At its core, banking is not simply about profit, but about personal relationships.

Investment banking is not a business; it is a personal service where bankers work hand in hand with their clients. And it is a service that must not simply be about making bigger and bigger deals that reap rewards for only a small group of executives.

If only you could really use a fail-proof system to know who was worth keeping and who needed to be thrown away. It would make it so much easier to move through the world, picking and choosing what connections to make, or whether to make any at all.

Whenever I am asked about my personal relationships, I politely reply, 'No comments.'

In Asia, personal relationships are important, but you cannot personalise diplomacy.

All things come down to your personal relationships.