Scott Galloway sends strong message on Morgan Stanley and work

Scott Galloway, the popular podcaster and New York University professor, spoke with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky on June 3 and revealed his path to success.

The discussion involved some words of weakness and strengths that Americans may find important and inspiring.

Significantly, Galloway revealed why he decided to leave Morgan Stanley.

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“The reason I left the corporate world was I literally recognized, ‘I don't have the skills for this.’” Galloway told Roslansky on LinkedIn's The Path. “I was too insecure. People would go into a conference room at Morgan Stanley, and I would assume they were talking about me.”

“I couldn't handle people getting promoted that I didn't think were smart,” Galloway continued. “It was a jambo of nerves and insecurity and I realized I am not cut out for the corporate world. I'm just not good at it. It wasn't because I thought, ‘I'm so awesome. I need to let my freak flag of entrepreneurship fly.’ I just knew I wouldn't be successful at a big company.”

Galloway talked more about how he found his calling, including some bad advice from wealthy people that he suggests people might not want to follow.

“The worst advice the billionaires give is ‘follow your passion.'” Galloway said. “Anyone who tells you to ‘follow your passion' is already rich.”

“What I would say to anyone in their twenties is: ‘Your job is to workshop.' If you're one of those people who knows exactly what you want to do and gets traction in it right away, that puts you in the 2% most fortunate,” he said. “The key is just to keep trying, be resilient until you land on something you think you could be great at.”

A man is seen at work considering his career path. Scott Galloway explains his reason for leaving Morgan Stanley and pursuing his financial ambitions.

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Scott Galloway reveals personal history, what led to leaving Morgan Stanley

Galloway explained his personal past and how it led to making choices that many would see as out of the ordinary.

“I was raised by a single immigrant mother who lived and died as a secretary. Neither of my parents graduated from high school,” Galloway explained. “Our household income was never over $40,000, so it wasn't a given that I was going go to college.”

Galloway talked more about his weaknesses and the fact that those problems did not discourage him.

“I was remarkably unremarkable but America used to love unremarkable people,” he said. “I got into UCLA with a 2.27 GPA and spent most of college watching Planet of the Apes. Now, you have to weigh off your economic situation, the value of the degree and if you could go out and make more money on your own.”

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Galloway also discussed his warnings and about being an entrepreneur, particularly about romanticizing the notion.

For Galloway, it appears he had some fears about leaving the Morgan Stanley and the corporate world.

Scott Galloway has blunt words on being an entrepeneur

Galloway explains his experience with teaching college students about their hopes and dreams.

“A ton of kids come to my office hours and they'll say, ‘I have offers from Google and Salesforce, but I really want to start my own business,'” he said. “And I'll say, ‘Don't be an idiot, go work for Google.'”

Galloway clarified more about his thoughts on advising students.

“They don't expect to hear that from me. We have a tendency to romanticize entrepreneurship,” he said before asking a vital question.

“Just ask yourself, ‘Are you willing to risk public failure? Are you willing to be emotionally stressed? Are you willing to strain your relationships? Are you willing to borrow money from your in-laws?'”

“With a prospect, you might have to show up at Thanksgiving having lost it,” Galloway stressed. “Are you willing to sell everyone all the time?'”