Episode 044: John LeFevre – @GSElevator: This Episode Might Offend You

This episode is different from any other I’ve recorded for The Learning Leader Show.  Turney Duff describes my guest best for CNBC: “In some memoirs, the author tries to pull back the curtain to provide a glimpse into a particular time and place, but LeFevre attempts to rip the drapes right off. He gives a naked look at how business in the world of finance is conducted. LeFevre captures the “Glengarry Glen Ross”-type of attitude that some believe is required to be successful on Wall Street. He doesn’t shy away from witnessing and partaking in some of the seedier antics of sharing non-public information, price-fixing, misogyny, drug use and good old-fashion cut-throat office politics.”

John LeFevre created the Goldman Sachs Elevator Twitter account (@GSElevator) as a parody of banking culture. He tweeted anonymously for years as he gained hundreds of thousands of followers with his notoriously outrageous and often offensive tweets. He was eventually revealed as the author of the account.  That Twitter account propelled him to earn a six figure book deal titled, “Straight to Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, and Billion-Dollar Deals.”

Episode 044: John LeFevre – @GSElevator: This Episode Might Offend You

Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

The Learning Leader Show

“I feel an obligation to call out social injustices.” – John LeFevre

Some Questions I Ask:

  • What are the specific reasons behind your success?
  • What was your strategy behind growing the @GSElevator Twitter account?
  • What is an average “day in the life for you?”
  • When someone receives a six figure advance for a book, when exactly do you get paid?
  • Will this book become a movie?
  • Do you care if people like you? Are you okay with being polarizing?
  • What did you do with your first bonus check? ($75,000)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • Why John is so transparent and has spoken up about the Wall Street culture
  • His PR strategy to grow a twitter account
  • How Tucker Max initially helped with his book deal
  • If it’s wise to give Lena Dunham a $2 million book advance
  • Crazy stories about his day to day life in NYC, London, and Hong Kong
  • Why he felt compelled to share information about illegal happenings including bankers colluding on fees
  • Why he said writing this book turned him into a feminist
  • How John has learned and grown up from his earlier days (he’s married and a Dad now)

 “Investment bankers take themselves too seriously.” – John LeFevre

Continue Learning:

You may also like these episodes:

Episode 003: The Incredibly Interesting Story Of Maurice Clarett And How He Built A 6 Figure Income After Spending 4 Years In Prison

Episode 002: How To Take Over And Set Bigger Goals With Chris Brogan

Episode 004: How Todd Wagner (and Mark Cuban) Sold Broadcast.com To Yahoo! For $5.7 Billion

Episode 010: Shane Snow – How To Accelerate Success Using Smart Cuts

Did you enjoy the podcast?

This episode was different and very interesting with the inimitable John LeFevre.  Who do you know that needs to hear this?  Send them to The Learning Leader Show!

Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

From CNBC:

Turney Duff describes my guest best for CNBC: “In some memoirs, the author tries to pull back the curtain to provide a glimpse into a particular time and place, but LeFevre attempts to rip the drapes right off. He gives a naked look at how business in the world of finance is conducted. LeFevre captures the “Glengarry Glen Ross”-type of attitude that some believe is required to be successful on Wall Street. He doesn’t shy away from witnessing and partaking in some of the seedier antics of sharing non-public information, price-fixing, misogyny, drug use and good old-fashion cut-throat office politics.”

John LeFevre created the Goldman Sachs Elevator Twitter account (@GSElevator) as a parody of banking culture. He tweeted anonymously for years as he gained hundreds of thousands of followers with his notoriously outrageous and often offensive tweets. He was eventually revealed as the author of the account.  That Twitter account propelled him to earn a six figure book deal titled, “Straight to Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, and Billion-Dollar Deals.”