The photolog
I have finally put up a photolog. The pics will be of the campus and this village called Kolkata. Heman is also a team member in this blog, expecting nthu from him and from you all in pepping us up from time to time.
The layout needs work but I had put enough effort for now.
Overall about my being around trading desk
I am back from Tokyo and although I had my share of Id checks there by absolutely polite policemen I think japs respect Indians. As Indians here are not into taxi driving(NY/London), cleaning(S'Pore) and HK being still of colonial thinking. I think best among the financial centers. Other than that disadvantages being, few Indians to interact with but I didn't had the time and inclination anyway.
This being around the trading desk was a hell of an exposure to the I-Banking industry. It reveals the futility of those pre placements talks by company exectuives. It tells about the uselessness of second hand information from seniors. It tells that how freakishly competitive a mundane job can be made. It also tells how astronomical sum of money is earned by the first generation traders. And most of all the glamour around the trading job is absolutely rubbish. There are no golf on green courses and girls in ferraris only excel and graphs. They work dilligently for hours, analyze data till they stop getting rubbish results.
Now am I thinking of getting into this shit.
Man!!... they work too much. Ok I can work too much.
Work is uninteresting. hmmmm so is all work I have come across....Can try.
They earn like anything. Yeah!!!...Now you are talking.
You are all alone in the allien world. Oh oh ....Now I am not sure.
Family will need you. More "oh ohs..".
Will be difficult to come back. Too far down the line.
Can't make up my mind. Lets procrastinate. Time will come to decide then I will see. Till then I will enjoy the college life...phewww!!
What is our deepest fear?
In Return to Love Williamson explains:Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
This quote was there in the movie "Coach Carter". One more sports movie on the lines of "Remember the Titans". When , after a close defeat, the coach asks what is your deepest fear. A basketball team member quotes this. I liked the quote very much.
When will I get rid of my fears and find my light ??
You get what you like.
Booker is back after getting something to chew on. This will obviously be on the desk. No luxury of sitting in the cafe.
Trader - Hey what happened to that trade I can't find it. Neither can the client.
Booker - Oh ....that was modified.
Trader - WHAT !!!! I have been looking for it for last one hour. So was our client. Bullshit. Why didn't you tell me?
Booker - I ..I..mailed you the new Id.
Trader - MAILED IT. I get f#$%%#$ hundreds of email everyday. I have got calls to make. I have trades to do. I have clients to attend to. And you sent a f#$%%#$ email. And you expect me to read that. You sit just 20 m away from me and you need to mail this. Next time shout out, tap me on the shoulder, somehow engage my attention and let me know. Am I f#$%%#$ clear. Bloody hell you wasted my 2.5 hours for this......Mate this is a sensitive business you know that. I am putting my ass on fire here man!!. Be a little considerate......huhhhh....Why am I sitting here, going through this crap, when I should be at a birthday party...and it goes on and on.
(BTW the traders are the earliest leaving people on the floor)
Next day (similar settings)- Hurry up with these trades. We need to be fast. So and so client was saying it is nice to be trading with the slowest brokers on this planet..... that will be us. Yeah the same client I shouted about. ... (With a sweet smile and a friendly squeeze on the shoulder) Mate don't mind yester evening. So, lets get going this day.
On once a year day when the index fell around 4%. A million might have been lost between 3-4 people with similar positions. Emotions are high;Tempers are flaying. Two traders across the desk.
Trader1 - Dude I told you about telling me before you sell that off.
Trader2 - Yeah....I was going to.
Trader1 - Do you think I am stupid ....dont you bullshit me.
Trader2 - Yeah may be thats why I didn't tell you.
Trader1 - Ok thats it I am coming over to smash you like a bug.
Poeple around. - heyyyy lets cool off!!
Trader1 - heee heee heee.....:)
First thing I was told when I came here is don't mind when somebody shouts at you. And I have seen people shout at each other just before lunch and go down together to the cafe smiling like bosom buddies. Nothing is personal. Everything is business.
Among EqualsA single sales trader engaged three risk management guys in an argument for over an hour on a 40 million exposure they were objecting against. I was sitting close by and can easily say that the trader was hands down winner. Though finally he has to clean out the position. :)
The guy next to me is asking how is Bombay University. I was like, which one was this so went to the Indian style of ghal mel non committal comments. "
Yeah the university is top tier in India but nothing compared to Engineering colleges. In pure sciences might be among the top ones in India" etc. etc. This is that typical Indain way of saying "Yes" and head nodding sideways.
