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1/ Watched the movie Whiplash today. Great movie.
It reminded me of two events in my life.
When I was in b-school, a guest lecturer came to talk about leadership. He absolutely blasted Steve Jobs and mentioned how insufferable he was with some of his colleagues.
It reminded me of two events in my life.
When I was in b-school, a guest lecturer came to talk about leadership. He absolutely blasted Steve Jobs and mentioned how insufferable he was with some of his colleagues.
2/ He then asked how many of you would like to work for Mr. Jobs.
Of the ~100 people in class, only 3 people raised their hands, including yours truly. The professor asked me why I would like to work for a prick like Jobs.
Of the ~100 people in class, only 3 people raised their hands, including yours truly. The professor asked me why I would like to work for a prick like Jobs.
3/ I said if I take your words literally, this sounds like one of the most lopsided risk-reward employment offers I will ever get in life.
If I can endure Jobs, I can probably persevere through anything.
If I can endure Jobs, I can probably persevere through anything.
4/ In the off chance if I can meet the standard set by Jobs, that's potentially my ticket to be a giant in the industry. If it's impossible to tolerate him, I would either get fired or switch to a different company.
It's a bet I would take everyday.
It's a bet I would take everyday.
5/ This wasn't entirely a theoretical answer.
Just one year out of college in Bangladesh, I was offered a lead analyst role in a sell-side team to cover Bangladesh Financial Sector.
Just one year out of college in Bangladesh, I was offered a lead analyst role in a sell-side team to cover Bangladesh Financial Sector.
6/ The country has resource constraints, so if you do reasonably good job and has decent reputation , such major hops are possible despite little experience.
I was doing my DD on my reporting manager, and some well-wisher mentioned he's an intimidating character.
I was doing my DD on my reporting manager, and some well-wisher mentioned he's an intimidating character.
7/ I met him for a coffee, and I could sense the intensity, but was blown away by his passion for investment research.
I joined his team, and I thank myself everyday that I did. I hardly feared him, and in fact, we have bonded incredibly well after some time.
I joined his team, and I thank myself everyday that I did. I hardly feared him, and in fact, we have bonded incredibly well after some time.
8/ He wrote my recommendation letter for b-school, and I got to read it later.
I have a copy of that, and whenever I feel down or doubt myself, I open that letter and read it to motivate myself.
I have a copy of that, and whenever I feel down or doubt myself, I open that letter and read it to motivate myself.
9/ Great mentors are so few and far between that I'm always willing to take a risk even when I might sense a character flaw.
We all have flaws this or that, but very few can supersede those flaws with lopsided positives.
We all have flaws this or that, but very few can supersede those flaws with lopsided positives.
End/ Back to Whiplash. Great movie. I would recommend if you haven't watched it although you might come to a different conclusion.
