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Goodbye Gordon Gekko: How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul
How to live a more productive life by putting a profitable lifestyle ahead of profits
With his standout Wall Street line “Greed is good,” Gordon Gekko became pop culture icon for unrestrained greed. But, while greed might be great for one person–especially when that person is fictional–it’s not so great for good people living in the real world. In Goodbye Gordon How to Find Your Fortune and Not Lose Your Soul, Anthony Scaramucci describes how a better understanding of people, capital, and culture can be used to enrich one’s life, financially as well as spiritually. With smart and engaging prose, the
• Discusses how the best manifestations of ambition, entrepreneurship and mentoring can lead to a life that not only fulfills financial obligations, but also leaves a lasting legacy
• Describes ways in which Americans and American companies can act to avoid the kind of crisis that crippled the country’s economy
• Details how to build a core set of values to discover wealth on one’s own terms
Given the turmoil in financial markets over the past few years, many people are reevaluating what it means to be “rich.” Goodbye Gordon Gekko shows how it’s possible to be well-off without all the trappings of wealth.
With his standout Wall Street line “Greed is good,” Gordon Gekko became pop culture icon for unrestrained greed. But, while greed might be great for one person–especially when that person is fictional–it’s not so great for good people living in the real world. In Goodbye Gordon How to Find Your Fortune and Not Lose Your Soul, Anthony Scaramucci describes how a better understanding of people, capital, and culture can be used to enrich one’s life, financially as well as spiritually. With smart and engaging prose, the
• Discusses how the best manifestations of ambition, entrepreneurship and mentoring can lead to a life that not only fulfills financial obligations, but also leaves a lasting legacy
• Describes ways in which Americans and American companies can act to avoid the kind of crisis that crippled the country’s economy
• Details how to build a core set of values to discover wealth on one’s own terms
Given the turmoil in financial markets over the past few years, many people are reevaluating what it means to be “rich.” Goodbye Gordon Gekko shows how it’s possible to be well-off without all the trappings of wealth.
- GenresFinanceNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2010
15 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Scaramucci
18 books33 followersAnthony Scaramucci is an American financier, entrepreneur and political figure. He is the founder and co-managing partner of SkyBridge Capital, a global alternative investments firm.
As part of the first generation of his family to attend college, Scaramucci graduated from the Tufts University and Harvard Law School before embarking on a successful career in the financial services industry. In November 2016, Scaramucci was named to President-Elect Trump’s Presdential Transition Team Executive Committee. In June 2017, he was named the Chief Strategy Officer of the Export-Import Bank. He served as the White House Communications Director for 11 days in July 2017.
In 2016, Scaramucci was ranked #85 in Worth Magazine’s Power 100: The Most Powerful People in Global Finance. In 2011, he received Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year-New York” Award in the Financial Services category. He is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations (CFR).
Scaramucci was born and raised on Long Island, New York, where he still resides today.
As part of the first generation of his family to attend college, Scaramucci graduated from the Tufts University and Harvard Law School before embarking on a successful career in the financial services industry. In November 2016, Scaramucci was named to President-Elect Trump’s Presdential Transition Team Executive Committee. In June 2017, he was named the Chief Strategy Officer of the Export-Import Bank. He served as the White House Communications Director for 11 days in July 2017.
In 2016, Scaramucci was ranked #85 in Worth Magazine’s Power 100: The Most Powerful People in Global Finance. In 2011, he received Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year-New York” Award in the Financial Services category. He is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations (CFR).
Scaramucci was born and raised on Long Island, New York, where he still resides today.
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July 31, 2017The Mooch!
January 7, 2017
I first saw him interviewed on Charley Rose and I was dazzled by his intelligence.I expected the same from the book,and was a bit disappointed .Still not a bad read.
May 8, 2013
This book was ok overall. Written by former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Anthony Scaramucci, he sheds his life lessons he obtained throughout his career working with several different types of colleagues in various environments. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he begins his career off at the almighty Goldman Sachs in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group before getting laid off by a boss who valued him highly enough to invite him to his home to fire him and tell him that he wasn't the right fit for the group, but he liked him and would help get him a job in the Sales and Trading group. This was such an important lesson to me as just goes to show you that even if you are not good at something, so long as you have the right attitude and put the effort in, people will recognize that and go out of their way to take care of you. I have seen numerous people (including myself) have bad attitudes when they are in a job they don't like, but just goes to show you that you should always do your best no matter what job you are in as you never know what will happen. Anthony goes on to have a very successful career on the trading side at Goldman before opening up his own Fund of Fund shop where he eventually becomes a multi-millionaire.
