What is The Bigs? In baseball, "the bigs" is slang for the big leagues. When you become responsible for yourself, and you are being paid to do a job, you are in the big leagues. The real world is tough, competitive, and much is expected. This is a quintessentially American story of one man's journey through his career and life. Wall Street veteran Ben Carpenter chronicles the people he met, the experiences he had, the mistakes he made, and what he learned along the way. Readers will encounter a colorful cast of real-life characters which include Big Hank, Hoops, Sweater Girl, The Zombies, Mr. Nuts, The Cheese, Deep Throat, and The RAT. Their tales illuminate Carpenter's progress from newly minted liberal arts graduate, to the owner of an out-of-control bar in Manhattan, to the CEO of a major international investment company. While the real world can be very fun, it's also very much a battle, and that battle is not easy for anyone. The Bigs is an eye-opening book with specific, comprehensive, and practical advice you won't hear anywhere else. This is a book that parents will want to read and give to their children--and their children will want to read and share with their friends. An honest and heartening account of personal growth and professional success The Bigs is Ben Carpenter's first-hand account of his life's journey that started with a tumultuous childhood of frequent moves and the downward spiraling of his family's finances. From this precarious beginning, Ben tells how he progressed from a naïve liberal arts graduate, to the owner of an out-of-control bar in Manhattan, to the CEO of a major international investment company. The book originated as a list of instructions for the author's daughter as she was preparing to start her first job after college. Eventually, that list evolved into The Bigs, an invaluable guide for all college students, young professionals, and anyone seeking the hard-earned wisdom of a man who has won and lost many battles while winning the war of personal fulfillment. In addition to being a captivating story, The Bigs tells you all the specific real world secrets you need to know -- for instance, how to: * Get internships and stand out as an intern * Get informational interviews and turn them into job interviews * Get that great job even when competing against more qualified candidates * Get promoted by being identified as a leader * Have fun and be happy while working hard to achieve your hopes and dreams During your 16-plus years of school, you have read countless books that provided you a valuable academic education, but did little to further your knowledge of how the real world works. In this highly entertaining book, The Bigs will bring you up to speed with unique stories and advice that will give you all the tools you need to survive, thrive, and have fun in the big leagues of life.