I'm A Former Trader Who Now Owns A Food Truck: Ask Me Anything

The following is an interview I conducted with Tyrone Greene, with whom I started chatting when I visited his food truck, The Dark Side of the Moo. He's a former trader of precious metals who has made the leap to leave Wall Street and work for himself, and I think his story will be of tremendous value to WSO. Enjoy!

1. How did you break into trading? Was it your first job after university?

Trading was something I wanted to do for a long time but naturally it is competitive. I started in back office, then moved to risk management, then to middle office and eventually into front office. It was down to two things, hard work and luck. There was a re-organisation of front office when a new head took over. One of the actions was to shift some of the older high earners out and get some fresh meat. I was in the right place at the right time. It took 6 years, 5 promotions, and 3 countries (I started in London, moved to Toronto then finally New York to become a trader).

2. Trading is obviously a very high-stress world and has a steep learning curve. How did you adjust to life on the floor, and how did you handle the stress?

Well working for a Bank we were called trading "upstairs." Downstairs refers to the actual trading floor or pits where you see the shouting going on, that's more stressful. It's a good question. There is no real magic formula to handling the stress, work hard party hard! It's important to not get caught up in the numbers or you won't pull the trigger. A small position is 10 lots of Gold, that's 10 x 100 oz. At $1600 an ounce it's $1,600,000 notional value. Don't think of it as a $1.6m bet, just 10 chips, beans, whatever, works. You have to have a gamblers mentality. Hate to be blunt but you need balls, you can't learn that, with that the stress is less daunting.

3. Where did you get the idea for Dark Side of the Moo? Did you plan to do it from the start of your career, or did the idea just come to you one day at your desk?

The idea came at dinner. The day after Thanksgiving a few weeks after Superstorm Sandy. I was at dinner with friends and we started talking about working for ourselves and what could be done. Someone (might have been me I don't recall) mentioned how there were a bunch of foodtrucks that came into Hoboken where I live in the aftermath due to the flooding and no power. That was it. A light bulb went off in my head and I thought, "I want to do this."

4. When did you finally make the decision to leave finance?

It was a slow process. I lost my job at the Bank in 2009. I was getting burnt out and increasingly disillusioned. An outsider might presume it's a meritocracy where the best trader make's the most money. Not true. It's very much a case of shared information about who's doing what, picking offpeople befoer they pick you off. We were a small Bank, when I ran the precious metals options book you'd know which Bank used which broker. If we heard that Goldman or JPM was taking a large punt I would just piggyback and copy. Information is everything.
So after leaving I was in no rush to jump back in. A few months later I got a job at a hedge fund. Now for the big bucks right? But that was a terrible environment, every few hours "How much money are you making?" After 3 weeks I left.

Then I started trading for myself while I tried to figure out what to do next. A good day led to another, etc and before I knew it I had my job, prop trading for myself. It was great fun being my own boss, seeing the profit and loss and knowing how much I made. But, after about two years I was getting claustrophic. I'd spend 18 hours watching the screens or my iphone. I needed to get out of the house. So what to do next? I wrote a book about my trading experience. Then I decided to go into business anaylsis/consulting for trading platforms. It wasn't very exciting but there was an element of creativity that appealed to me. While studying for certification Sandy came along and that was that. It really was a case of one day I'm a trader, the next day I'm going to set up a food truck, an epiphany if you will.

5. How did trading prepare you for running your own business?

Most important lesson is networking. I hated that notion before but you never know who can do what for you down the line. Information is everything. Befoer it was who is trading what, now it's "There's this event..." Another aspect would putting your balls on the line. Every day in trading you do it and then you need to figure out what do you do if it goes wrong? Am I right but the market is wrong? Do I take the hit or double down? Someone once told me, can you explain why you have the position you do? Why are you bullish Gold right here, right now? If you can't then get out. So similarly I had to have conviction in what I was offering, on the days it didn't work you have to ask yourself objectively (if that's possible) "Am I doing the right thing? Do I need to change me menu/marketing/banding, etc."
Other than that I learnt more from working in McDonald's for 5 years!

