JOE FLOMS' STORY
Who is the last living "named" partner of the law firm? (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom)
Joe Flom
What does the phrase "old boys' club" refer to in the chapter?
An established and exclusive network that favors people from certain backgrounds
According to Gladwell in Chapter 5, is success determined by talent alone? Name one example
No (historical circumstances, discrimination, background, opportunities, and timing)
What did Flom's father sew for ladies dresses after working as a garment union organizer?
shoulder pads
Which group of lawyers faced discrimination from prestigious New York law firms?
Jewish lawyers
What does demographic luck mean?
How the period and generation someone is born into can affect their opportunities
When Skadden had 300 lawyers, how many did Flom predict it would eventually have?
1000 lawyers
What kind of legal work did the elite firms tend to consider less prestigious?
Litigation and corporate takeovers
Why was the timing of the corporate takeover boom important to Flom’s success?
Takeovers became more common, creating greater demand for his specialty
What type of legal work did Flom become especially skilled in?
Corporate takeovers and litigation.
How did discrimination unintentionally help some Jewish lawyers gain experience in corporate takeovers?
Elite firms avoided this work so, the Jewish lawyers gained experience in it and became specialists
Name the three qualities Gladwell associates with meaningful work.
Autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward.
Why did Flom end up working at a smaller law firm instead of one of the prestigious firms?
He faced barriers and discrimination at the prestigious firms
How does Joe Flom’s story challenge the idea that success comes from talent and hard work alone?
His success depended partly on historical circumstances, discrimination, opportunities, and timing
How does the story of the Borgenichts illustrate Gladwell’s argument about family background and work?
That demanding work and family experiences help shape the skills and attitudes associated with later professional success