Be a Hardo or lose
A lot of the older guys will say, "You don't want to come off as a harda," especially when you try to investigate what you want to do as a high school junior or even a college freshman. They'll tell you, "Oh, there's so much time," or "Oh, you didn't get into clubs? That's fine. I didn't get into clubs either, and look at me, I'm doing great," or "Oh, you don't need to worry about that now." It's all code.
The hard truth that everyone needs to hear is: you have to be harder. You have to dedicate every second of the day, every day, to be the best, ultimately, if you want to win. Coping comes later, and everyone who's trying to tell you that you're starting too early is coping for their own losses.
Thank you for your advice, seasoned Student At Wharton
It's great you feel you have that energy right now. What you might not realize is that kind of intensity might result in early burnout. It can also lead to a very unidimensional life that ends up making you miserable.
Also, let's not forget success usually requires the ability to work with other people. If you come across as a hardo thay nobody likes, from a practical standpoint that probably hurts your chances of success.
Ts got me bricked up
Almost all hardos crash + burn in less than 3y. Out by 1.5y. Biggest challenges are staying level headed ("dont panic"), unable to accumulate the political capital to survive and looking ugly asf. There's no substitute for putting in the hours, and doing the things one needs to do, but making it your identity and having nothing else will backfire. Being part of the school wrestling team will open far bigger doors than the finance club if you know how to play your cards right.
-Reformed hardo
many in HF worked in our industry before we covered its equities, which feeds our perspective and passion for the sector. For one reason or another we took a 90 degree turn to HF. So hearing a student say they will do anything to get to HF is sorta bizarre. Reads like you have no real intellectual interests which are important for a research heavy field.
Finance has taught me this is false, way too many idiots making good money. In banking, I was shocked by how lazy and unimpressive many associates and VPs were. Loys of people are trying to find a place they can coast and you can tell. I have seen way too many hardos get out maneuvered by people who are like magicians at failing upwards.
It takes a mixture of being good enough to move up and smart enough for enough influential people to think you shouldn’t be fired. Finance is not a strict meritocracy like me want to believe.
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