He also shares valuable advice of how we should all act in our careers. There are two types of people in the businessworld: the Gordon Gekko's out there who are cutthroat and lie and cheat and then there are the honorable people in business. Anthony talks about countless examples of people he worked with who were of the Gordon Gekko types who eventually got burnt at the end of the day. You look at someone like Dick Fuld who was always known for having been so cutthroat and screwing a lot of people and this personality of his ends up haunting him at the end as no one comes to the rescue on his side as Lehman is experiencing its downfall and he is testifying. There is no reason to have a Gordon Gekko personality as these people, no matter how much more money and power they get, they do not end up being happy so then you have to ask yourself what is the point?
Anthony has always taken the opposite approach and has been the nice guy working in the job. He has made a conscious effort to help his colleagues and has always given back to the community whether it be his time to young aspiring professionals or to the disadvantaged through community service. All the research has shown that people who help others and do community service are happier people overall so this is something that I need to make sure I incorporate into my own life. Also, we can never forget what maybe is considered a small act of kindness on your part will impact someone else. Anthony talks about how a MD at Goldman gave him some of his suits as he saw the way Anthony dressed and knew he couldn't afford anything else. Anthony never forgot that MD and kept up a good relationship with him the rest of his career and he himself then proceeded to do the same for others.
Overall, big take away from all of this is we shouldn't get caught up in all of the money / power that can come from our careers in finance. The guys who are nice and helpful can get just as successful as the Gordon Gekko's in life, only difference is that people will love the nice guys at the end of the day and hate the Gekko's. Overall good book, despite it being somewhat of a marketing book for the almighty Goldman Sachs as Anthony does continue to talk time and time again about the amazing team culture at Goldman and how great the people at the firm were to him. Definitely worth a read for anyone.
He also shares valuable advice of how we should all act in our careers. There are two types of people in the businessworld: the Gordon Gekko's out there who are cutthroat and lie and cheat and then there are the honorable people in business. Anthony talks about countless examples of people he worked with who were of the Gordon Gekko types who eventually got burnt at the end of the day. You look at someone like Dick Fuld who was always known for having been so cutthroat and screwing a lot of people and this personality of his ends up haunting him at the end as no one comes to the rescue on his side as Lehman is experiencing its downfall and he is testifying. There is no reason to have a Gordon Gekko personality as these people, no matter how much more money and power they get, they do not end up being happy so then you have to ask yourself what is the point?
Anthony has always taken the opposite approach and has been the nice guy working in the job. He has made a conscious effort to help his colleagues and has always given back to the community whether it be his time to young aspiring professionals or to the disadvantaged through community service. All the research has shown that people who help others and do community service are happier people overall so this is something that I need to make sure I incorporate into my own life. Also, we can never forget what maybe is considered a small act of kindness on your part will impact someone else. Anthony talks about how a MD at Goldman gave him some of his suits as he saw the way Anthony dressed and knew he couldn't afford anything else. Anthony never forgot that MD and kept up a good relationship with him the rest of his career and he himself then proceeded to do the same for others.
Overall, big take away from all of this is we shouldn't get caught up in all of the money / power that can come from our careers in finance. The guys who are nice and helpful can get just as successful as the Gordon Gekko's in life, only difference is that people will love the nice guys at the end of the day and hate the Gekko's. Overall good book, despite it being somewhat of a marketing book for the almighty Goldman Sachs as Anthony does continue to talk time and time again about the amazing team culture at Goldman and how great the people at the firm were to him. Definitely worth a read for anyone.
June 7, 2014
The author's motive in writing this book seems to be: to become a positive mentor other fortune seekers. Great book for someone like my son who has a strong desire to be a sucessful businessman who invests and is very wealthy. I listened to this book first to make sure it was the message I wanted him to hear and it was (except for a few swear words). It sends the message that in one's pursuit of riches, the most important wealth is a pure conscience, good friends and mentors, honesty, humility, and other worthy values. it also exposes how ridiculous one-track thinking of becoming rich at any cost is.
July 13, 2011
Interesting take on the world of Wall St in the 21st century and how we can all learn from the mistakes (and successes) of those who work in the world of high finance. Some valuable lessons on how to maintain a genuine sense of self while still achieving business success.
January 1, 2017
There are very few books that both encourage you to channel your desire for outsized success and yet maintain your grounding, core values. Anthony has done it and produced a truly useful book.
November 12, 2016
The epitome of irony as Scamamucci turned out to be more greedy and venal than Gecko ever hoped to be. Now advising Trump to get rid of Wall Street regulations and financial advisor rules to put the client first so he can go back to fucking over the average American and our economy.
June 4, 2010
Excellent, motivational, inspiring!
