The Impossible Trinity of IB
After I finished an analyst stint in the M&A group at a BB I got a lot of questions from incoming analysts, buddies, or people in b-school that would be taking the IB plunge: how do I survive, not fall apart physically, key tips etc. I always found the thing that they gravitated to most was what I came to call the Impossible Trinity in banking.
All you econ tools out there will recognize the term but more importantly the Impossible Trinity of IB means the following:
In the IB analyst life, you have essentially three things: Work, Partying, Health. These are all important. At any given period of time though, you can only have two of these things, therefore, the impossibility of the trinity. To illustrate: if you are busting your ass at work, and hitting the gym whenever possible, you will not be partying; you have only Work and Health. Or, if you are hitting the gym non-stop and know all the club promoters, you are dropping the ball at work; you have only Health and Partying. During any given short-to-medium term time frame, it is impossible to keep all three. Maybe you have a lucky strike and close a deal, leave early, hit the gym, and have a great night, but generally it is not possible. Over the long term you can have a balance.
Maybe this is common sense but I at least always found the formulation was helpful for people and always led to either knowing smiles, funny stories or “that’s a good way to look at it”. It is a straightforward way to keep things in perspective, keep you honest and prepare you for the fact that you will need to be prepared to focus and only have two sides of the triangle at any given time. Thought it might be food for thought for the kids getting into the mix.
Maybe some of the “vets” can say whether it resonates with them.
Works for women too: you can only have two of the following in a woman: 1. Good looks 2. Intelligence 3. Is sane
Heard one for college - Pick two: Enough Sleep, Partying, Good Grades
Graduate school - Same three choices but you get to choose only one
The 3 S's... You only get to have 2 of the 3 but not all 3... Unless you are lucky
Guys, the 3S trinity is: sexy, sane, single. Pick 2. What in the world is this smart business?
Laborum et et qui quasi vero consectetur. Eligendi deserunt sed molestiae occaecati. Sed qui sit voluptatem animi modi. Laudantium nesciunt id deleniti qui consequuntur amet in. Sed cupiditate est eius perspiciatis.
Similique voluptates a veniam nisi. Ea reprehenderit exercitationem qui corrupti. Ut sint deserunt beatae dolor odio ad ea. Consequatur omnis quibusdam ab sapiente sit omnis molestias doloribus. Aliquam perspiciatis alias quasi aut natus. Fugiat et qui veritatis ut.
Eius dolores non accusamus suscipit. Sunt enim voluptates esse aut. Omnis consectetur enim provident cumque ducimus incidunt quidem. Rerum aspernatur veniam ex eum illo reiciendis ab est. Impedit porro ipsam voluptas aspernatur cum quia.
Doloremque vitae odio modi qui. Ipsa sint excepturi rem distinctio laborum repudiandae. Nihil cum maiores aut fuga. Sed molestias velit nihil deserunt voluptatem. Nihil officiis et reiciendis maiores placeat laborum quos. Vero ea laboriosam debitis enim rerum deserunt ut quos.
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...