Mother Teresa on Wall St.
By Shlomo Maital
What are the odds you will find Mother Teresa on Wall St.? Not too high? Would you accept instead a young 25-year-old computer science graduate from MIT named Jason Trigg instead? Here is what Dylan Thomas wrote about him, in the Washington Post (May 31):
“Jason Trigg went into finance because he is after money — as much as he can earn. The 25-year-old certainly had other career options. An MIT computer science graduate, he could be writing software for the next tech giant. Or he might have gone into academia in computing or applied math or even biology. He could literally be working to cure cancer. Instead, he goes to work each morning for a high-frequency trading firm. It’s a hedge fund on steroids. He writes software that turns a lot of money into even more money. For his labors, he reaps an uptown salary — and over time his earning potential is unbounded. It’s all part of the plan. Why this compulsion? It’s not for fast cars or fancy houses. Trigg makes money just to give it away. His logic is simple: The more he makes, the more good he can do. He’s figured out just how to take measure of his contribution. His outlet of choice is the Against Malaria Foundation, considered one of the world’s most effective charities. It estimates that a $2,500 donation can save one life. A quantitative analyst at Trigg’s hedge fund can earn well more than $100,000 a year. By giving away half of a high finance salary, Trigg says, he can save many more lives than he could on an academic’s salary.”
I think this is a great idea. But New York Times columnist David Brooks (Global NYT June 5) is doubtful. “If you are thinking of following his example, I would really urge caution.” Why???
First: “Every hour you spend with others, you become more like the people around you.” In other words, Trigg’s brain will become polluted by the money-grubbing it’s-all-about-me culture.
Second: “If you choose a profession that doesn’t arouse your everyday passion for the sake of serving, …you might become one of those people who loves humanity in general but not the particular humans immediately around.”
Third: “I would worry about turning yourself into a means rather than an end.”
I love David Brooks’ insight. But in this case, I think he is horribly wrong. What do YOU think, reader?
3 comments
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June 5, 2013 at 7:22 pm
julien
Well… That’s an interesting story, but is he really wrong? I am not sure about that. If people like him replicate his own behavior, where does that lead us?
More Mere Teresa on Wall street!
“First: “Every hour you spend with others, you become more like the people around you.””
=> Maybe he is a start of the change of these people making wall street, and if more people imitate him, these people and wall street could just be the one who need to change.
“Second: “If you choose a profession that doesn’t arouse your everyday passion for the sake of serving, …you might become one of those people who loves humanity in general but not the particular humans immediately around.””
=> There are many ways of serving, some people give time, others money… Making money for the good causes, using all the skills you have may arouse your everyday passion for the sake of serving. And if more people imitate him on wall street, why wouldn’t he love the humans immediately around him too?
“Third: “I would worry about turning yourself into a means rather than an end.”
=> I actually wonder, what is the end of people in Wall street? Aren’t they means also to make money for trading companies?
I believe that David Brooks insight is great, it may be even greater if he is able to inspire people, and be imitated.
June 5, 2013 at 7:24 pm
julien
I meant Jason Trigg, I think also that David Brook is wrong.
June 6, 2013 at 5:30 am
Eric
David Brooks’ insight, while valid, is highly subjective to what kind of person Jason Trigg really is inside. To counter each of his points: (1) Trigg might be a person with a lot of integrity enough NOT to be influenced by the people in his industry. (2) His passion may really be writing software, making a difference could be an equal passion, if not a close second. He may or may not like the people around him but it doesn’t matter. Being a “humanitarian” requires him to be just as human as the rest of us who don’t necessarily have to like everyone. (3) Again, IF his true passion is writing software, then Trigg doesn’t have to worry at all. He has found a real fulfilling purpose to channel his passion.
Unfortunately, I don’t see enough information about Jason Trigg to make these judgments. My two cents