A Wall Street legend who died on Friday offered a great piece of advice to college grads
He cofounded Angelo Gordon and led the firm for 27 years, and also served on the board of directors at auction house Sotheby's.
Angelo returned to his alma mater, St. Lawrence University in New York, 10 months ago to give the 2015 commencement speech. There, he explained to graduates what he learned in his decades on Wall Street.
Doing what you love is part of it, he explained. But, a big part of doing what you love is making sure you're good enough at something that you love to do it. He said:
Angelo, over the first few years of his career working on the bond floor of the New York Stock Exchange, figured out a few things about himself that he says schools can't teach. He said:
1. I learned the language of finance
2. I learned to speak quickly
3. I could make mathematical decisions quickly
4. I learned that I could multi task
These are not things that are taught to you in college or business School. But these are the skill set of a trader in the last half of the 20th century. I never knew I had these skills.
Last but not least, Angelo had one great piece of wisdom that applies to both newly-minted grads and seasoned vets: "the harder you work the luckier you get."