27 Comments
 

I have friend who's late 20s and just raking it in with easily 7mm-9mm banked on top of a disgusting salary. Dude is miserable. Feels bored out of his mind and sometimes dreams about just dropping it all and running away to the middle of nowhere. But he's also an addict when it comes to his work. The way he follows markets is obsessive, to the point where he's only taken off a combined 3 weeks in the last 5 years while averaging a consistent 80-90hrs a week. So I don't think it's always a question of security vs perceived work invested, some of the really successful folks are that good because they're obsessed with their edge to the point where it's quite frankly detrimental to other parts of their lives.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

Large asset manager, so buyside.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

I'll say this much, his talent and work ethic are both inspiring and frightening.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

He was born quite well off already so it was never about money. It's an obsession about being the best at what he does, and he's definitely up there for folks in his position with comparable experience. He's unsatisfied with some general life things outside of work IE relationships, deciding whether or not buy homes in this market, finding hobbies he can enjoy that have nothing to do with work, etc. Money doesn't erase your problems, it just gives you more bandwidth to focus on the non-financial ones (which in his case, he barely has that bandwidth once he's done with work).

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

If I had >$5m, I would never work for someone again. Unfortunately, I think that’s not going to happen 

 

My family relies on me - my mum´s getting old, my little bro is bad with money and several family members will need the connections. Even if I wanted, I can´t quit, for their sake.

...and the Truth shall set you free
 

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