CASE FILE: Career Advice
Subject: Robert Pickton Known for: Operating a pig farm and exploiting systemic police neglect Estimated victims: 26 to 49 Operational period: 1983–2002
A successful enterprise isn’t built on glamour; it’s built on grit, grease, and a willingness to handle what others find distasteful. If you want to build an empire that lasts for decades, you must be prepared to get your hands dirty.
First, master the art of resourcefulness. In my line of work, nothing went to waste. True efficiency is about breaking down complex, stubborn problems into small, manageable, and ultimately unrecognizable parts. Whether you are dealing with surplus inventory or difficult logistics, the goal is total integration. When you process your materials thoroughly enough, they simply become part of the landscape.
Second, find your niche in the blind spots. I operated in an environment where the overseers—in my case, the local authorities—simply chose to look the other way. If you focus your efforts on areas that society deems low-priority, you will enjoy unprecedented autonomy. When the stakeholders don’t care to ask questions, you are free to streamline your process without bureaucratic interference.
Third, manage your public image. Hard work in the trenches can make people uneasy, so you must distract them with hospitality. I hosted large, boisterous social gatherings for the neighborhood. If you throw a lively enough party, your associates will happily ignore the heavy machinery running in the background. Good public relations can mask even the most industrial odors.
Finally, maintain absolute cleanliness at the end of the day. A cluttered workspace invites unwanted audits. When a project is complete, leave nothing behind. If you’ve processed your materials correctly, there should be no evidence of the labor involved. Be so meticulous that if anyone ever tries to audit your past performance, they will find themselves digging through tons of earth just to find a single scrap of your work.
File closed. Results pending.