If you had a meeting with these legendary Wall St. guys...
If you had a meeting, or opportunity to personally speak, with the following Wall Street legends:
1. what would you ask?
2. what questions/comments could impress these guys coming from a graduating college senior?
3. how could one try to get these guys into introducing you to other prominent Wall St. big shots they are friends with?
-Steve Schwarzman
-Joe Perella
-Bruce Wasserstein
-Henry Kravis
-Steve A. Cohen
-David Shaw
-David Rubinstein
-David Bonderman
-Steve Feinberg
I'd ask Schwarzman what it felt like when he and Peterson started out and intially got shut out from institutions and ended up having to give up investment banking fees and a 9% hurdle rate to LPs
I'd rather talk to Hamilton "Tony" James. Word is that he's running the place now. The guys at my fund told me that BX, moreso than other firms, has some really big personalities in their roster, so I am wondering how he controls everyone and keeps egos in check.
I'd love to ask Wasserstein what the hell he was thinking getting into the Time Warner mess?
I want to ask Steven Cohen: what's the secret sauce?!
I don't know. I actually think that a lot of these guys are no longer involved actively in the investing/advising sides of their businesses. It'd be more interesting to talk to their COOs about the current situation. These guys are probably more involved in fund-raising and institution-building. The head of our fund is the same way, even though it's a relatively smaller fund.
SS: Steve, why are you wearing such high-heeled shoes? Seriously, take them off; I’m not that tall myself.
JP: Hi Santa, what am I getting this year for Christmas? I’ve been a really good boy, promise. Can I sit on your lap? I promise I won’t pull your beard.
BW: Time to exire stage left, buddy!
HK: So, how does it feel to be upstaged by a man even shorter than you?
SC: My daughter is really very good at doodling. The guys at Christie’s tell me she’s going to be the female Pollock. Let me just bring out a few samples. You did bring your cheque book right?
DS: Ah me too, I remember a few full moons on the quad with a couple of dollies. What’s that? You don’t know what I’m talking about? No, I suppose you wouldn’t, would you. Hey, at least you're a billionaire now.
DR: That Balzac quote with a straight face?! What balls!
DB: O’Leary’s some man, isn’t he?
SF: Dude, you had a nice gig going! Why did you go talking to that pesky little so-and-so? He made you sound like a bumbling oaf!
I would ask David Shaw why he is such a tool.
More to come.
"Oh - the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion?"
There's nothing you could say to impress or to leave a lasting impression on one of these guys unless you said something really stupid that they found humorous.
You're asking this question as if you're really preparing to capitalize on such a moment. Really?
I am preparing to capitalize on such a moment.
You forget the biggest of all these giants - Warren Buffet. Sure, he may not be a trader or anything but he is the worlds most valued investor.
So for whatever reason I have found myself face to face with a bunch of prominent business personalities. I have never met any of these men, but I have actually had brief conversations with Paul Allen, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Steve Ballmer. When it comes to their wallets these men crap on the likes of those mentioned above, but I think they are all probably easier to talk to and get along with than the wall street gurus.
I've never tried to leverage these mostly chance meetings into anything, but at the same time I have always taken the initiative to say hello, introduce myself and try to start some brief and friendly conversation. I found that most of the time they didn't want to talk about anything related to their business, but were willing to entertain my young and curious mind for a short while.
Paul Allen: lived near my parents on Mercer Island, saw him outside with Monica Selis and we talked sports for awhile; seahawks and trailblazers to be exact
Bill Gates: saw him at a restaurant in Seattle, got my picture taken with him (I was in High School) He was annoyed, but nice. Huge dork.
Warren Buffett: Came to my college to speak, all I did was say hi, introduce myself and then proceed to drool over his shoes and tell him how brilliant he was. He was actually really nice, and pretended to be interested in what I was doing in school, career aspirations, etc.
Steve Ballmer: Met at a Microsoft event, my date knew his wife. The guy talks really loud... sounds like he is screaming. I wonder if he was drunk. I couldn't tell.
Some other cool business personalities I've met are: Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com ceo) - met at amazons holiday party Blake Nordstrom (nordstrom ceo) - met at charity thing Alan Mulally (ford ceo) - knew his kids, he is one of the nicest guys around Howard Schultz (Starbucks ceo) - sat next to him at a NBA game
Oh, and if its not already obvious I grew up in the Seattle area. Small city, where the prominent biz figures are easily recognized.
I think this may show how old I am, but oh well . . . http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4860483760049380308 http://achurch.org/media/ballmer.avi
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1668365808879026423
That stuff will never get old to me.
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