Unfortunately, he wasn't interviewed for the latest issue of Fortune, for which the cover story is "The Best Advice I Ever Got," but presumably that's what he would've said. People who were actually questioned for the article include Lloyd Blankfein (who said the best pearl of wisdom ever laid on his ass was "empower a subordinate"), Mohamed El-Erian ("Push beyond your comfort zone"), Jim Rogers ("read"), and Meredith Whitney (who lied and said the best piece of advice she ever got was "set realistic goals" when we all know it was "establish a safeword beforehand"). The wisest thing anyone ever told Julian Roberston was that you'll make a lot more friends/clients getting hammered and doing magic tricks at parties than you will talking shop.
The best advice I ever got came from my sister Wyndham [who later became an assistant managing editor at Fortune]. She called me one night after we'd been to a cocktail party in the early 1960s and said, "You're becoming a business bore. No one is interested in talking all night long about stocks. Quit being a business bore." After trying to refute her, I realized she was right. So I stopped being a business bore. I found other topics to discuss. And I found that when I ceased being a business bore -- and quit pushing my views about the market on everyone -- that people came to be more interested in any advice that I might have to give. At the time I was a broker starting out, and it helped me acquire clients. I think the same thing is true as a parent with your kids. If you give advice, it's not nearly as well received as when it's asked for.
If any of you leading lights have some wisdom to impart, please do so at this time.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:31PM
Let me give you 3 rules to live by.
1. Never get less than 12 hours of sleep a night.
2. Never play cards with a guy who has the same last name as a city.
3. Never, and I mean never, get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger anywhere on her body.
Stick by those rules and you'll be allright.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:35PM
The best advice I ever got was from my old boss, Al Greenspan. He told me:
1. talk like you know your shit, even when you don't
2. cut rates like a thai hooker with the clap.
3. when in doubt, print it out.
--Bernanke
http://dealbreaker.com/2008/09/scenes-from-a-bailout.php
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:36PM
Yeah but if a blowjob is volunteered it avoids the awkwardness of having to ask for it.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:36PM
The best advice I ever got: "have another drink."
-Ken Lewis
Posted by Anal_yst , Jun 22, 2009 5:40PM
Best I ever got:
No one gives a rat's ass about your track record as long as you keep 'em glued to the TV (aka misdirection).
--James Cramer
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:41PM
The best advice I ever got was "keep your high heels on, it'll heighten the sensation for both of you."
--ping jiang
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:42PM
"Avoid the clap" -Jimmy
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:44PM
Twinkies are an acceptable breakfast.
--sc
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:45PM
It's all bullshit.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:47PM
"Never real Dealbreaker sober."
-- Lobsterclops
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:47PM
Dick Bove told me to buy Citi
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 5:58PM
I am a mutual fund manager. What is a dick bove?
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:01PM
Use Turbo Tax
-T.G.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:08PM
On my first day at work, my boss bestowed this bit of knowledge on me (I'm sure applies to most of you as well).
"If you want to sleep with beautiful women, you have to have either: 1) good looks, 2) a big cock or 3) a lot of money; so if I was you, I'd get to work."
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:11PM
@14 how did you boss know you didn't have a big cock?
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:17PM
@15 It was just a summer job before college, but I think he was tipped off when I told him I wanted to work in finance. True story though.
-14
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:20PM
@16- nice. what do you do now?
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:22PM
With thine relations eat and drink, but do no business.
-Greek proverb
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:23PM
@17 Bang my secretary in the ass.
-14
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 6:39PM
My first boss said - Nobody knows nothing.
But @14 made me laugh.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 7:31PM
Never trust anyone from Gold Sack.
-Maxine
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 7:33PM
My boss said- Tomorrow is another day.
Posted by Joseph di Jersey City , Jun 22, 2009 8:22PM
Before starting a career take a long hard look at those who have done it. Think about whether you want to end up like them because odds are you will.
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 9:30PM
Before you bullshit me bullshit each other first
-G. Sweeny
Founder - Sturdy Wings
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 10:21PM
Mortadella THEN provolone.
-C. Gasparino
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 10:46PM
two in the pink, one in the stink
Posted by guest , Jun 22, 2009 10:56PM
"If you got what you want and nobody noticed it was a good day."
Plt. Sgt in Nam
Posted by guest , Jun 23, 2009 9:46AM
Win if you can,
Lost if you must,
But always cheat!
Posted by guest , Jun 23, 2009 10:05AM
Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it is called the present.
- Oogway