Lloyd Blankfein speech

Very interesting and motivational.

Don't you suggest to me what to do while I listen to things.

Interesting to hear him talk about the traditional IB-->PE-->MBA-->Profit??? path. Perhaps it is the risk averse way to achieve financial success but not the best way to achieve the type of influence Blankfein has.

I think I heard a subtle hint to aspiring bankers in there: They're getting sick of the "traditional" applicants with no interesting life stories. Once you "check the box" of basic finance knowledge and general academic excellence, you ought to diversify your resume. Take an odd course out of personal interest, study abroad, do something interesting. They don't want to work in an office full of kids who wanted to be bankers since sophomore year of high school and have no other interests/experiences.

On the other hand, it's easy to say that at the top. "The Track" is a proven winner. What do you guys think?

Thank you for posting. I find it fascinating that he's being candid enough that one can get a glimpse into his psyche. He's just an insecure (albeit very smart) little man. His toiling for his own legacy conjures up the parable of Sisyphus, at least in my mind.

I apologize, I wasn't trying to sound self-righteous in anyway. Just seems like an interesting conjecture on what it takes to be successful from a man who probably only followed one of the tenets that he spoke of -- namely, that he worked very, very hard. Granted, I found something interesting in his acknowledgment that all backgrounds come with their own set of advantages and burdens, which can be equally empowering or debilitating to a given person. I wouldn't go so far as to imply they are a wash as I think he's suggesting, but it was an interesting thought nonetheless.

meh

I also liked his "story" for going from law to IB - that he wanted to be in the action vs looking back. I doubt that was the real reason but it seemed like the kind of thing he said 100 times interviewing and came out reflexively. It's a good answer because it doesn't say anything negative about his particular firm, or work, but something that is inate in the legal industry in general. Even though there are obviously many situations where lawyers are very much at the forefront of "the action".

i think the idea of becoming an interesting person is very underrated... this was exceptional advice. Quote.. "if you did a DCF six months ago, no one will remember who did it. You need to be able to add more than that"

This was a great video and definitely will help me going forward in my internship. Remembering to just relax an do my best!!!

Very interesting, I think there's a lot to be taken away from this. Thanks for posting.

I think on one hand it's easy to dismiss what he says since he's already made it - at least for some. You might look and say "Well of course Lloyd Blankfein says it's ok to go out and better yourself, expand yourself, he doesn't need to worry about it."

But I think he's right. Honestly, of all the successful people I've ever met in my (relatively) short life, none of them have ended up where they thought they would. None of them have chained themselves to an idea of what they thought their life would be like and done nothing apart from that. They've taken risks, done things all over the place that had nothing to do with who they are now or what they do professionally. And they're better for it. I just spoke with an MD at a BB today in fact, and the same goes for him. He found himself in a few extraordinary circumstances and made the best of it. I think this is what creates a successful person. Being well-rounded is easy to dismiss for some, but I think it's the only way to be. And again, I have to say that none of the truly successful and happy people I've ever met in my life have been anything but. I think it's a valid point.

"We dont have...inventories of physical stuff pause by and large" haha this talk was around the time that GS was in the headlines for the aluminum warehouses.