I ran into Sebastian yesterday. I only saw him for a minute but it was still nice running into him. Being an ambitious guy, he had his ear in his phone at 8am, and couldn't talk.

Ambitious friends are a mixed blessing.

On one hand, they're inspirational; they make you want to do more, to be more powerful. Their access—money, parties, social networks—can be useful. Many of them are happy to help, and they have great stories.

On the other hand, they can be insufferable, self-important, and a pain in the ass to schedule. Whatever plans you make, expect last-minute cancellation because "something came up at work". If they show up, they'll be at least an hour late; they'll say "sorry" but you both know they'll do the same thing next time, because work—their work—is always #1. I'm getting to an age where first marriages are starting to crack; without fail, one person feels their spouse isn't making them a priority. I can think of three cases of this offhand, one I just met yesterday, who lost a wife to work in his 30s (he's 46 now); he says it's one of his biggest regrets.

Those extra hours on the margin really matter. Going from 45 to 55 hours/week at work might give you an extra 10%. But the cost to your relationships and health can be enormous; just make sure whatever you're getting is worth the price.

I guess I'm not cut out for Wall Street; I want more than a dog for a friend.