Everyone should read this book! After watching Wall Street if you haven't seen yet so you can get a better understanding of who Gordon Gekko is.
Everyone should read this book! After watching Wall Street if you haven't seen yet so you can get a better understanding of who Gordon Gekko is.
November 1, 2010
Recommended by max burger
October 11, 2010
Easy read. A little repetitive however the lessons were clear.
December 28, 2010
A great book by Anthony. Wanders a little near the end, about how the world should be. Enjoyed it.
January 14, 2015
Too politically correct for my taste.
June 29, 2013
A refreshing take on striking an appropriate work-life balance
August 27, 2017
Depends on who you are and where you are in life for this book to be beneficial.
September 13, 2019
I Recommend this book to everyone. I enjoyed how the author wrote with sincerity and honesty about his personal and professional life.
July 18, 2023
Here's your text with grammar corrections:
Anthony Scaramucci’s book, "Goodbye Gordon Gekko", was a book I read in July 2023. I would rate the book four out of five stars.
Anthony is a great storyteller, and the story reads very much like those by Horatio Alger. We are taken through a journey of the first half of Anthony’s career as he grows up in a working-class neighborhood in Port Washington, works at his uncle Sal's motorcycle shop, attends Tufts University, goes to Harvard Law School, is hired, fired, and rehired by Goldman Sachs. He achieves success at Goldman Sachs, goes on to establish Oscar Capital which he subsequently sells to Neuberger Berman, which then gets sold to Lehman Brothers. After leaving Lehman, he starts Skybridge Capital, where he mentors young entrepreneurs.
Anthony peppers this journey with many stories and anecdotes, as well as learning lessons on everything from dressing up to public speaking to always leaving something for your partners. There's no shortage of antagonists and protagonists in the book, and they come from all walks of life. Examples include Mr. Lee, one of the wealthiest people in Hong Kong who always leaves some money for his partners in business deals, or the mentors that Anthony had at Goldman who played the long game and tried to leave a legacy as capital artists. There are also plenty of antagonists in the book, starting with Gordon Gekko. Since Anthony knows Oliver Stone, there’s a lot of material on how Stone might not like Wall Street, but he and Anthony can find common ground.
The book is both fun and interesting. It could be something to read as you navigate the trappings of wealth.
The timing is also intriguing, as we are reading the book from the perspective of Anthony, who is only at the halfway point of his career. Some of his most well-known happenings are still ahead of him (Salt, Donald Trump, Bitcoin, FTX), so it will be very interesting to see when he decides to conclude his career and write a memoir reflecting on how his perspectives and paths have changed.
Book timeline
.
Chapter 1 Ambition.
Ego versus The Egomaniac.
Chapter 2 Success and Failure.
Reaching for Excellence.
Chapter 3 Vocation and Meaning.
Let it All Hang Out.
Chapter 4 Capital.
Real Wealth.
Chapter 5 Knowledge.
Lessons from Unlikely Places.
Chapter 6 The Way of the Mentor.
Looking for a Hero.
Chapter 7 Teamwork.
There's No “I” in Team.
Chapter 8 The People That You Meet on the Street.
You Take the Good, You Take the Bad.
Chapter 9 How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul.
Some concepts that Anthony put forth in the book
3% theory
The idea that only 3% of the people are pure evil, and only 3% are pure good
Neighbors effect
The hypothesis that one’s material well-being is very dependent upon what their neighbor has instead of what they have from a absolute perspective. Anthony uses the example of working with the Goldman millionaires that felt that they were like chumps because the people on their floor were just as wealthy or wealthier than them.
Swell v growth
True people grow while certain people that are trapped by the trappings of early success swell. The idea here was that Goldman had people that grew and the people that were trapped, just swelled and became fat cats
Culture of trying American v European
The idea in America you should not get punished for trying where in Europe, the very wealthy often will not try if they’re not certain of success. In America you try.
Public speaking short, sincere, intimate, sit down
Anthony Scaramucci‘s idea of public speaking
Flapping your wings v listen and learn
Hello Anthony,
My summer reading included "Goodbye Gordon Gekko: How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul". I have read your other books, but somehow this one fell through the cracks. I thought it would be a good time to read it, and I am so glad I did. I want to thank you for it.
I've read "Hopping Over the Rabbit Hole: How Entrepreneurs Turn Failure into Success", but I think I enjoyed this one even more because it really has a Horatio Alger quality to it. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about your Uncle Sal, your academic journey, your willingness to discuss taking the "scenic route" when it comes to passing the bar, and, of course, all about your business career.
