The Real Wolf of Wall Street: Jordan Belfort
The Real Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort was raised in a modest family in Queens, New York. Utilizing his natural talent for sales at an early age, Jordan operated a meat and seafood market in the early 80’s, but when that business venture was unsuccessful, he aimed his sights on another arena entirely, Wall Street. Belfort was hired as a connector for the brokerage firm L.F. Rothschild where he acquired a taste for the securities industry as well as the lust for money and fortune.
After the crash of the stock market in 1989, Belfort sold penny stocks for a firm in long Island where he perfected his sales technique, and earned enough money to start his own brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont. Although it was his role at Stratton Oakmont made him famous through his extravagant leadership styles, and swindling millions of dollars from investors as well as several other unethical, and illegal activities. Yes Jordan Belfort broke the law, was made very successful through unethical as well as illegal means, and had a strong substance addiction, but Jordan’s ability to inspire, motivate, empower, and lead his employees is undeniable. I was faced with an internal struggle of whether or not to do my leadership profile on Jordan Belfort, and The Wolf of Wall Street for a graduate class due to all of his unethical and illegal behaviors and graphic nature of the film, but it was his ability to inspire and resonate
with his employees at such a deep, personal level that inspired them to do anything for him even as far as lie to the SEC and FBI investigators to protect Jordan and the firm that resonated with me. I understand all of the negatives of Jordan and his leadership behavior which can provide several lessons in what not to do, but it was not that side of him that interested me, it was Jordan’s clear articulation of the vision he had for Stratton as well each of his employees, and his ability to empower them to believe in the company as well as their future with it. It
Jordan Belfort was raised in a modest family in Queens, New York. Utilizing his natural talent for sales at an early age, Jordan operated a meat and seafood market in the early 80’s, but when that business venture was unsuccessful, he aimed his sights on another arena entirely, Wall Street. Belfort was hired as a connector for the brokerage firm L.F. Rothschild where he acquired a taste for the securities industry as well as the lust for money and fortune.
After the crash of the stock market in 1989, Belfort sold penny stocks for a firm in long Island where he perfected his sales technique, and earned enough money to start his own brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont. Although it was his role at Stratton Oakmont made him famous through his extravagant leadership styles, and swindling millions of dollars from investors as well as several other unethical, and illegal activities. Yes Jordan Belfort broke the law, was made very successful through unethical as well as illegal means, and had a strong substance addiction, but Jordan’s ability to inspire, motivate, empower, and lead his employees is undeniable. I was faced with an internal struggle of whether or not to do my leadership profile on Jordan Belfort, and The Wolf of Wall Street for a graduate class due to all of his unethical and illegal behaviors and graphic nature of the film, but it was his ability to inspire and resonate
with his employees at such a deep, personal level that inspired them to do anything for him even as far as lie to the SEC and FBI investigators to protect Jordan and the firm that resonated with me. I understand all of the negatives of Jordan and his leadership behavior which can provide several lessons in what not to do, but it was not that side of him that interested me, it was Jordan’s clear articulation of the vision he had for Stratton as well each of his employees, and his ability to empower them to believe in the company as well as their future with it. It
Cited: Belfort, J. (2013). The Wolf of Wall Street. New York City: Bantam. Sinek, S. (2009). Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. New York: Portfolio. Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in Organizations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.