5 tactics for your next all-nighter
I don't know about you guys, but I got f'ing slaughtered with all-nighters in my early days. I seem to remember doing 1-3 all-nighters a week for the first six months. Doesn't seem like it could be true, especially given how few of them I see people doing these days, but that's what I remember. One thing I do know is, it fucking blew.
Things evened out for me once I learned that there's an art to it. The successful all-nighter is a game that takes place almost entirely in your head. If your head's in the right place, the right behavior comes naturally.
What's the right behavior? You don't whine. You don't do little passive-aggressive things to let people know you worked all night. (Shave and shower, my bros. Sorry.) You hand over the work product with a smile the next morning (or whenever they want it) and go about the rest of your day like you just had a full night's sleep. This says, "I'm an adult." People notice this.
So that's the goal. Now, how do you get your head in the right place and keep it there? Feel free to chime in with your own tactics, but here are my cherished mantras from back in the day:
- “My job is to take shit. Tonight I'm doing my job.” A lot of people (maybe even most people) are intellectually capable of doing the work of a junior banker. What differentiates you is that you can also take the shit that comes with it.
- “I’m earning a thousand bucks tonight.” Yes, this is the same mantra strippers use. And yes, I used it a lot too. It was based on the assumption that I’m going to do 70/90/whatever all-nighters this year and walk away with a $70k/$90k/whatever bonus, so whenever someone asked me to work all night long, it was like a 4-figure check had just hit my bank. Unfortunately, due to the ever-shrinking bonus pool, plus taxes, variability, and the possibility of getting canned two days before bonus, this is not actually true today. But mantras are supposed to get you through the night, not make you want to jump off the roof.
- “Elevate the hate.” This may look like it’s my associate’s fault, but it isn’t. His life is almost as shitty as mine. Way safer to blame this on somebody higher up. Always elevate the hate as high as possible; it makes life easier. Also, senior bankers will never notice if you hate them, but your associate definitely will.
- “Love low.” Show as much love as possible to the print shop guys, security folks, restaurant bicyclists, secretaries, presentation shop guys, black car drivers, summer analysts, junior analysts, and fellow analysts as possible. Even if they don’t work as hard or take as much shit as you do. Those guys are your brothers in arms. Now put the prior two together: “Elevate the hate; love low.” Remember this if you ever want to point out to your associate, subtly or otherwise, that it's his fault you were here until 6 AM.
- “This is actually kind of funny.” Even if you don’t see the humor at first, keep reminding yourself of this. Eventually you will laugh. Or you will crack.
- “We’re all going to get together and laugh about this over beers in ten years.” Except those who are VP and above. Those are the ones you’ll be laughing at.







Comments
a few more good tips on this
a few more good tips on this thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/when-i-pull-...
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you must have been a
you must have been a bootlicking prodigy. were you genuflecting at the 10th grade level in 6th grade?
"bankerella": Yes, this is
Yes, this is the same mantra strippers use. And yes, I used it a lot too.
Can you share your stripper > IBD story? I have a friend who is in a similar situation.
"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan
BLACK CAR DRIVERS! I AM
BLACK CAR DRIVERS! I AM OFFENDED.
Here to learn and hopefully pass on some knowledge as well. SB if I helped.
You couldn't handle an
You couldn't handle an all-nighter with me
Damaged goods
BTbanker: "bankerella": Yes
Yes, this is the same mantra strippers use. And yes, I used it a lot too.
Can you share your stripper > IBD story? I have a friend who is in a similar situation.
FALSE. Women don't go into IBD if they can strip. But the competition out there for the most prestigious clubs is fucking brutal, so some chicks inevitably have to go to IBD.
Me, I should have made the grade... but it turns out that I have zero rhythm. Spent like a year studying pole tricks and jelly rolls but never got past the first round of auditions. I tried to tell them it was a racial disadvantage. Even threatened a discrimination lawsuit, but no dice. So eventually I had to suck it up and switch to finance.
A lot of the early training paid off, though. I can make my ass jiggle at 120 BPM under my skirt for like four seconds when I know some guy is watching, then pretend I didn't do it. I do this totally deadpan. They're stuck wondering, "Did I really just see her do that?"
See my other WSO blog posts
bankerella: BTbanker: "ba
Yes, this is the same mantra strippers use. And yes, I used it a lot too.
Can you share your stripper > IBD story? I have a friend who is in a similar situation.
FALSE. Women don't go into IBD if they can strip. But the competition out there for the most prestigious clubs is fucking brutal, so some chicks inevitably have to go to IBD.
Me, I should have made the grade... but it turns out that I have zero rhythm. Spent like a year studying pole tricks and jelly rolls but never got past the first round of auditions. I tried to tell them it was a racial disadvantage. Even threatened a discrimination lawsuit, but no dice. So eventually I had to suck it up and switch to finance.
