Bada Bing! Business Tips From Tony Soprano
With the passing of James Gandolfini, the man who played the troubled and ruthless mob boss on the HBO series "The Sopranos," it might be time to take a second to learn a thing or two from Tony.
Here are a few tips to keep the "bada-bing" in your business:
1. Have a Good Substance Abuse Policy.
When Tony's "nephew" and often dirty-job-doing employee Chris Moltisanti was discovered to be addicted to heroin, Tony Soprano gently suggested that he should go to rehab and get help.
A good way to maintain positive morale as well as ensure the wellbeing of your employees is to create a solid substance abuse policy, one that includes drug testing and discipline for intoxication at work.
Smart business owners will also include leave for employees when they're in recovery to avoid possible ADA lawsuits.
2. Consider Your Own Mental Health.
Running a business can be stressful, even when you're not the head of a New Jersey crime family. Taking your mental health seriously is key to being a success in business.
Tony Soprano's therapist, Dr. Melfi, was an integral part to Tony controlling his panic attacks and unloading stress from "work." The doctor-patient privilege protected much of the shadier details of his problems.
Your business likely won't be dealing with dumping bodies as much as Tony's, but offering benefits that provide for mental health services for you and your employees can work wonders.
3. Innovate and Make Changes.
Part of being an entrepreneur is venturing into territory that you may not be comfortable with, and no one stared into the abyss with a scrunched up face and lit stogie like Tony Soprano.
Don't let the continued success of your business turn you into a stupid gavone; be knowledgeable about changes in business practices and technology, even if you choose not to use them.
Tony Soprano was able to build an illicit empire that supported his wife, kids, and scores of other useless relatives (lookin' at you Janice). Similarly, your business can be a pillar to support you and your loved ones if you aren't afraid to make tough decisions.
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Related Resources:
- Insights From Tony Soprano (Forbes)
- James Gandolfini's Death: Why It's Important to Revise Your Will (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
- 5 Legal 'Spring Cleaning' Tips for Your Business (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- Family Businesses: 3 Legal Safeguards (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)