Banking is what we did - investment banking associates were who we were. Like virgins defiled, we can't possibly rid ourselves of the scourge to which we knowingly submitted. It strengthened us and it toughened our hides. That was good and that was bad. If there was a pumice stone for the soul, we would have scrubbed ourselves raw.
Investment banking is a profession characterized by extremes.
Whether it's money, booze, food, sex, or work hours, the typical banker believes that more is better. We experienced our fair share of these extremes, and have recounted some of our adventures within these pages. Ex cess and debaucherous pursuits are only half the story, though. Instead, it turned out that we spent most of our work time as mindless paper processors. And even though we were paid mighty well to push that paper around, the unwavering devotion to the job that was required of us just wasn't worth it.