A lot of the early training paid off, though. I can make my ass jiggle at 120 BPM under my skirt for like four seconds when I know some guy is watching, then pretend I didn't do it. I do this totally deadpan. They're stuck wondering, "Did I really just see her do that?"
You know that 120 bpm is quite slow, right?
I can jiggle my ass at 120 too
"Every man should lose a battle in his youth, so he does not lose a war when he is old"
RichardPennybags: bankerell
Yes, this is the same mantra strippers use. And yes, I used it a lot too.
Can you share your stripper > IBD story? I have a friend who is in a similar situation.
FALSE. Women don't go into IBD if they can strip. But the competition out there for the most prestigious clubs is fucking brutal, so some chicks inevitably have to go to IBD.
Me, I should have made the grade... but it turns out that I have zero rhythm. Spent like a year studying pole tricks and jelly rolls but never got past the first round of auditions. I tried to tell them it was a racial disadvantage. Even threatened a discrimination lawsuit, but no dice. So eventually I had to suck it up and switch to finance.
A lot of the early training paid off, though. I can make my ass jiggle at 120 BPM under my skirt for like four seconds when I know some guy is watching, then pretend I didn't do it. I do this totally deadpan. They're stuck wondering, "Did I really just see her do that?"
You know that 120 bpm is quite slow, right?
I can jiggle my ass at 120 too
Yep. 120 seems to be a decent average for a good stripping song, but I agree that there are some true classics that are in the 135-145 range. I can't jiggle much faster than 120; maybe that's why I didn't get the job. Maybe you could you share some tips?
See my other WSO blog posts
bankerella: BTbanker: "ba
Yes, this is the same mantra strippers use. And yes, I used it a lot too.
Can you share your stripper > IBD story? I have a friend who is in a similar situation.
FALSE. Women don't go into IBD if they can strip. But the competition out there for the most prestigious clubs is fucking brutal, so some chicks inevitably have to go to IBD.
Me, I should have made the grade... but it turns out that I have zero rhythm. Spent like a year studying pole tricks and jelly rolls but never got past the first round of auditions. I tried to tell them it was a racial disadvantage. Even threatened a discrimination lawsuit, but no dice. So eventually I had to suck it up and switch to finance.
A lot of the early training paid off, though. I can make my ass jiggle at 120 BPM under my skirt for like four seconds when I know some guy is watching, then pretend I didn't do it. I do this totally deadpan. They're stuck wondering, "Did I really just see her do that?"
call me
"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan
"bankerella": Me, I should
Me, I should have made the grade...
Willing to bet you wouldn't make the cut for the C squad on a Tuesday night in Mobile, AL.
You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
Nefarious-: "bankerella": M
Me, I should have made the grade...
Willing to bet you wouldn't make the cut for the C squad on a Tuesday night in Mobile, AL.
I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it's a very poor scheme for survival.
A modest attitude is key (vs.
A modest attitude is key (vs. bragging about having been through an alnighter). Modesty is an art... it is the art of drawing attention to whatever it is you're being humble about.
Aei ho theos geōmetreî
Themistocles: A modest
A modest attitude is key (vs. bragging about having been through an alnighter). Modesty is an art... it is the art of drawing attention to whatever it is you're being humble about.
That's a good point. I consider myself the most humble person on the planet, by far.
Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital
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BTbanker: I can make my
I can make my ass jiggle at 120 BPM under my skirt for like four seconds when I know some guy is watching, then pretend I didn't do it. I do this totally deadpan. They're stuck wondering, "Did I really just see her do that?"
call me
I love the nerdy virgins drooling over this fat, ugly woman who comes on here to brag and pretend she's good-looking to get attention on a finance discussion platform.
bortz911: BTbanker: I
I can make my ass jiggle at 120 BPM under my skirt for like four seconds when I know some guy is watching, then pretend I didn't do it. I do this totally deadpan. They're stuck wondering, "Did I really just see her do that?"
call me
I love the nerdy virgins drooling over this fat, ugly woman who comes on here to brag and pretend she's good-looking to get attention on a finance discussion platform.
Hahaha!
Aei ho theos geōmetreî
bortz911: BTbanker: I
bortz911: BTbanker: I
Ron
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards. - Tacitus
Dr. Nick Riviera: Hey, don't worry. You don't have to make up stories here. Save that for court!
Ron
I'm sorry, aside from the
Is anyone else pretty sure
El_Mono: meme jabbing is for
Stringer Bell: Work should be
Ron Paul: El_Mono: meme
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards. - Tacitus
Dr. Nick Riviera: Hey, don't worry. You don't have to make up stories here. Save that for court!
FormerHornetDriver: Is anyone
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First post from Bankrella
After reading the thread, I
100% agree with adding
See my WSO blogs here.
100% agree with adding
See my WSO blogs here.
hi im new to this forum does
Stringer Bell: No it's not
And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time
bankerella: FormerHornetDri
Going Concern: Stringer
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This reminds me of OZ Season
Nefarious-: "bankerella": M
prison rape counselling?
Lol