How To Succeed in PE

Hello monkeys,

I took a weird path through life. While I got two years of experience in LevFin / IB, I took a couple of years off afterwards to do my own thing. That didn't work out and I need to pay the bills somehow...so I recently recruited for a role as a private equity associate at a LMM firm. I am genuinely really excited to be in a fast paced, high performance environment again, especially with this team. I start next month.

Is there any advice you could give to me and other prospective associates about how to perform best in the role? I sincerely appreciate anything you have to share! 

My plan so far (for before I start, given that I haven't been doing the whole finance thing in a while):

1.  Take a couple of online courses on modeling and the due diligence process to get back into the swing of things (any suggestions?)

2.  Get to know the portfolio companies really well by talking to the lower and mid level people on the team ahead of time / looking at internal materials

3.  Take the GMAT for a potential MBA down the road (I just finished studying, now targeting a 770 and above)
 

My plan after I start:

1.  Work like mad

2.  Focus on modeling and thoughtful qualitative analysis to start with.  As long as I have decent social EQ and soft skills, I can continue to work on that aspect / relationship building as I go along.