Pool Shark

Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

These past couple of days have been slow. A lot of the bankers are in NY and other areas as well. Real Deal has been interesting. The company just had its quarterly earnings call and one of the top executives was replaced making things very interesting. I wish I could say more, but truly I find joy in being in the front lines of all this action.

So over the past two days I have done a bit of rouge staffing and printing books and flipping books; jobs that secretaries can do. However, I have been kicking trash on these comps which has taken along time. For example today I spread about 5 and it took me 5 hours. I keep asking myself, "Why do these take so long?" And the truth is, they take long because I have to stop and think. Not only that, but I am constantly double checking, because in some cases I am not too confident with my numbers. After I finished a couple one of the analysts checked my work and I was spotless.

Tonight all the bankers went to a bar/pool hall. We had the upper floor reserved for just us. The Global Head of Tech showed up and came over and started talking to a couple of us. During our conversation I asked the MD if he was a pool shark to which he replied, "Well, lets find out!"

The room suddenly backed away from the table and it was just me and him. Was I nervous? Of Course! This is not only my boss...this is everyone's boss. A couple of the analyst were teasing, "You are in a lose/lose situation. If you lose he will think you are giving in and you lose the offer. If you win, well there goes your offer, you can't beat the boss." Even he was cracking jokes. This is the same MD that I am working on Real Deal with, so he knows me a little bit. During the game I was pretty much getting killed until he scratched and then I came back to win putting the 8-ball corner pocket. Everyone in the room was like, "OHHHH!" The MD smiled and shook my hand, and said "Good game, I am glad you didn't back down."

The thing is, those of you who know me really well know that I suck at pool. I get beat all the time. later that night I got challenged by a VP and beat him 2 games to 1. I don't know where all this pool skill came from, but I had a lot of fun and kept thinking, "Man, I know none of my friends at other banks get this kind of experience or exposure to senior bankers." I really do have a good office. No one banker comes off to be smarter or better than anyone else. Yeah, some have gotten in my grill, but they don't think or come off better than me.

This weekend is looking pretty free if I can get these comps done. I got the reminder today that I have 4 weeks left. Boy does time fly. Seriously, days run into days run into days.