Sense on Cents

Have you ever encountered an individual who seems to be so ingratiating that you are immediately attracted to him and desire to learn more of what he has to offer?

I would imagine that many who frequent this blog have been in meetings or other situations where a strong willed, dynamic leader lays out a host of propositions that would have everybody in attendance salivating for more; however, once having set the table so to speak, the leader quickly and surreptitiously delivers a powerful message incorporating proposed enormous changes so as to leave all in attendance wondering “what just happened here.” This scenario is often compared to the children’s fable The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.

As I continue to navigate back through the annals of Wall Street while working on my book (In Bed with Wall Street to be released in early 2014 by Palgrave/MacMillan…sorry for the shameless plug) I recently came across testimony from then Goldman Sachs CEO Hank Paulson that struck me as a quintessential example of this aforementioned simple story of deceit.  (more…)