Sity haw mon ya ma.
The early part of my working life was spent in stockbroking and investment banking.
The early days #
I was a market maker for a number of years and would quote buying and selling prices on fixed income bonds. In effect, I was a wholesaler.
All the bonds I traded were illiquid.
They were illiquid because they didn’t trade very often, the market in them was very small and there weren’t many buyers.
They were bonds issued by sovereign countries and agencies, domestic and overseas companies, along with the permanent interest bearing shares issued by building societies (PIBS).
The market in PIBS was very active at the time. However, that was 25 years ago, and I wouldn’t be able to quote a price on anything now – being just a little bit rusty and out of touch!
New Era #
Jump forward to the present day and here I am – doing what I’m doing and it’s similar in many ways.
In effect, I’m making a market (matching buyers and sellers) in the products and services of New Era’s clients.
The skills are very similar.
In that, just as we might be looking for a buyer of a line of stock we have on offer in the City, I work very hard, away from the financial markets, to match buyer and seller for the products and services of New Era’s clients.
Common thread #
For all aspects of illiquid bond trading and lead generation, sales, or marketing support, it’s about building the relationships.
Bond trading:
Bidding on or offering out a line of stock + relationship building (to find a buyer or seller) = sales progression.
New Era:
Lead generation + relationship building (to find a buyer or seller) = sales progression
“It’s the Circle of Life and it moves us all through despair and hope through faith and love till we find our place on the path unwinding.” – Elton John
“Sometimes life brings you full circle to a place you have been before just to show you how much you have grown.” – Anon
Tell me about your life circles. I’m keen to hear about them.
Thank you for reading.
