The Three Lessons of Joe Flom

Joe Flom, the last named partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, exemplifies the traits of an outlier: ambition, intelligence, and diligence. However, his success is deeply rooted in his background, timing, and particular opportunities, rather than solely personal virtues.

Lesson One: The Importance of Being Jewish

Flom and his peers were often excluded from traditional corporate law firms due to their "antecedents" or Jewish heritage, pushing them into underrepresented sectors like litigation and proxy fights. This environment favored the development of specific, valuable skills that would later become prized as corporate culture evolved.

Lesson Two: Demographic Luck

Being born in specific periods provided unique advantages. For instance, those born in the early 1930s, like Flom, benefited from smaller class sizes due to lower birth rates, which coincided with the Great Depression. This demographic luck gave them better education opportunities and less competition in their professional field.

Lesson Three: The Garment Industry and Meaningful Work

The early 20th-century garment industry in New York was a crucial training ground not just for gaining trade skills but also for developing entrepreneurial spirit. Many Jewish immigrants, including Flom's family, were part of this industry, gaining complex, innovation-driven skills that transcended mere craftsmanship. The garment industry taught business acumen, negotiation skills, and problem-solving, which proved invaluable in the legal profession.

Synthesis

Flom’s rise to success was less about individual heroics and more about the convergence of cultural background, historical circumstances, and serendipitous timing. His story defies the simple rags-to-riches narrative, showcasing how external conditions can dramatically shape personal outcomes. The conditions that allowed Flom to excel — being Jewish at a time of high discrimination, being born during a demographic trough, and learning from the garment industry — created a perfect storm of opportunities that he adeptly utilized to climb to the top of the legal world.