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Gordon Gekko - Career Counselor?By Robert GraberCEO, WallStJobs.comSaturday, November 17, 2007 |
We recently marked the twentieth anniversary of Oliver Stone's iconic tale of avarice, Wall Street. For the few of you who may not have seen the film, it was released in 1987, and focuses on the relationship between the young, ambitious stockbroker, Bud Fox and his idol, the billionaire investor, Gordon Gekko. Bud is quickly seduced by Gekko's gold-plated life style and he finds himself steadily compromising his integrity to become a willing acolyte. Gordon Gekko's speech at a stockholder's meeting where he extols the virtue of greed is a classic Hollywood moment that brilliantly serves to illustrate the mind set that existed in at least some of the more notorious Wall Street financiers (i.e. Boesky, Milken, Levine, etc.) of the time.
While Gordon Gekko is certainly no poster-boy for honesty and fair play, some of his observations on life and work in the film can serve as career advice. For example, Gekko notes that,
"It's not always the most popular person who gets the job done"
True enough. In fact, the concept of hiring outside consultants is at least partly grounded on the premise that an individual who is not concerned with maintaining cordial relationships with fellow employees can be more effective in getting a project accomplished. To advance in your career, you may have to alienate, or at least distance yourself, from some co-workers. Balancing notions of popularity and friendship in the workplace with the need to be productive and yes, visible to top management requires making hard decisions. But these are the types of decisions that establish your corporate identity and can determine your future in the firm. Would Gordon promote the person who is well liked, or the one who he can rely on to deliver when he needs a job done? Gordon makes it clear what his decision will be when he tells Bud, "If you need a friend, get a dog."
"Lunch is For Wimps"
Although Gordon is seen partaking in a brief repast at the "21 Club" in New York City, it is largely a vehicle for some executive face-time (in fact, he barely eats). Gekko's focus is on doing business and only insofar as eating is somehow related to that endeavor, he otherwise holds mealtime in low esteem. Using the time to refuel yourself and perhaps even catch up on some of the social niceties that may have been abused earlier (see above) is clearly beneficial. Nonetheless, to make the lunch break a ritualized necessity may not be viewed favorably in some circles. To avoid projecting the appearance of "clocking out" like a mindless automaton, take your break at different times on different days. Mid-day is a good time to review and re-prioritize your workload. Review e-mails at your desk and respond while there is a lull in the office. If you do go out for lunch, be sure you can be reached on your PDA or cell. Set them for vibrate, but be sure you do not go AWOL. You want to be available because, as Gekko said,
"It's all about bucks, kid. The rest is conversation."
Gordon Gekko would probably just be getting out of prison if we were making Wall Street II - Return of the Mogul (by the way, a sequel IS planned!) And while we would probably be cellmates if we took his financial advice to heart, his observations on work and the necessity for dedication and focus are not ill-advised. That said, in the interest of balance, we should remember the advice that Bud's solid, working-class father gave him,
"Money's only something you need in case you don't die tomorrow."
About WallStJobs.com
WallStJobs.com is the premier recruiting source exclusively for financial service professionals and is a member of the Jobosaurus family of uniquely specialized recruiting sites.
While Gordon Gekko is certainly no poster-boy for honesty and fair play, some of his observations on life and work in the film can serve as career advice. For example, Gekko notes that,
"It's not always the most popular person who gets the job done"
True enough. In fact, the concept of hiring outside consultants is at least partly grounded on the premise that an individual who is not concerned with maintaining cordial relationships with fellow employees can be more effective in getting a project accomplished. To advance in your career, you may have to alienate, or at least distance yourself, from some co-workers. Balancing notions of popularity and friendship in the workplace with the need to be productive and yes, visible to top management requires making hard decisions. But these are the types of decisions that establish your corporate identity and can determine your future in the firm. Would Gordon promote the person who is well liked, or the one who he can rely on to deliver when he needs a job done? Gordon makes it clear what his decision will be when he tells Bud, "If you need a friend, get a dog."
"Lunch is For Wimps"
Although Gordon is seen partaking in a brief repast at the "21 Club" in New York City, it is largely a vehicle for some executive face-time (in fact, he barely eats). Gekko's focus is on doing business and only insofar as eating is somehow related to that endeavor, he otherwise holds mealtime in low esteem. Using the time to refuel yourself and perhaps even catch up on some of the social niceties that may have been abused earlier (see above) is clearly beneficial. Nonetheless, to make the lunch break a ritualized necessity may not be viewed favorably in some circles. To avoid projecting the appearance of "clocking out" like a mindless automaton, take your break at different times on different days. Mid-day is a good time to review and re-prioritize your workload. Review e-mails at your desk and respond while there is a lull in the office. If you do go out for lunch, be sure you can be reached on your PDA or cell. Set them for vibrate, but be sure you do not go AWOL. You want to be available because, as Gekko said,
"It's all about bucks, kid. The rest is conversation."
Gordon Gekko would probably just be getting out of prison if we were making Wall Street II - Return of the Mogul (by the way, a sequel IS planned!) And while we would probably be cellmates if we took his financial advice to heart, his observations on work and the necessity for dedication and focus are not ill-advised. That said, in the interest of balance, we should remember the advice that Bud's solid, working-class father gave him,
"Money's only something you need in case you don't die tomorrow."
About WallStJobs.com
WallStJobs.com is the premier recruiting source exclusively for financial service professionals and is a member of the Jobosaurus family of uniquely specialized recruiting sites.
