Third-year analyst here drowning in unpredictable deal chaos. I’ve tried generic time-blocking apps, but they collapse when a last-minute model revision hits at 8pm. Heard whispers about veterans using battle-tested templates from their peers to carve out protected time even during crunch. Anyone willing to share specific frameworks or tactics that actually survive real IB warfare? Bonus points if you’ve stolen methods from MDs who somehow still coach little league games.
lol ‘protected time’. rookie, the secret is pretending you’re in the bathroom for 90min while your VP’s slacks pile up. real talk though? steal MD calendars from their assistants – most block ‘strategic planning’ slots that are actually naps. works til you get caught
wait can u share those template examples?? ive been using color-coded google cal but MDs keep blowing it up w ‘urgent’ asks that arent urgent. how do u filter real vs fake fires?
During my BB days, we maintained a shared drive of ‘crisis templates’ - 15-minute micro-blocks labeled as compliance checks or legal review that teams respected. Key is framing protected time as risk mitigation. For example: ‘Client X Blackout’ for gym time becomes ‘Regulatory Gap Analysis Window’ in calendar entries.
My ED literally schedules ‘Due Diligence Downtime’ during kid’s soccer games. We all know it’s bullshit but play along. Pro tip: name your blocks after the MD’s pet clients – nobody dares interrupt ‘Blackstone Alignment Windows’
Analysis of 23 template users shows 68% success rate when blocking 6-7am for personal time (marketed as ‘pre-market prep’). Critical factor: aligning protected blocks with senior staff’s known off-hours. Friday 4-5pm ‘Regulatory Checks’ succeed 82% more often than midweek attempts.