4 ms·

I like the sentiment but don't feel like some of this is realistic. I get how you can feel awful after being paid a lot of money and give litte in return. But

I like the sentiment but don't feel like some of this is realistic. I get how you can feel awful after being paid a lot of money and give litte in return. But here's the thing - when you don't have money to begin with its hard to quit a job or refuse a job even if you know deep down its wrong. Most people don't have the luxury of being able to listen to their conscience without ending up in the poor house. It's only after you've made enough money to have attained stability (or the oh so rare real savings) that you can afford to do what's right and follow your heart. All of us want to make the world better but most of us can't afford that luxury. Money in and of itself can't buy happiness but it can buy you time and tools to do the right thing. I'm glad the author got out of there and is doing what makes him happy but I wonder if he'd be doing those things if he hadn't worked for the bank.

dicroce 15y ago
Speak for yourself.
- ams6110 15y ago
  For whom else do any of us here speak?
ddw 15y ago
> But here's the thing - when you don't have money to begin with its hard to quit a job or refuse a job even if you know deep down its wrong. Most people don't have the luxury of being able to listen to their conscience without ending up in the poor house. But I thought these financial people are "some of the smartest people in America" (OP's quote and a sentiment I hear often)? Surely they could apply their immense talent to other fields. I've been reading all year that there aren't enough capable people to move technology forward and that companies will pay a high price for such a person.
- murtza 15y ago
  There are certainly smart people in every field. The problem is Wall Street can afford to pay way above market salaries to pull the top grads from the best colleges away from fields they would have normally gone into.
- billpatrianakos 15y ago
  Okay well on the surface what you're saying makes sense. You make a good point. They could apply their talents elsewhere but some people really do just like the money. Furthermore moving technology further is a little narrow. What I'm talking about is helping humanity in the larger sense. Sure, some smart people can find jobs doing good and get paid well but on the whole most good causes don't pay like the banks. You're either working for charity or bootstrapping some business of your own that will be beneficial to people but getting it off the ground takes time and money; two things that you cannot get without selling your souls every once in a while to continue pursuing your grand goal.

dicroce 15y ago

Speak for yourself.

ams6110 15y ago
For whom else do any of us here speak?

ddw 15y ago

> But here's the thing - when you don't have money to begin with its hard to quit a job or refuse a job even if you know deep down its wrong. Most people don't have the luxury of being able to listen to their conscience without ending up in the poor house. But I thought these financial people are "some of the smartest people in America" (OP's quote and a sentiment I hear often)? Surely they could apply their immense talent to other fields. I've been reading all year that there aren't enough capable people to move technology forward and that companies will pay a high price for such a person.

murtza 15y ago
There are certainly smart people in every field. The problem is Wall Street can afford to pay way above market salaries to pull the top grads from the best colleges away from fields they would have normally gone into.
billpatrianakos 15y ago
Okay well on the surface what you're saying makes sense. You make a good point. They could apply their talents elsewhere but some people really do just like the money. Furthermore moving technology further is a little narrow. What I'm talking about is helping humanity in the larger sense. Sure, some smart people can find jobs doing good and get paid well but on the whole most good causes don't pay like the banks. You're either working for charity or bootstrapping some business of your own that will be beneficial to people but getting it off the ground takes time and money; two things that you cannot get without selling your souls every once in a while to continue pursuing your grand goal.