Bill Perkins

And I was like, oh, that's what I want. I want to be rich. I want to go work in stocks. So when my godfather called me, I go, I want to be a stockbroker or a stock trader. And he goes, I don't know anything about equities, but there's this firm in commodities. Mind you, I didn't know what a commodity was. That's looking for screen clerks. Go check it out.

And so I got an introduction, came up with my resume. This is what you're like, late 80s, early 90s? Like 91. And- Takes my resume, tears it up, walks me around the floor. People yelling and screaming and, you know, they're kind of casual wear and it's like trading places. And I was like, all this energy. And I'm like, wow.

And so I got an introduction, came up with my resume. This is what you're like, late 80s, early 90s? Like 91. And- Takes my resume, tears it up, walks me around the floor. People yelling and screaming and, you know, they're kind of casual wear and it's like trading places. And I was like, all this energy. And I'm like, wow.

if that guy can be rich, so can I. And so they didn't want to hire me, actually. They were looking to give the job to someone else, another friend of the firm. So I kind of hung out downstairs, waiting every day, calling, can I come up? Can I become a peon here? Can I become a peon? And finally, after three days, they let me become a peon. So what did that job entail?

if that guy can be rich, so can I. And so they didn't want to hire me, actually. They were looking to give the job to someone else, another friend of the firm. So I kind of hung out downstairs, waiting every day, calling, can I come up? Can I become a peon here? Can I become a peon? And finally, after three days, they let me become a peon. So what did that job entail?

It's checking trades and sneaking sandwiches on the floor for traders. It's literally the worst version of the mailroom. But The system in the old days where guys would yell and scream across a pit and write their trades on a pick card and also in their trade book. They'd throw the pick cards into the center. There's a guy with glasses and a giant net. And all these cards would go to him.

It's checking trades and sneaking sandwiches on the floor for traders. It's literally the worst version of the mailroom. But The system in the old days where guys would yell and scream across a pit and write their trades on a pick card and also in their trade book. They'd throw the pick cards into the center. There's a guy with glasses and a giant net. And all these cards would go to him.

They would cash them, put them down the chute, and they would be entered into a computer system. My job was to check the trader's log versus the computer's log. And your name becomes your trader. So if your trader was YNOT or S&M, that was your name. So clerks are running around the floor going, why not? S&M, why not? And then if you're YNOT, you're like, why not here? Ever here?

They would cash them, put them down the chute, and they would be entered into a computer system. My job was to check the trader's log versus the computer's log. And your name becomes your trader. So if your trader was YNOT or S&M, that was your name. So clerks are running around the floor going, why not? S&M, why not? And then if you're YNOT, you're like, why not here? Ever here?

I know selling five lots at $54.80, not three lots at $54.80. What do you know? And if you know the same trade, then it's a simple process to correct it in the system. And if you don't, you're like, no, no, I definitely know only three lots. Then you go to the traders immediately and they kind of reconcile it. And that was a system like running around all day checking trades.

I know selling five lots at $54.80, not three lots at $54.80. What do you know? And if you know the same trade, then it's a simple process to correct it in the system. And if you don't, you're like, no, no, I definitely know only three lots. Then you go to the traders immediately and they kind of reconcile it. And that was a system like running around all day checking trades.

Yeah. So back when the World Trade Center was there, this was in for World Trade Center.

Yeah. So back when the World Trade Center was there, this was in for World Trade Center.

Yeah. That's when I decided to turn it on. I always tell people like, hey, I was pretty much a, can I say fuck up? I was pretty much the fuck up of fuck ups for giving what I had before college. But then I decided to turn it on. That poverty, that being a peon and that desire to make it forced me to be like, I'm going to learn every single thing there is about this business.

Yeah. That's when I decided to turn it on. I always tell people like, hey, I was pretty much a, can I say fuck up? I was pretty much the fuck up of fuck ups for giving what I had before college. But then I decided to turn it on. That poverty, that being a peon and that desire to make it forced me to be like, I'm going to learn every single thing there is about this business.

I was reading books at night about trading. about the oil business, about options, about whatever. I was a sponge. And I really turned it on and said, I'm going to be diligent. I'm not going to mess around as much as I possibly can as a 20-year-old, right? And really, really trying to make myself invaluable no matter where I was. So where were you living at the time? What part of the city?

I was reading books at night about trading. about the oil business, about options, about whatever. I was a sponge. And I really turned it on and said, I'm going to be diligent. I'm not going to mess around as much as I possibly can as a 20-year-old, right? And really, really trying to make myself invaluable no matter where I was. So where were you living at the time? What part of the city?

Did you actually live in Manhattan? When I first got there, I had to live at home with my mom, which was completely cramping my style. And so I started driving a limo at night, the company limo at night to make ends meet. What were you getting paid in that first job? Oh, geez. I think it was sub $16,000 a year. I have to go look. Sub 16. Yeah.

Did you actually live in Manhattan? When I first got there, I had to live at home with my mom, which was completely cramping my style. And so I started driving a limo at night, the company limo at night to make ends meet. What were you getting paid in that first job? Oh, geez. I think it was sub $16,000 a year. I have to go look. Sub 16. Yeah.

I think it was like 16, 16,000, but I was getting raises very quickly because I made myself valuable and I would work at night. And I would make more money driving the limo on a daily basis because traders would take me here and they'd be drunk and they'd tip you. And you weren't there necessarily for your current income. You were there for your future income.