In fact, it was litterally a million dollar reputation. Skinny D'Amato was the owner of the "500 Club" in Atlantic City in the '40s and '50s were Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis began thier act and Frank Sinatra sang every year for his friend Skinny.

D'Amato was also a great poker player. He could remember cards that had been played, knew the odds, and could read other players like a book, knowing if they were bluffing or not.

Once when he was in Florida he won a million dollars off a man in a game of poker. The man said he and his family were ruined and that he was going to kill himself. D'Amato gave the man back his million dollars and told the man to stop gambling because he was "way out of his league".

Would you have given the guy back his money? I wonder what I'd do? Perhaps give half of it back. Why didn't D'Amato keep some of it? Why give all of it back, if any at all?

The story of this card game went by word of mouth from Florida all the way up the coast to New York. This makes me think that D'Amato was building his reputation as a great card player, a generous man, and one who could afford to give back a million in cash.

If he had only given part of the money back the story wouldn't have the same power as giving back the entire million did. So I think he was building his image, an important thing for a man that needed to keep his reputation as one of the most powerful men in Atlantic City.

So keep your eyes open for any chance to honestly build your true individual image. And never get into a situation that puts you financially "out of your league".