Are We Truly Self-Made, or Just Lucky?

Hello and welcome. My name is Tavishima Aide. I saw sales and marketing challenges and I'm making today's podcast recording in my house. So expect to hear the usual interruptions because it's a weekend and everyone is home. Now. The goal of this podcast is business education. So please spread the word so that your friends and family members in Nigeria and abroad can benefit from the questions that we tackle over here.

They can do that by subscribing on Spotify, YouTube, Apple, or any player of their choice. And if you'd love to connect, you can call me SMS or WhatsApp me on 08064662140. Now today on the podcast, I would like to continue with our book review. I know it's been months since I've done this, but let me just get back to it. And the book is Malcolm Gladwell Outliers. The subtitle, I'd be the subtext is The Story of Success.

And let me be honest, we've entered chapter 1 now, and I don't like the way this book is going. I won't lie, I don't like it. But anyway, The thing is, since I promised you guys that is what we're going to do, I will finish the book. And The funny thing is, this is one of these ongoing arguments that I have with my wife because she's like, why are you watching this movie or why are you reading this book? Clearly, you're not enjoying this thing.

If you don't like it, stop it. But for me, I just feel like, you know, I've already started, so I might as well finish. And it's also a conversation that even used to have my mom, because my mom is ruthless. Like she'll pick up a book, she'll give it 3 pages. If she's not feeling the book, she would drop it 3 pages. But for me, if I've started, I might as well just finish. So yeah, we will go ahead and we will finish this book no matter how long it will take.

So chapter one of the book is called the Matthew Effect and that is where I even started. That's where the guy just started losing me. Now the reason why it's called the Matthew Effect is because of sayings of Jesus. That's the part where Jesus says in Matthew after one of the parables where Jesus said to he that has greater will be added and to he that has not even what he has will be taken away. So essentially Jesus Christ was at the end of the parable was explained to people.

I said, look, this guy was a correct servant. And because it was diligent in what he did, and I'm going to add some more, and because this other guy was not diligent enough, the one that he even had, we will take away and we'll give to somebody else. And there's this modern trend where people look towards the Bible and they try to extrapolate business principles and all kinds of principles for life success and, you know,

things like that. And it's not a bad thing to do. But to be honest, look, busy business partners. No worry, I'll leave the Bible soon. But I just want to make a point. The origins of the Bible are that, you know, the Bible was used for liturgical purposes. Liturgy just means public observance. The early Christian communities were using these writings in public celebrations as a tool of prayer and a tool of drawing us closer to God in the prayer and the sacraments.

That's the whole point. It's not some textbook for you to use and try and extrapolate principles for business success, you know, even though you can find things like that not just in Matthew, but also in Proverbs and the wisdom literature and things like that. But anyway, let me not scare away those people who are not Christians. So this is what Malcolm Gladwell is trying to say. OK, Well, let me run you through the thought process anyway.

So this is what Malcolm Gladwell says. Remember, the subtext about this book is the story of success. So in reading this book, Outliers, we're trying to figure out what is it that truly makes people successful. And here Malcolm Gladwell starts laying out his argument that it's not really, how do I put it? Sometimes people look for commonalities. When you see people successful, you're looking for the things that they did that help them to be successful.

And the assumption is that if I do the same things, I will be successful as well. Malcolm Gladwell is trying to say that no, that is not the case. That actually people who are successful have some hidden advantages that are not available to all of us. And those are the reasons why these people are successful in the 1st place. And you can see why I'm already beginning to quarrel with this book because The thing is, even if it were true now, the reason why somebody's successful is because he was destined to be successful by the virtue of his birth.

You believing it. How would that help you while here trying to make some good money? We want our children to live a correct life. We want to give our spouses nice things. We want to be able to flex once in a while. I would like to have shawarma for breakfast every day, pounded yam with you know, maybe like 8 meat and like 5 bottles of coke and then maybe pizza for dinner as in lavish lifestyle. So if these are your goals, how does it help you to wake up in the morning and now start believing that, oh, the reason why that guy or that babe is successful is because of the family she was born into or the decade that she was born?

Or because of some advantage that Mumsy and Popsy gave her? Or because of some connections that the guy has because of who his Popsy is? I mean, I don't have it these things, to be honest. It might be true. But The thing is, how is it helping you? Do you think you're going to give your best if that's how you're walking through life? Like, oh, this guy's successful and it's because of his popsy now. Oh, she's successful as because of her mom.

See, Oh, those children, all of them are successful as because they were born in the UK. How would I help you? Anyway, let me get back to what Malcolm Gladwell was saying. So he starts off his research by saying that if you look at hockey and different kinds of sports, athletic programs in the West, you know, Canada, America, that kind of thing, that you start looking at the statistics, you'll be able to figure out some kind coincidences.

