Maggie's Farm

People who value money are not the successes on Wall Street or in finance. The real successes are the people who don't value money. Yes, the money-grubbers and the money-counters and money-hoarders are necessary and often do OK and buy nice cars and have money for retirement and second and third homes, but I think the real successes on Wall Street are the ones who want to build things and to make things happen, build businesses, try new ideas, take big risks, fail a few times, and can say 'the heck with my money.' I think that is success on Wall Street. The builders and the dice-rollers who aren't into money and just like to do things.

A patient of mine, a retired Wall Streeter, who has gone back to work to raise a hedge fund with a friend for which the company profits will go towards starting small businesses in Africa and Haiti. Retirement did not suit him.