What are the motifs in The Predators' Ball by Connie Bruck?

A recurring idea is the value of hard work. None of the characters in the book is afraid of hard work. None of them keeps an eye on the clock or works nine to five hours. Once the Milken group moved to California, they maintained work hours consistent with the New York work day. This meant that they began their day at 4:30 a.m. They would also work after the close of the trading day, in spite of the time and the number of hours they spent. Part of the reason why Milken's staff was willing to do this is that they knew that Milken would never ask them to do what he wouldn't do but he expected to be listed to when he told them to do something.