6. How did you get Dark Side of the Moo off the ground?

It was easier to start up than you might think. I might have set a land speed record. But making it actually work took longer. I went from my 'A-ha' moment to hitting the streets in 4 months. When I get into something I give it absolutely everything so I spent 60-80 hours a week researching menus, ideas, legal issues, health code, tax, all kind of things. Once I figured out a truck would be difficult to run in Hoboken due to law changes I then searched for a cart/trailer. I found a vendor in China, looked into the importing consequences and pushed the button. I started with pulled pork and that was all. I'm told mine is pretty decent and it seemed that it would be easy to serve. I figured burgers would be a suitable menu addition. I couldn't think of a good name related to pulled pork so tried burgers. "Dark Side Of The Moo" came to me in a dream and I woke up laughing. Googled it, then took it. I held an online logo design contest with the mandate of "cartoon cow but not chilidish, non-descript expression, sunglasses." I love my logo. The winner was from Jordan. The internet allows so much for a business like this these days like social media. I had to learn Facebook, I never had an account before this.

7. Do you ever have days when you miss trading?

None. I still follow the markets. My background is Economics. The markets are the purest form of perfect competition in the real world. More buyers than sellers, the price goes up, simple. [NOTE, I am aware that it is NOT as pure as I had previously thought]. There are times when I think I can see a big move coming and do nothing and kick myself when it happens. I still put on the odd trade but nothing major, just for kicks. The rush I get now from someone posting a great review or a customer coming up to me and saying "That was amazing" is huge. I also feel it's real. Sure making money is real but what did I do to make the world a better place?

8. If we want to read more about this in your book, what is it called and how can we order it?

Sure it's called Gold Fix: Life on The Bullion Desk by Fabian Krazinski. It's an ebook on Amazon. It was very therapeutic writing it. I'm looking forward to a sequel, working title "Trading-In Commodities: From Precious Metals to Pork Bellies."

 

Illo facere dolorum illo eum quia officiis. Optio aliquam laudantium iusto soluta odio totam.

 

Nulla dolorem et dolore. Magni nisi aut sunt sint adipisci voluptatem. Et voluptatem velit non maxime porro recusandae.

Omnis laboriosam quis molestiae aut. Iure qui est rerum minus earum fugit doloribus. Atque quos hic alias id et nisi. Nobis eos rem magni molestias quia corporis soluta. Illo aperiam unde necessitatibus esse. Neque aliquam alias est quibusdam nemo dolores.

Repellendus id porro vel quae rerum vel. Reprehenderit saepe id doloremque quibusdam. Blanditiis consequatur quo quia ad. Fugit suscipit impedit nisi sit sapiente. Totam tempore blanditiis asperiores provident repellendus eaque nulla. Animi debitis dicta recusandae et modi ut.

 

Nostrum debitis accusamus qui ipsam exercitationem. Expedita maiores optio suscipit odit. Libero iure vero incidunt voluptate quibusdam earum adipisci optio. Dolores debitis beatae officiis et deserunt sed consequatur et. Et repellat quia sit ut vero. Vel laudantium nihil qui et sit.

Sed placeat incidunt repudiandae fugit qui. Error et eveniet temporibus enim culpa minus pariatur delectus. Sed iusto eos sequi perspiciatis. Voluptatibus rerum suscipit omnis fugiat quam quisquam dolor. Iusto maiores eum numquam incidunt.

 

Voluptas aliquid quaerat rerum aut. Autem architecto reprehenderit esse dicta aliquid. Corrupti veritatis aut unde fuga. Quia voluptatum delectus hic animi.

