In Francis Ford Coppola’s epic movie The Godfather, there was a scene where Vito Corleone, head of the Corleone family, addresses the 4 other great Mafia families of New York. A war is raging between the Corleone and Tattaglia family, and the businesses of the other families are also being affected. Vito proposes a ceasefire after his son, Sonny Corleone, is killed by the Tatagglias, and Philip Tattaglia’s son in turn, was killed through Sonny’s orders.

When asked by Philip to make an assurance that Vito won’t pursue vengeance as soon as he regains strength, Vito had this to say:

You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you, or my boy to me? I forgo the vengeance of my son. But I have selfish reasons. My youngest son was forced to leave this country because of this Sollozzo business. All right, now I have to make arrangements to bring him back here safely cleared of all these false charges. But I’m a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall him… if he should be shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he’s struck by a bolt of lightning, then I’m going to blame some of the people in this room, and that I do not forgive. But, that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we have made here today.

Curious thing about mentioning how he was superstitious. When I first saw the movie, I thought it was just a figure or speech, or Vito was being hyperbolic to make his point stand. After all, accidents happen whether we like it or not. How could he possibly make the people in that room accountable if his son, Michael, does get struck by lightning or dies through any natural calamity?

In the book of the same name written by Mario Puzo, we get a better explanation from Michael Corleone on the topic of business being personal.

Tom, don’t let anybody kid you. It’s all personal, every bit of business. Every piece of shit every man has to eat every day of his life is personal. They call it business. OK. But it’s personal as hell. You know where I learned that from? The Don. My old man. The Godfather. If a bolt of lightning hit a friend of his the old man would take it personal. He took my going into the Marines personal. That’s what makes him great. The Great Don. He takes everything personal. Like God. He knows every feather that falls from the tail of a sparrow or however the hell it goes. Right? And you know something? Accidents don’t happen to people who take accidents as a personal insult.”

It’s that last line that really drives it home. People like Vito and Michael take everything personal, even uncontrollable events. It’s a part of their psyche, their drive, their approach on life. It’s one of those little things that make up who they are as a person, how they get to be at the top of their game. Having that sheer force of will to make things a reality, to make their own luck instead of relying on chance.