you're not going anywhere. That's it. So during that time, you're going to be tested. And you were tested?

Let's put it this way. They got to have enough faith in you that you can be capable of doing whatever it is they tell you to do. They have to understand that and feel that because if they don't feel that, you're not going anywhere. That's it. So during that time, you're going to be tested. And you were tested?

Back then, I mean, I might have. I mean, you know, I was a play-by-the-rule guy. You know, I was very fortunate in that I had a great teacher in my dad. He was a student and master of the life. And I was like a sponge. I absorbed whatever my dad told me. I listened. And, you know, some of the things that he told me were right. So I might have at the time. I'm going to be honest with you.

Back then, I mean, I might have. I mean, you know, I was a play-by-the-rule guy. You know, I was very fortunate in that I had a great teacher in my dad. He was a student and master of the life. And I was like a sponge. I absorbed whatever my dad told me. I listened. And, you know, some of the things that he told me were right. So I might have at the time. I'm going to be honest with you.

I mean, I don't know. It would have to depend on what's happening at that moment. But, you know, I was so indoctrinated into that life at some point. It's who I was. Sounds a bit like a cult. In a way. It's cult-like, I guess, you know, in a way. I mean, we didn't do silly things, you know. We wouldn't have rituals and ceremonies other than that one.

I mean, I don't know. It would have to depend on what's happening at that moment. But, you know, I was so indoctrinated into that life at some point. It's who I was. Sounds a bit like a cult. In a way. It's cult-like, I guess, you know, in a way. I mean, we didn't do silly things, you know. We wouldn't have rituals and ceremonies other than that one.

Yeah, it taught me well. I think I got it. You know, there's kind of two levels in that life. You're either a racketeer, or you're a gangster. What's the difference? I'll tell you the difference. A gangster is a guy that really doesn't know how to use that life to benefit him in business.

Yeah, it taught me well. I think I got it. You know, there's kind of two levels in that life. You're either a racketeer, or you're a gangster. What's the difference? I'll tell you the difference. A gangster is a guy that really doesn't know how to use that life to benefit him in business.

So he's more of a, I don't want to say tough guy, I don't want to say the term, but he's more of a guy that, hey, we had something done, this is the guy. Send him out, let him do it. Because you've got to earn your keep in that life. We in the Colombo family had 115 maid guys at that time.

So he's more of a, I don't want to say tough guy, I don't want to say the term, but he's more of a guy that, hey, we had something done, this is the guy. Send him out, let him do it. Because you've got to earn your keep in that life. We in the Colombo family had 115 maid guys at that time.

Out of the 115, 20 of us were really earning money and supporting the family in some way and really elevating the family. We were racketeers. Now, a gangster could never really be a racketeer. He just doesn't know how. But a racketeer has to be a gangster also because you're going to be called upon. Not as much as this guy. But when you're called upon, you got to do it.

Out of the 115, 20 of us were really earning money and supporting the family in some way and really elevating the family. We were racketeers. Now, a gangster could never really be a racketeer. He just doesn't know how. But a racketeer has to be a gangster also because you're going to be called upon. Not as much as this guy. But when you're called upon, you got to do it.

So, you know, I was more of a racketeer. And as a result of that, I was constantly in business disputes and sitting down with other guys. And you have to learn, you know, how to negotiate. I mean, I learned the art of negotiation at these sit-downs. You know, learned how to try to, you know, really before I walk into a meeting with somebody, number one, try to know the personality of that person.

So, you know, I was more of a racketeer. And as a result of that, I was constantly in business disputes and sitting down with other guys. And you have to learn, you know, how to negotiate. I mean, I learned the art of negotiation at these sit-downs. You know, learned how to try to, you know, really before I walk into a meeting with somebody, number one, try to know the personality of that person.

Know if there's a fallback position, if I'm not winning, what I'll accept. And so I had to prepare myself for these meetings because unprepared, you know, they'll chew you up because a lot of these old timers were very skillful. And believe me, you could be 100% right and end up wrong, and they'll put you in a trap. So you really had to know what you were doing.

Know if there's a fallback position, if I'm not winning, what I'll accept. And so I had to prepare myself for these meetings because unprepared, you know, they'll chew you up because a lot of these old timers were very skillful. And believe me, you could be 100% right and end up wrong, and they'll put you in a trap. So you really had to know what you were doing.

And so my people skills in that regard, as far as negotiating and identifying a true leader, were really honed to a high degree because I came out on top many, many times.

And so my people skills in that regard, as far as negotiating and identifying a true leader, were really honed to a high degree because I came out on top many, many times.