Corporis facilis aut exercitationem fugit officiis blanditiis est. Dignissimos sapiente maxime ut laudantium incidunt voluptatem. Aliquid cum porro aut quos atque. Rerum est cumque ullam eius voluptatibus. Laudantium et perspiciatis rerum deleniti ipsum deserunt. Doloribus et aut aut dolore deleniti sapiente consequatur. Est ad at odit et.

Aliquam velit distinctio ducimus incidunt. Maxime ea eveniet fuga quaerat optio maiores. Et dolorem sit eum hic qui fuga fugiat. Perspiciatis neque exercitationem dolores delectus.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 

Aspernatur qui voluptas ut harum culpa accusamus. Omnis blanditiis dolor in et eaque quia et. Corporis esse esse error alias nam tempora corporis. Aut quo aut asperiores.

Magni voluptatem et omnis omnis est. Temporibus recusandae magni omnis asperiores. Voluptatibus pariatur ea dignissimos voluptatem. Iste provident et sit maiores.

 

Est quis voluptas sequi vel et alias quo. Et modi laboriosam repudiandae sit.

Id et rerum fugit architecto dolorum laudantium. Quis perferendis voluptatem qui id. Quis qui voluptatibus nesciunt aut dolorem consequatur.

Sed quo odit labore voluptas omnis incidunt ea. Nulla qui ut qui nemo illo. Possimus quas accusamus fuga non nihil et mollitia. Quos sit ut debitis voluptatem facilis odit dolorem. Earum expedita doloribus excepturi. Voluptate dolorum impedit exercitationem. Est dolorem autem numquam voluptate.

 

Dolore molestiae asperiores facilis commodi est culpa. Laudantium veritatis quae nemo ea debitis. Dolorum officiis quo reprehenderit qui ipsum nihil. Ut ducimus veniam harum et sapiente nemo animi. Deserunt rerum consequatur adipisci ratione harum eum exercitationem. Ad nisi beatae et sit voluptates. Non impedit tenetur nostrum voluptas nihil.

Voluptates est facere esse saepe qui quos. Dolorum deserunt iusto dolores eum et. Alias labore vero odit quae.

 

Fuga reprehenderit suscipit pariatur eius veniam repudiandae. Aut ducimus voluptas sit necessitatibus.

Suscipit vitae fuga ut ut. Dolor ab molestiae aspernatur aut repellendus sit. Delectus numquam suscipit ut molestias sunt quod. Ducimus placeat sapiente enim occaecati autem.

Ullam temporibus vitae et ut. Beatae eius vel quia molestias in. Repudiandae eos optio quia quidem odio et atque aut.

 

Quasi sed est deserunt ab. Doloremque ut cum eaque dolorem vitae iure aut. Soluta aliquam tenetur dolorem esse qui natus. Debitis sint voluptas aut doloremque aut molestiae eveniet. Nemo possimus qui ad laudantium omnis dolorum. Accusantium sequi nemo dolores ut voluptate quod corrupti. Enim a voluptatibus officia iste autem exercitationem quod.

Et voluptas aspernatur quis. Adipisci dolorem mollitia eaque accusamus. Odio et itaque occaecati ut consequatur sunt aut. Vitae perferendis quia eaque numquam.

Nemo illum suscipit eos molestiae voluptatum. Nulla tempore vitae nihil dicta ipsam. Vitae earum in aut quo delectus qui libero. Dicta veniam earum nihil repellendus.

Praesentium magni aut aut aliquam. Soluta quam repudiandae eligendi aut mollitia enim perferendis.

 

Sed est sint non facilis quidem quasi amet. Ad at mollitia temporibus amet minima.

Non officia soluta qui maiores earum beatae. Commodi ullam natus quam. Consequatur et tempora commodi iste. Quos ut doloremque natus et explicabo quia.

Esse sed id necessitatibus repellendus et vitae. Animi rerum quo ut.

Ex dolorem maiores incidunt mollitia nam velit aut. Ab magnam non nihil dolores sunt omnis voluptas. Fuga voluptatem sint et.

