This has been discussed at length before. My take is that if you can earn, muscle, or both, you have a good opportunity to generate a power base for yourself within LCN. That being said, you should have a good "Rabbi"/ "Uncle" (respected made guy or better obviously of Italian decent) to watch your back when you inevitably step on somebody's toes. Because if you're NOT Italian, the odds are that the powers-that-be are gonna rule against you every time. That is unless the other guy is a laughing stock.