--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have this theory,\" says Andy Stone…" description: "\"“I have this theory,\" says Andy Stone, seated in his office at Prudential-Bache Securities. \"Wall Street makes its best producers into managers. The re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/michael-lewis-705_left-behind_i-have-this-theory-says-andy-stone-seate_133204.jpg" --- # I have this theory," says Andy Stone, seated in his office… ![“I have this theory," says Andy Stone, seated in his office at Prudential-Bache Securities. "Wall Street makes its best producers into managers. The reward for being a good producer is to be made a manager. The best producers are cutthroat, competitive, and often neurotic and paranoid. You turn…” quote by Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/michael-lewis-705_left-behind_i-have-this-theory-says-andy-stone-seate_133204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/michael-lewis-705_left-behind_i-have-this-theory-says-andy-stone-seate_133204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/michael-lewis-705_left-behind_i-have-this-theory-says-andy-stone-seate_133204.jpg) > ““I have this theory," says Andy Stone, seated in his office at Prudential-Bache Securities. "Wall Street makes its best producers into managers. The reward for being a good producer is to be made a manager. The best producers are cutthroat, competitive, and often neurotic and paranoid. You turn those people into managers, and they go after each other. They no longer have the outlet for their instincts that producing gave them. They usually aren't well suited to be managers. Half of them get thrown out because they are bad. Another quarter get muscled out because of politics. The guys left behind are just the most ruthless of the bunch. That's why there are cycles on Wall Street—why Salomon Brothers is getting crunched now—because the ruthless people are bad for the business but can only be washed out by proven failure.”” [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wall Street promotes top producers to managers, but their aggressive traits clash with managerial duties, leading to cycles of failure and turnover. **In simple terms:** High achievers become managers but often fail. Key Takeaway Promote based on fit, not just performance. Themes leadership corporate culture career progression organizational dynamics Mood critical analytical Type observational cautionary When to use this quote - promotion decisions - team building - performance reviews Key Concepts managerial suitability psychology of competition political maneuvering Questions to Reflect On - How can firms identify managerial potential beyond production success? - What safeguards prevent toxic cultures? A Different Perspective Not all producers have the skills to manage people effectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-producers-1522209/) [Good Producer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-producer-1522210/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Producer Manager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producer-manager-1522208/) [Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers/) [Producers Managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers-managers-1522207/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/) ## Related quotes > [I like the core people to be my producer and manager. 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