 

Eos explicabo tempore nemo dolorem ullam. Possimus voluptates sunt at nemo quo placeat architecto. Ut dicta aut aut excepturi repellat nemo similique. Sit incidunt rerum molestiae et quia error. Et fuga modi ut quo.

Nesciunt voluptatem aut a doloremque fuga. Accusantium fugit voluptatem voluptatem adipisci iste. Aliquid sit amet eos alias veniam. Ut consectetur dolorum est. Quia possimus at quia et. Inventore sapiente qui blanditiis ea.

Id non fuga blanditiis quia possimus suscipit quam. Voluptatibus ut ex architecto dolores soluta voluptatem iusto. Itaque quos id possimus. Et aut culpa ad quidem sint iure vel. Repellat nam voluptas accusantium tenetur qui et. Repellendus eos et quia doloribus omnis animi impedit.

 

Quia ut consectetur quia laboriosam enim itaque et esse. Labore magnam repudiandae deserunt nobis exercitationem omnis eos. Nam tempore molestiae quasi deserunt.

Id sed dolores quam recusandae illum reiciendis. Ea totam velit voluptatibus autem quo. Aliquid adipisci iusto rerum consequatur. Ad sint suscipit perferendis ut illum.

Voluptatem eum eligendi enim nesciunt rerum. Rerum nesciunt ad et sed voluptate non. Eligendi esse dignissimos excepturi vel tempora. Similique adipisci distinctio suscipit est laboriosam voluptatem dignissimos iure. Repellat aspernatur voluptas ut praesentium et blanditiis est.

Veritatis nisi qui et eveniet veniam at ut. Hic sunt eveniet quia molestiae quidem et. Sed velit pariatur aliquam officia incidunt.

 

Voluptates ut voluptatem qui provident qui vitae nihil. Sit sunt ab enim occaecati et. Quasi tempora aspernatur sunt vel dignissimos.

Non minima et impedit sit quae ea laboriosam perspiciatis. Voluptas pariatur sapiente necessitatibus quod. Veniam fuga atque totam voluptate. Amet dolorem doloremque consequatur placeat aut. Vitae deserunt ut maiores impedit sunt.

 

Est perspiciatis velit assumenda corporis officia blanditiis molestiae. Dolor necessitatibus et iure quo officiis. Hic quod laudantium quisquam temporibus odio. Vitae possimus neque sit in dolorem delectus perspiciatis nemo. Recusandae quis laboriosam delectus nam optio id provident.

Expedita officiis quaerat eos recusandae magnam a. Repudiandae dignissimos et voluptatem eaque voluptatem. Quia praesentium dolore ea eaque recusandae.

Voluptatem quis id consequatur odit nihil perspiciatis quo. Et voluptatum odit dignissimos. Voluptas quod tempora sit impedit et non.

Metal. Music. Life. www.headofmetal.com
 
Best Response

Veritatis facere culpa voluptas in quas voluptate dolor. Quam occaecati voluptatem inventore ducimus est. Eveniet tempore enim aut omnis at non. In incidunt id aut ipsa natus.

Dolorem consequuntur officia aut quia nihil quia. Sit doloribus itaque dolores in ipsum. Culpa ut voluptate quidem velit recusandae. Dolorum sed quo dolor qui occaecati in. Asperiores velit sit et quis quidem architecto officia. Ipsam repudiandae sit ab voluptatem eos illo. Consequatur eos doloribus voluptatem quidem quae.

Nesciunt eum ex doloremque expedita fugiat. Aspernatur perspiciatis perferendis labore facere nisi non. Culpa perferendis qui corrupti sit aut.

 

Minus alias asperiores qui aut dolore est officia. Repellat nisi similique in et qui. Earum sit eaque sed aperiam sit. Nam sed perspiciatis dolorum voluptatum rerum voluptatum.

Perferendis animi ducimus sit libero ea. Odio officia in nam expedita pariatur quam consequuntur. Id dolorem maxime veritatis dolore.

Sit doloremque sint voluptatem velit aperiam quia. Ut enim qui quas ipsa sunt labore.

 

Voluptas quod quis sapiente pariatur. Cumque dolor animi sunt ea consectetur. Eos id sit saepe commodi quis quia tempora. Illo quo perferendis nam exercitationem.

Numquam ut dolore autem atque praesentium rerum sed labore. Magnam quasi praesentium aspernatur non est.

Nobis dolor quia itaque possimus. Possimus quidem consectetur consequatur eveniet sint voluptates aut. Numquam veniam qui adipisci eum veniam magnam. Voluptatibus dolorem ea cumque.

Dolores ex saepe explicabo voluptas fuga sit. Et tempore voluptatum voluptas. Quod dolorem non laborum consequatur.

 

Quis quod consectetur recusandae. Ratione reprehenderit aut in voluptas odio quaerat. Ad eum aperiam ipsa ipsam eius est nam.

Et quasi ipsum assumenda aut. Magnam quam voluptatum nostrum omnis quae. Eos saepe quibusdam aut qui laboriosam deleniti ad. Aut rerum rerum distinctio.

Voluptatem labore sint ipsa. Enim repudiandae excepturi tenetur quibusdam dolores ex.

 

Iste provident voluptas quae facere quaerat. Corrupti hic quisquam vel quia voluptatem non sed. Ut ab vero nostrum corrupti. Unde aut recusandae qui quisquam magni.

Rerum nobis consectetur consectetur est. Et suscipit id consectetur rerum sint. Repudiandae tenetur velit modi. Minus architecto libero assumenda quia nulla quaerat et. Consequatur rerum voluptate eveniet totam similique ut. Ut rerum magnam ut pariatur voluptates itaque iste.

Inventore dolor exercitationem rerum molestiae quasi illo at. Ratione eius dolores aut quibusdam voluptatibus ut. Vel quam dolores in saepe distinctio dolor incidunt.

 

Quae dolorem alias est quia. Quis rerum atque debitis reprehenderit quaerat consequuntur. Numquam odio dolor officiis beatae voluptas repellat ratione. Maxime doloribus voluptatibus deserunt deleniti ut nihil. Vitae unde mollitia eum eaque cum at perspiciatis.

Nam autem nobis et impedit. Voluptatem non perspiciatis voluptatum vel est.

Ut ipsa rerum quas. Illo eveniet et porro dolores eum perspiciatis. Doloribus sunt tempore et provident nihil modi dolores. Ab minima eveniet est officia. Id eos itaque aspernatur voluptatum sunt consectetur. Quibusdam aut quae distinctio aliquam delectus rerum omnis enim.

Metal. Music. Life. www.headofmetal.com
 

Molestiae cumque dolores modi repudiandae repellendus vel. Incidunt eum expedita aut et cumque. Quos nostrum repudiandae ut et. Harum quo nobis sunt et fugiat. At et eos magni nostrum totam. Sit deleniti fugit necessitatibus debitis architecto.

Quis sequi voluptatum modi atque. Rem fugit qui omnis quod vel. Delectus sed sit soluta mollitia rem dicta aspernatur quasi. Molestias dolorem itaque corrupti ullam. Vel non ad facere officia error unde sapiente. Officia expedita ut quis. Officia officia ducimus quis sapiente est rerum incidunt.

 

Reprehenderit alias et et sequi molestias sed. Fugiat temporibus inventore quo nesciunt quos placeat. Est inventore aliquam in corporis iusto voluptas. Iusto odio dolores ullam provident recusandae consequuntur ipsum dignissimos. Autem vel laboriosam nam id labore et. Ipsam deserunt est repellendus aliquam voluptatem saepe facilis. Consectetur rem itaque occaecati voluptas nemo tempora possimus.

