If Hank Paulson Doesn't Drink, How Did He Make it to The Top of GS and the Fed?

Was a football/wrestling chad in HS, went onto Dartmouth, and joined a frat there but was surprised to learn he doesn't drink or smoke at all. 

He was a GS partner in the 80s. I find it hard to believe he avoided alcohol or that he was ostracized for not drinking with clients

 

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maybe he was good at his job ;-0

Drinking not necessarily important or even advantageous at the senior levels.  Lots of failure modes and bad things can happen.

It only seems pertinent on these message boards because they are predominantly 20 somethings analyst and associates that like to party

but as you progress in your career you will see that hurts more than helps.

 

Not all corporate / professional settings are alcohol-induced. Was lucky enough to speak in-person with an executive through a warm intro recently. We finished a bottle of wine while we were chatting. I've been contemplating sobriety lately for health reasons but I didn't want to be rude (executive bought the bottle from the restaurant before I came to our lunch meeting). I wish he asked if I drank before he bought the bottle, I would have likely said no.

He kept pouring me more when my glass was half full lol. Pretty sure I finished most of the bottle, just to be polite.

I've also seen kids get tipsy at MBA IB networking events (some of these banks have huge tabs which means, if you want to - you could get pretty fucked up). Went to a few as a MBA student. At one of them, 1 of the Cornell kids nearly knocked over all the food trays as he was trying to tie his shoes. Not sure if he ever got an interview lmao.

 

There is a lot of pressure from seniors to drink at client events and even at team social events. Have pushed back in past only to be treated as outcast. Funny enough, if you tell them you don’t drink due to religious reasons, they don’t like you but if you tell them you are sober due to health reasons they start commending you

 

Sure, but that's after they're partners. I'm talking about rising up through the ranks since Hank didn't suddenly convert to a Christian Scientist when he became partner at GS

 

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