Reply to How important is "culture" fit or "lifestyle" fit when attempting to make partner in Biglaw?

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

Reply to "How important is "culture" fit or "lifestyle" fit when attempting to make partner in Biglaw?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Appreciate everyones responses and feedback here. To clarify a few points:

1. I'm a guy and yes LuLulemon make mens shorts. 
2. While I would like to achieve financial independence, not entirely sure whether I want to retire early. I'm able to work hard and pursue my hobbies/interests as is so if I can keep making money while keeping that balance I would not necessarily want to change it up.
3. Not all my clothes are thrifted/second hand. Suits for client meetings/events  were bought new and tailored. Same with shirts. Ties were bought new. Shoes were bought new. Basically the clothes that are worn in front of clients are what you would expect and are modern/non patched/pressed. When in office without client meetings and what not is when I'm potentially wearing second hand/repaired clothing and even though would be along the lines of repairing a seam in the crotch with thread that matches the materials already there. Slapping non color matched iron on patch on holes is not what is happening.

Sounds like what people are saying is that my rigidity may be an issue in advancing.Really wish that folks played more active sports with clients but I guess that would prevent having good conversations I'm willing to buy some clothes that are not second hand for non-client meeting circumstances but I don't think I can do a new car. If it was not running well or was messed up somehow then that would be one thing but[b] seems like a waste to replace a good running vehicle just because its older.[/b][/quote]

You're not wasting it.  You're making it available to somebody who needs an inexpensive car far more than you do.

Ultimately, you're being pretty selfish here about material goods.  You're making good money but refusing to spend it because you "like seeing the number go up."  You take good clothes from thrift stores where the poor could benefit from them.  You take offense to the term "hoard" but that's exactly what you're doing with your wealth.  And not for some high-minded, ecologically-oriented philosophy, but because you value possession of money above all else.  There's a broad spectrum between spendthrift and miser.  You've made your bed with Ebeneezer Scrooge.

And so now we find ourselves with your question - how do I make sure my lifestyle doesn't get in the way of making partner?  Which I read instead as "can I maintain my love-of-money cheapskate lifestyle while still pursuing the acquisition of even more income as a partner so I can see the number go up faster?"  Which, to be honest, is a pretty pathetic life goal.  Just as is a lifestyle defined by vapid luxury for luxury's sake.  You're just as bad as those you purport to look down upon.  But at least they create jobs and feed the economy through their spending.  You just sit on your pile of money.

I honestly think you need some therapy.  For as much as I'm glad you feel like you live a content life - and for as much as one doesn't need to spend money to be fulfilled - your motivations are highly suspect and you need a healthy dose of introspection.

Good luck.[/quote]

You provide an interesting perspective here. Its almost like you're stating that I have a duty to purchase material goods of a certain cost or caliber. Almost like a reverse means test of sorts. As long as the clothes or vehicle benefit someone I don't see how it matters how much money a person has in the bank. I'm not purchasing the clothes to go then resell elsewhere, I'm using them myself so they are still helping. Same with the car. I don't really spend because other than on the things that I do/have to spend on because I feel like I have everything I need and most of what I want. I do not look down upon (almost) anyone and certainly not the people who live luxury lives. By them doing so they putting $$$ in the economy then I buy VTI and other index funds and everyone is happy.

I have gone to therapy with a few different therapists at different times in my life and they didn't really have anything to say too strongly about changing my lifestyle. Just as long as I am happy and I'm not forcing my lifestyle on others then everything was cool.

As mentioned previously, I've started talks with a couple of other firms and reached out to my contacts and have arranged a few informational interviews with other firms to see what my "worth" could potentially be in case my current firm agrees with the majority position here.[/quote]

PP here.

I'm not saying you have a duty to embrace consumerism.  I think we all have an obligation to fight against that to varying degrees.  I do, however, think that you are robbing the needy of opportunities to acquire quality clothes that they may need more than you.  A person of means should, in my opinion, buy quality (read: not necessarily luxury) products that will last a long time and, once they've become reasonably worn, donate them and repeat the cycle.  This is how the flow of charity works.  If the wealthy are snatching up the good stuff from thrift stores - or never making the original purchase in the first place to eventually donate - the system breaks down.  This isn't a rejection of minimalism - feel free to keep your purchases to a minimum.  It's a condemnation of you cosplaying like you're in poverty and taking the resources intended for those who actually are.

And buying VTI doesn't really do much for the economy other than help capital flow.  If everybody lived like you, we'd have massive unemployment and a tanking economy.

I guess I'm not surprised that your therapists haven't influenced you to change.  Their lens is too narrowly focused on you and your behaviors aren't explicitly harming you or others in a tangible sense, so why would they care?  But maybe you'd be better off seeing a philosopher.  Somebody who can zoom out and look not just at you, but your place in the world and how you function in society.  I think there's a richer (not monetary), more fulfilling life waiting for you somewhere.

Again, I wish you luck.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics