THE THREE LESSONS OF JOE FLOM By Amanda

THE THREE LESSONS OF JOE FLOM By: Amanda Sanchez, Michael Boyle, Dylan Mc. Conville, Gianna Jones, and Taylor Sobel

JOE FLOM q -”grew up in the Depression in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood” (116) q -”his parents were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe” (116) q -his family was desperately poor (117) q He claimed that he wanted to be a lawyer since he was six years-old and later on grew up to be just that (117) q All of these are the components (major points) that Gladwell elaborates on in the chapter

LESSON ONE: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING JEWISH (121) • Being Jewish brought down the opportunities of finding a job. “I was…had come far. ” (121 -122) • He said he felt “uncomfortable” when he went to interviews “He says…in the library. ” (123) • Being Jewish was considered a disadvantage and they were discriminated against- “But the true… and outlier. ” ( 120)

LESSON 1: CONTINUED • There were hostile fights in Jewish law firms but it was perfect for Flom “What…be bought” (124 -125) • In the end, the “disadvantage” of being Jewish was an advantage because it separated their ethnicity and Flom was able to do what he wanted to • “ The…Moore” (127) • Timing was an advantage as well “If you were not …opportunity. ” (123 -124) • In the end, being Jewish was a happy accident for Joe Flom, and it was an advantage rather than a drawback.

LESSON TWO: DEMOGRAPHIC LUCK (129) • Demographics is statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it. • This has to do with timing within this lesson

FATHER AND SON • Maurice Janklow (the father in this example) was born in 1902 and spent most of his life on the edge of poverty. (132) • - Went to Brooklyn Law School • - Closed titles for twenty-five dollars • “When the Depression…been worse” (132 -133) • Mort Janklow was then born in the 1930 s • - Went to New York public schools when they were at their best (138) • - Went to Columbia University law School • - Sold his cable business for tens of millions of dollars • His timing was much better than his father’s • More opportunities: education, resources

LESSON 2: CONTINUED • Mort started a literary agency in the 1970 s, and it is today one of the most prestigious in the world. - (130) • • RELATION: Chris Langan, was an investigation into how some children with really high IQs who were born between 1903 and 1917 • “The explanation…disruption” (131 -132) • They went through panic in the streets, friends dying, the First World War, the Depression, then the Second World War. • ‘’They didn’t have much of a chance. That was a very tough period. My father would have been much more successful in a different kind of world. ’’ (139)

LESSON 2: CONTINUED • Mort gives 2 very significant quotes regarding his father and how he was more successful than him • “ He was… edge” (133) • “My mother… dying”(138) • The focus of this lesson was the contrast between timings of birth and the differences in resources

• LESSON THREE: THE Louis and Regina Borgenicht came. GARMENT to INDUSTRY AND THE America in 1889 from Hamburg but IMPORTANCE OF WORK where Jewish immigrants. (p. 139) • Louis and Regina struggled to provide for their family because they were immigrants (139). • But Louis recognized the demand of clothing and created his own garments. (139) • “He was sitting on an overturned box, eating a late lunch of the sandwiches Regina had made for him. It was clothes. Everywhere around him stores were opening- suits, dresses, overalls, shirts, skirts, blouses, trousers, all made and ready to be worn. ” (p. 140) Book based on the life of Borgenicht - as well

LESSON 3: CONTINUED • Their family had the background to be successful unlike the “peasants” • “The Irish and Italian immigrants…world. ” (149) • Louis looked at his surroundings and found his success • “On the evening…for sale” (141) • The work ethic of the “grandfathers” passed on to the grandchildren • “The most important…was practiced” (151) • On page 152 - chart which explains the transfer of work ethic • In the end, Gladwell states that the work ethic was the main element of the garment industry and the success of the grandchildren born at the right time.

WHY THIS CHAPTER? • We believe that Gladwell added this chapter to explain that not all that “disadvantages” (the 3 lessons) were advantages in the end. “ Their world- their culture and generation and family history- gave them the greatest of opportunities” (Gladwell, 158).