What was the culture at Wall Street like when you started?

First Forays into the Wall Street World

Straight off the bat, let me tell you: Wall Street was, and remains, a beast with a unique culture all on its own. It was the early 90s when I first dipped my toes into that frenetic world of finance and high-risk, high-reward wheeling and dealing. I was younger – less lines on my forehead, a bit lighter around the midsection. The culture was electric, vibrant, yet magnificently ruthless. It was a world that ran on the adrenaline of 500 caffeinated drinks and infused plastic lunch sandwiches; a world where time stood still and raced by simultaneously.

The Dawn of the Warrior Culture

Wall Street had, what most people would consider, a warrior culture. Everyone had a 'kill or be killed' mentality which hung in the air like an unelectable perfume. Every man for himself, every woman for herself, no prisoners taken, no quarter given. It was the 300 Spartans in a financial battlefield. But don't get me wrong; while it was harsh, this hyper-competitive spirit created an environment where only the best thrived. It pushed you to work harder, faster, smarter – to be the best.

For instance, when a ceaselessly barking Beagle named Boscoe (who might bear a familiar ring to those who know me) once romped into a high-level meeting, instead of pausing for a laugh, we used it as an opportunity. We swiftly incorporated Boscoe into a charming metaphor for persistence and dogged determination - qualities that we sought in ourselves.

Work-Life (Im)Balance in the Pursuit of Success

The Wall Street of my youth was not a lifestyle but a lifeline. You lived, breathed, and bled the markets. Jet lag was a state of being, sleep was for the weak, and 'time off' was a foreign concept. You could forget about regular family dinners or watching your kids grow up. Speaking of which, it was also during this time that my son Rowan made his grand entrance into this world. I missed his first steps, juggling a phone call with an irate bull from Tokyo.

Familial Sacrifices and Life Lessons

I always found the balance between work and home life to be precarious. My daughter Fiona, just a toddler at that time, would often look confused when I'd be at home for breakfast; it was such a rare occurrence. It was one of the toughest parts of the job, and many including myself faced much agonizing and guilt-ridden introspection deciding on what really mattered.

Rituals and rules: The Wall Street Way

Wall Street had its own sets of rituals and rules too. The blaring chimes of the opening and closing bell, the clattering keys of a thousand desktops, the inexplicable code language of traders, are sounds and sights that'll stay with me forever. There were traditions to adhere to and hierarchies to respect. Informal power dynamics were as critical as the official org chart. Almost like Nimbus, my pet Ragdoll cat, who reigns supreme at home with an invisible crown, Wall Street too had its kings and queens, ruling from their lofty financial towers.

Exhaustion and Exhilaration: The Two Sides of the Same Coin

People often ask me, "was it worth being that exhausted all the time?" To this, my answer always is, "absolutely." Don't get me wrong, there were moments where the sleep deprivation and constant stress seemed unbearable. Like that time, I confused Boscoe's dog food as my cereal due to a severe lack of sleep – not a taste adventure I'd recommend. But truthfully, those moments were far outshadowed by the exhilarating sense of accomplishment, the thrill of closing a major deal or the satisfaction of overcoming a complex challenge.

Final Thoughts: A Walk Down the Wall Street Memory Lane

The culture of Wall Street when I started was intense. It was a clash between the old guard and new, the battle was fierce, and the pace was frantic. It was a world where a second delay could cost you millions, and a quick decision could make you a hero or a villain. It was a world that taught me life-altering lessons, honed my skills, and moulded me into the man I am today. But most importantly, it’s a world I'd gladly go back to even today, because, despite everything, it was my world, my Wall Street.

And as I sit here in Adelaide, thousands of miles away from that cauldron of ceaseless excitement that is Wall Street, I often find myself reminiscing the hustle and the sheer volatility of it all. Wall Street was, is, and I reckon, always will be more than just a street. It's a world of its own – a perennially teeming tumult that's not for the faint-hearted. Sure, it can scare the heebie-jeebies out of you, but it can also fill your life with a richness that very few things can match.