I just finished reading The Great Train Robbery ( Book| Video) this past weekend. It was a far better read than I was anticipating and in fact I came away with a few lessons for my current business goals. I thought I would share a few of them.

The book is a “based on fact” retelling of the famous Great Train Robbery of 1855 written by Michael Crichton in 1975. It centers around the mysterious Edward Pierce (or Simms as he is sometimes known) and his year long efforts to put together the perfect robbery on the then booming rail industry.

While I deplore criminal behavior there were a number of things that I gained as take aways from the book. While trying to build my career and businesses, the following things are good to remember …

1. Careful and patient planning is the “secret sauce” of success. Pierce literally spent a year putting the pieces of a meticulously thought out plan in place. There is no mention or guess at how long he thought about and created this plan before actually directing the events, but it must have been a considerable amount of time. In the end, he had even planned his own escape from prison should he be captured and arrested. Everything was in place.
   Lesson: Be careful and patient when planning business launches, campaigns or projects. Learn all you can, try to make contigencies where needed.
2. Even the best plans can “blow up”, stay focused and creative.In the last few months and weeks before the plan was to come off, just about everything that could go wrong … did. His co-conspirators begged him to give up the plan when everything started to go wrong. Pierce kept his wits and remained focused on problem solving. Some of his solutions made absolutely no sense to others involved in the scheme, but they worked … probably because Pierce had such intimate knowledge with the original plan and potential uncontrollable variables.
   Lesson: Don’t lose your head when things go wrong or not as planned … an inevitability. Stay calm, focused and center your thinking on solutions.
3. There is a need to walk on both sides of the line. Pierce was adept at being comfortable with the most respected of the “upper crust” and also with the lower elements of society. Both groups had resources, skills and knowledge that he needed to accomplish his ends.
   Lesson: Learn to be comfortable in all kinds of social situations, it will not only make life more enjoyable, but it will also afford more opportunities. Also, even the “whitest hat” must sometimes dabble in the “black arts” in internet marketing.
4. Be genuine and develop true and loyal friendships/partnerships. In the end, some of Pierce’s troubles in the lead up to the actual crime came as a result of his manipulations of other people. On the other hand, he had developed lasting bonds with others and in the end, those saved him.
   Lesson: Be genuine in seeking partnerships or contacts with others in and out of the industry. Not only will they be more satisfying and fruitful, you will eliminate a number of problems associated with false pretenses.
5. Be willing to pay for good information or resources. Pierce knew the value of quality services, resources and information and was willing to pay fairly for it. He gathered the best people around him as well as spending plenty of money “greasing the machines” of society necessary to meet his means.
   Lesson: Sometimes you need to spend money to make money, be willing and able to take the risk.
6. The impossible is never. The likelihood of such a robbery was considered impossible, both by the bankers, railroad executives and Pierce’s fellow criminals. He did it anyway.
   Lesson: Just do it.

As a side note, even though the movie was adapted and directed by Michael Crichton, the author of the book, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the book. So much was cut out and changed for the movie that some of the most incredible and enlightening stories are completely missing. As usual, don’t waste time on the movie, just read the book.

I’m sure there are more ideas that will occur to me as a few days pass, but I wanted to get these down as they strike as important. Now, don’t go robbing any trains!