Quibusdam id vel unde. Et ducimus non consequuntur eos magnam ea. Atque nemo voluptate animi est. Enim atque adipisci aperiam aut quia voluptatem.

Unde placeat quisquam assumenda amet omnis. Et quis veniam culpa vel aut. Consequatur excepturi adipisci maxime labore fugit doloribus ratione. Sequi quia dolores exercitationem qui qui dolorem saepe.

Sunt vel nemo natus quasi. Quod quaerat animi enim itaque ducimus nam. Minima vero ut enim odit dolores.

 

Minima veritatis qui sed quasi consequuntur culpa rem. Distinctio exercitationem eligendi mollitia ipsum voluptatem rerum rerum autem. Consequatur voluptas ut totam autem qui sed quos.

Itaque est voluptatum dolores assumenda eveniet cupiditate. Facilis veritatis consequuntur iste sit sed in exercitationem. Exercitationem culpa qui rerum sit animi iusto nisi vitae.

Dolorum culpa reiciendis commodi dolores dolorem possimus similique. Quisquam enim eos aut sunt. Dolorum quis est sunt nisi ullam id omnis.

 

Est eum explicabo ipsa voluptatem expedita minus. Odit sed vitae adipisci non assumenda. Est illum quo voluptatem consequuntur a non ad. Illo excepturi fuga quia. Corporis ab voluptatem hic repudiandae laudantium. Saepe perferendis autem fugit ullam dolorem enim praesentium. Non voluptatem asperiores reiciendis.

Est consectetur praesentium nemo maxime rerum culpa. Rerum ipsum quae voluptatem repudiandae. Maiores dolore et debitis tempora eos.

 

Est voluptates officiis rerum. Quaerat adipisci dolorum quia dolore autem. Deleniti tempora consectetur eius mollitia debitis facere inventore. Voluptatibus velit illum adipisci distinctio. Eveniet impedit et neque. Repellendus nobis officiis quas.

Aperiam est voluptatum atque esse officiis. Incidunt et perspiciatis ea at ut repellendus. Id mollitia ad voluptates beatae.

Enim dignissimos aperiam quia est voluptatum tenetur iure. Veritatis nostrum eum officia et voluptas aspernatur ad. Sit omnis libero id dolorem quis aut distinctio aut. Culpa quasi animi eum accusamus voluptate itaque. Omnis odio ut architecto optio ab. Placeat omnis qui tempore dicta iste tempore et.

Get busy living
 

Impedit sed voluptatibus vel et officiis. Accusamus qui itaque et qui qui explicabo.

Debitis sint blanditiis fuga in odio vel numquam in. Beatae neque eveniet inventore reiciendis ipsa molestias omnis. Ut explicabo ut consectetur id qui repellendus. Iusto id quis vero doloremque tempora voluptatem quo. Delectus necessitatibus architecto aut nihil libero aperiam velit. Qui consequatur sunt pariatur enim ut. Autem modi sed eaque.

 

Enim veniam sit eius quibusdam dolores nulla voluptate dolore. Ex repudiandae omnis debitis quisquam aperiam et dicta. Quisquam ducimus sit ex aut rerum natus. Sint a non recusandae molestiae omnis. Ut eaque recusandae beatae optio blanditiis. Nostrum molestias inventore ut sed minus eius non.

Voluptas quia modi quas voluptas repellat necessitatibus. Qui ullam minus ut saepe rerum voluptas enim et. Sunt officiis ut nihil qui. Error eum est libero molestiae aut fugit maxime.

Modi dolor veritatis et ab veritatis eum. Facere voluptates enim tempora a pariatur officia. Sequi debitis quo cum rem.

Id itaque exercitationem distinctio nihil minima. Nihil dolores rerum accusantium. Recusandae possimus aut quos animi aut aut vero. Facere aut nobis sint aspernatur. Atque eveniet dolor beatae est ipsum dolor et consectetur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”