The feeling of failure. The feeling of losing. The feeling of not succeeding. The feeling of losing motivation. The feeling of lost motivation. We all have had these feelings at some point or another. Maybe it is from not getting that offer that you dreamed of. Maybe it is from a failed deal that fell through. Maybe it is from that job promotion that you never received. Maybe just from failing that one test that could have made a difference. Regardless of what it is from, the lost motivation is the feeling of almost feeling dead. Depression may even set in.
When we fall into these feelings, getting back up becomes daunting or even scary because we are afraid to fail again and again. Thus fear starts to set in. Now we’re paralyzed. However therein lie the problems; it is our feelings and fear that we allow ourselves to control us. The very thing that prevents us from getting where we want to be and what we want. So, how is it that we can overcome these feelings? What is it that will help us to keep moving on? To overcome the failures and feelings of what leads to fear?
Through my struggles and from others, there have been four pillars that are important. Those four pillars are trust, passion, perseverance, and drive. It is important to trust with what happened and there is a reason behind it. The answer may be found or it may not be, but trusting with what happened can be the first step to overcome the loss of motivation to keep moving forward. Without trusting with what happened, how are you going to trust yourself to keep moving forward?
Passion plays an important role as well and is the second pillar that is needed. Passion allows us to not give up. We know what we want, where we want to be. Passion is trusting in that we know that we can get to be where we want to be and understanding what is happened. When we start to trust in what happened and have a passion of knowing what we want will lead us to perseverance. Having perseverance is pushing through the obstacles that are before us, not letting anything to stop us. We begin to stop having those feelings that prevented us from getting to our goal. Perseverance will help us break through the barriers and allow us to live with life full of drive. Drive is continuing to push through and not just stopping at one goal but onto the next goal and beyond.
It is trust that will help with understanding our passion so that we can persevere with a strong drive to success. I wrote this for those who may struggle with getting where they want to be and wanted to bring a positive outlook.
Failure is only temporary, but quitting is forever. Never quit.
Fellow monkey’s, do you have anything to share for those who are struggling? Share some wisdom or quotes that can be used to help give those who need that extra boost?
Yes, I've got something: don't despair if you don't get your dream job in IB or somewhere else. There's so much angst surrounding this on WSO, I feel like I'm at a fucking teenage girls' slumber party when I'm on here.
The problem with the financial industry nowadays, specifically as it relates to college students, is that it has become a cock measuring contest. It really has less to do with the money you're making (rationally speaking, even 150k isn't a lot in NYC) and more to do with how people students compare themselves to their peers. Especially at high pressure target schools, people are not driven a lot by money; they simply don't want to have the social stigma of failing to get into IB, PE, or whatever attached to them. Furthermore, kids today are INCREDIBLY disillusioned with IB work. You have no idea how many junior and seniors there are out there who puff their chests out because they got an internship at GS or JPM owning to their elite upbringing and rich daddy's connections. They have no idea they're about to get hit by 20 ton bus because they are totally unprepared for the what's coming ahead of them.
None of that means shit. I'm not trying to say that you shouldn't go into the financial industry; I'm just saying that you shouldn't stoop down to other people's level and allow your success in getting into the financial industry be a measuring stick of your own self worth. You are NOT a loser if you don't land that job that everyone is seemingly getting. For some people, it just doesn't happen, and that OK. Don't fall into the rat race hoping to land a BB internship just so you can compare yourself favorably to others. There is an amazing wealth of opportunities out there outside of IB that will allow you to achieve your financial and personal goals, provided you work hard and kick ass.
Go out there and start a business. Learn to code. Break into an exciting field in finance other than IB or PE. Find your niche now and you can live a very rewarding life. And if you really kick ass in your field, you could be doing models and bottles or whatever crazy shit you want while your peers in IB are scratching their prematurely balding heads wondering why their lives suck and yours is awesome.
P.S. I don't hate IB or the financial industry. They're great places to work, provided you have the right mentality. Also, I myself was not rejected from IB or anything like that; this is not some kind of catharsis I'm going through to pump myself up.
Cheesy posts, but I like
The fifth pillar, and perhaps the most important, is adaptation. You gotta learn from your failures and calibrate your strategies on life accordingly, otherwise you'll just repeat your same failures over and over in different forms
Quia dolorem autem quae quidem ut. Nobis et minus et sequi. Qui ut praesentium unde dolores. Qui nam incidunt consectetur sunt.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...