In business and in life, some lessons are brutal, but brutally true. I came across this one in a Mafia memoir, and it hit me like a lightning bolt:
“When a man decides to delegitimize his business, then that is on him. He is swimming with sharks and if he is not equipped, he will get eaten alive. My advice is for you to stay out of it. You cannot bully a bully. Because those same small operators you wish to assist are bullying smaller operators. A man who disturbs his own home inherits the wind. That’s Bible.”
Here’s what it means for us in the real world:
1. Protect your own credibility first
No one can save you from the chaos that comes from undermining yourself. If you don’t respect your own name, your own business, or your own craft, don’t expect anyone else to. Delegitimizing yourself is like jumping into a tank of sharks without armor—you will get eaten alive.
2. Choose your battles wisely
You cannot bully a bully. Trying to fight someone who’s already ruthless will only backfire. The world has hierarchies and cycles of dominance; understand them before you engage. Sometimes, walking away or bidding your time is the smarter, stronger move.
3. Be aware of the ripple effect
Those you wish to help may themselves be complicit in harming others. Life isn’t fair, and the smallest operator may also be preying on someone smaller. Recognize the chain of behavior before stepping in or risk inheriting the consequences.
4. Keep your own house in order
“A man who disturbs his own home inherits the wind.” Chaos follows mismanagement. Protect your integrity, your operations, and your energy. Don’t create storms you cannot control—focus on mastering your own space first.
Takeaway:
Strength and survival don’t come from brute force. They come from clarity, discipline, and strategic awareness. In life, as in the streets, knowing when to act—and when to stay out—is what separates those who thrive from those who get devoured.
Salima
Just me thinking out loud over here