Gratitude in Milwaukee, WI

For any aspiring career-minded invidivual, like me, that first job out of college can be the most exciting. After taking an investment class at the University of Tampa after my regrettable transfer from the University of Notre Dame, I was determined to become an Investor on Wall Street. I don’t know why but the business just seemed so exciting to me. I had passed my CFA Level 1 test and after interning with a local Financial Advisor for Baird, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to interview with Baird in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a Florida kid, it was not Manhattan and the Wall Street I wanted to work for, but from best I could tell Baird had some very professional Equity Research. So I decided to take a chance on them as they took a chance on me - why would some Florida kid do well in the Midwest was part of my interview process. As I look back, I am so very grateful for the chance to work with Baird’s top-ranked Equity Research team. They put me up in a hotel, I got to start with another transplant (from San Francisco) and build their semiconductor research team up from the ground up. It was a dream come true.

After the life difficulties I have had over the years, I think this attitude of gratitude is so important for not just leaders in business, but also our younger generations. Be grateful for that first opportunity. It can make all the difference in your life. There are countless examples of successful CEO’s and leaders who wake up and write in a gratitude journal daily to remind them of the things and blessings they have, not the stuff they do not have. It is why gratitude is often considered the parent of all other virtues. Without gratitude for what God gives us, we can not develop these other character traits that are essential for our growth. So whether you are aspiring to be a leader or break into an industry you love, always be grateful for the opportunities given to your family. You may be surprised, like me, how the journey unfolds and then when you tell your story, you can find ways to “give back” with that “attitude of gratitude”. Go for it!