I also appreciated that the book was written when you were at the halfway point in your career. Many years from now, when you decide to wrap up your business career, I hope you will take the time to write a book encompassing your entire journey. Perhaps you can include a chapter where you talk about what you would tell your 20-year-old self, your 40-year-old self, your 60-year-old self, and your 80-year-old self.
I am so glad our paths have crossed and look forward to them crossing in the future as well.
Best,
Cosmin
Anthony Scaramucci’s book, "Goodbye Gordon Gekko", was a book I read in July 2023. I would rate the book four out of five stars.
Anthony is a great storyteller, and the story reads very much like those by Horatio Alger. We are taken through a journey of the first half of Anthony’s career as he grows up in a working-class neighborhood in Port Washington, works at his uncle Sal's motorcycle shop, attends Tufts University, goes to Harvard Law School, is hired, fired, and rehired by Goldman Sachs. He achieves success at Goldman Sachs, goes on to establish Oscar Capital which he subsequently sells to Neuberger Berman, which then gets sold to Lehman Brothers. After leaving Lehman, he starts Skybridge Capital, where he mentors young entrepreneurs.
Anthony peppers this journey with many stories and anecdotes, as well as learning lessons on everything from dressing up to public speaking to always leaving something for your partners. There's no shortage of antagonists and protagonists in the book, and they come from all walks of life. Examples include Mr. Lee, one of the wealthiest people in Hong Kong who always leaves some money for his partners in business deals, or the mentors that Anthony had at Goldman who played the long game and tried to leave a legacy as capital artists. There are also plenty of antagonists in the book, starting with Gordon Gekko. Since Anthony knows Oliver Stone, there’s a lot of material on how Stone might not like Wall Street, but he and Anthony can find common ground.
The book is both fun and interesting. It could be something to read as you navigate the trappings of wealth.
The timing is also intriguing, as we are reading the book from the perspective of Anthony, who is only at the halfway point of his career. Some of his most well-known happenings are still ahead of him (Salt, Donald Trump, Bitcoin, FTX), so it will be very interesting to see when he decides to conclude his career and write a memoir reflecting on how his perspectives and paths have changed.
Book timeline
.
Chapter 1 Ambition.
Ego versus The Egomaniac.
Chapter 2 Success and Failure.
Reaching for Excellence.
Chapter 3 Vocation and Meaning.
Let it All Hang Out.
Chapter 4 Capital.
Real Wealth.
Chapter 5 Knowledge.
Lessons from Unlikely Places.
Chapter 6 The Way of the Mentor.
Looking for a Hero.
Chapter 7 Teamwork.
There's No “I” in Team.
Chapter 8 The People That You Meet on the Street.
You Take the Good, You Take the Bad.
Chapter 9 How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul.
Some concepts that Anthony put forth in the book
3% theory
The idea that only 3% of the people are pure evil, and only 3% are pure good
Neighbors effect
The hypothesis that one’s material well-being is very dependent upon what their neighbor has instead of what they have from a absolute perspective. Anthony uses the example of working with the Goldman millionaires that felt that they were like chumps because the people on their floor were just as wealthy or wealthier than them.
Swell v growth
True people grow while certain people that are trapped by the trappings of early success swell. The idea here was that Goldman had people that grew and the people that were trapped, just swelled and became fat cats
Culture of trying American v European
The idea in America you should not get punished for trying where in Europe, the very wealthy often will not try if they’re not certain of success. In America you try.
Public speaking short, sincere, intimate, sit down
Anthony Scaramucci‘s idea of public speaking
Flapping your wings v listen and learn
Hello Anthony,
My summer reading included "Goodbye Gordon Gekko: How to Find Your Fortune Without Losing Your Soul". I have read your other books, but somehow this one fell through the cracks. I thought it would be a good time to read it, and I am so glad I did. I want to thank you for it.
I've read "Hopping Over the Rabbit Hole: How Entrepreneurs Turn Failure into Success", but I think I enjoyed this one even more because it really has a Horatio Alger quality to it. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about your Uncle Sal, your academic journey, your willingness to discuss taking the "scenic route" when it comes to passing the bar, and, of course, all about your business career.
I also appreciated that the book was written when you were at the halfway point in your career. Many years from now, when you decide to wrap up your business career, I hope you will take the time to write a book encompassing your entire journey. Perhaps you can include a chapter where you talk about what you would tell your 20-year-old self, your 40-year-old self, your 60-year-old self, and your 80-year-old self.
I am so glad our paths have crossed and look forward to them crossing in the future as well.
Best,
Cosmin
December 18, 2018
This was a good companion book to The Big Short. I didn't mind the occasional rambling sermon and enjoyed reading his thoughts about life. Turns out there are good people on Wall Street after all!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews