Everyone thinks they know what the mob is like. It’s something you learn from watching The Sopranos and GoodFellas, something that involves Joe Pesci, baked manicotti, and a dead guy in the trunk. But that’s not what I’ve seen during my two years working for organized crime. My sense is that the mob works a lot like GE or Time Warner. It’s more Jack Welch than John Gotti.
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My job is a lot like managing any other venture. I make sure that people show up on time, that bills get paid, and that the customers and employees are reasonably happy.
But that’s not all I do. I’m tech support for the mob. From the moment I started this gig, I realized just how behind this gang is when it comes to technology. Forget about the paperless office. These guys are buried in pulp. But when they want to revamp their systems, it’s not like they can call McKinsey for advice. That’s where I come in. [Wired]