11 Commandments on liabilities
1. Be loyal to your partners, not obedient to them. Obedience is for subordinates; respect is a two-way street between equals.
2. A desperate person will do anything for a reward, but so will a greedy one. Make sure your team is compensated, but be wary of the one who eyes your share.
3. Speak your mind directly, or don't speak at all. If you can't say it to my face, the issue is either with our trust or with the truth of your words. I have no time for whispers or silent resentment.
4. The loudest one in the room is a liability. The most observant one is an asset. The first attracts problems; the second anticipates them.
5. Never trust someone who exaggerates a problem. They are either inflating their own importance by solving it, or they are the source of the trouble.
6. There are two dangerous profiles: the impatiently ambitious and the patiently ambitious. The first will rush you into a wall; the second will wait for you to lean on it before they push.
7. Beware the one who proclaims "family" too loudly. They are often seeking a new one. Keep your inner circle strong, but keep it private. Public declarations attract the wrong kind of attention.
8. A gift always has a string attached. When someone offers you something with one hand, always watch the other. Know what the string is before you accept.
9. There is no such thing as a one-time favor. A favor is a debt, and debts are called in with interest. In any arrangement, you must be the creditor, the debtor, or have no dealings at all. Never be trapped in the middle.
10. A strategist plans for tomorrow; the desperate only act for today. Desperation leads to reckless moves that burn every bridge. Ensure your people are secure so they can think clearly.
11. The final rule: You cannot save a person from their own nature. If someone is determined to be a liability, the most strategic move is to direct their chaos toward your opposition.
11 Commandments on assets
1. Value the man who corrects you in private but defends you in public. That's respect. He's not trying to show you up; he's trying to build you up. That's loyalty with a brain.
2. Find the brother who handles his own problems before they become your problems. He doesn't come crying about every little fire. He puts it out himself. That's a man who understands initiative. He makes your life easier, not harder.
3. Value the brother who can take a "No" without getting salty. He understands the chain of command. He might not like it, but he respects it. That's a man with discipline, and discipline is the backbone of this thing.
4. Keep the brother who's happy with his own piece of the pie, and isn't staring at your plate. Ambition is good, but greed is a cancer. A man who's content with his earn is a man who won't be tempted to take yours. That's stability.
5. Trust the brother who brings you solutions, not just problems. Any fool can see a storm coming. The valuable one is the man who shows up with an umbrella. That's a thinker. That's an asset.
6. Respect the brother who can keep his mouth shut and his pockets quiet. Flashy guys bring attention. Quiet men with full pockets understand the game is about accumulation, not celebration.
7. Reward the brother who remembers the little things. The birthday of your kid, the anniversary of your father's passing. That isn't ass-kissing. That's a man who's paying attention. That's a man who cares about the fabric, not just the flag. That's family.
8. Look for the brother who can look in the mirror and admit when he's the one who messed up. A man who can't own his own mistakes will always be blaming somebody else. A man who takes responsibility can be trusted, because he's honest with himself before he's honest with you.
9. Find the brother who stays the same whether he's up a grand or down ten. Composure is currency. A man who doesn't get too high or too low is a man who can't be rattled. That's the one you want next to you when things get hot.
10. Value the brother who shows respect to the old heads, even if they're out the game. That shows he understands history and respects the crown, not just the man wearing it. That kind of respect comes from character, not calculation.
11. Trust the brother whose word is his bond, even when it costs him. If he says he's gonna do a thing, he does it. If he gives his word, he keeps it. In a world of lies, a man you don't have to double-check is worth more than a warehouse full of product.