And one of them is that people who make it big in hockey in Canada and some other sports in America, it's because they happen to be born around particular months. So for hockey, he noted that date of their birth between January to March, 40% of the elite players in Canadian National leagues happen to be born between the months of January to March. And the reason why that's the case is because he says that there are arbitrary cut off dates.

You know, you want to pick somebody, you want to pick children who are, you know, nine years old, ten years old, you know, stuff like that. Before the end of the season, I'll be before the beginning of the season. And so it just so happens that children who are born around, you know, January, February, March, of course, technically speaking, even though they are the same age as somebody who was born in December, Abby, is it December?

And the point is that those people who are born early January, February, March, they have an advantage because they're going to be months older than their contemporaries. And so it gives them a physical advantage. And of course, yes, we know it's true because for those of us who are men listening to this podcast, you know, we know. We know that. Yeah, that just happens to be true. If you're a 10 year old boy, you know, the 11 year old usually stronger than you and faster than you.

It's just one of those things, if you're an 8 year old boy, the 9 year old usually turns out to be stronger and faster than you. It's just one of those things. So it is the kind of rationale when you start doing statistical analysis on hockey leagues, which are the one they do again, baseball, excuse me, things like that. You now start saying that, oh, OK, champions in this league usually are bond between this month and this month.

Now, when I'm looking at these things, I always say it's a matter of perspective because my father used to say, yeah, numbers don't lie. But the problem is people have to interpret numbers. If you notice, it is 40% of elite players that happen to be born between January and March and Malcolm Gladwell and everybody, they're paying attention to this 40% what happened to the other people, the 60% that don't happen to be born within this choice month but are still making it.

This problem I have with the work agenda. Somehow they never seem to look at the statistics in an even manner. So 40% of people are born between January and March. Oh, so therefore it means if you're born between January and March or when you be successful in sports, I mean, come on, It's not the only factor. And that's the reason why already I'm beginning to not like this book. We want people to read this thing believing that an important factor of your success determines on is based upon when you are born.

So if you're born between January and March, correct, I'm a success, I'm an overcomer. But if they born me in November, December, Oh no, I am down, I am cast out. I am dejected. I am for long. Nothing for me now. I locked me that. I mean, come on. Anyway, the statistics are impressive. They look at hockey leagues, they look at baseball leagues. What again? Which one did they look at? But summary Well, Malcolm Gladwell is trying to say is that people don't rise from nothing, that anybody who is successful owes his success either to parentage or patronage.

That's what he's trying to say. If you're successful because of who your parents are or if you're successful is because of who your parents know or because of who you know. So who your parents are and the patronage that you have give you hidden advantages and give you opportunities that are not accessible to everybody else. Now, like I said, I'm not going to sit up here and be naive and say these things don't matter. Yeah, it matters who your mom's here and Pop sees.

It matters who you know. It matters. I'm just trying to tell you that don't believe all these work bears, that this is the most important reasons why some people are successful. Remember in the hockey thing, they say 40% of elite players are born between January and March. There's still 60% of people who were born in the bad month and who still made it. So I beg, don't let this kind of literature color. Don't let it blind your eyes.

Yes, you might be the children of nobody, and yes, you have no patronage. Yes, you have no connection. Yes, you have no education. Yes, you have nothing. Yes, it's possible. We are born on the wrong. You are born in the wrong family, in the wrong part of the country, on the wrong side of the track, on the wrong everything. It does not mean that your life is going to end up in 0. It doesn't mean I really wish people would stop spouting this kind of things.

It might be true, but it's not the sole determinant to our success. It doesn't mean that because somebody is born with the right parents or the right circumstances or the right patronage that they are going to be successful. It doesn't mean I appreciate one part of his argument, though. He's trying to say that when it comes to athletics and other stuff, because we have arbitrary cut off dates, we're giving some people some kind advantage if it's like that.

I understand because he also points out in Scandinavia that they don't start making these decisions until the children are much older. You know, when people have entered puberty, then you give everybody a fighting shot because now and speaking from the point of view of a of a guy, because like I said, you know, I used to play some sports. And the truth of the matter is just that if you're a nine year old, the 10 year old is faster than you, he's stronger than you.

He's just giving on average. So they wait until everybody don't mature, everybody has entire puberty before we now start selecting everybody into different leagues, you know, top ten, first league, Syria, A this, that, that, that. So, yeah, I understand what he's trying to say now. Those of us who are in a policy, in a position to affect public policy, we have to be careful to be sure that we are separating people at the right time and we're separating people fairly so that everybody can compete fairly to that extent.

I appreciate the argument he's making. And for that, I would say, yes, Malcolm Gladwell and you know, the rest of the people, you know, on our political spectrum, yes, continue to say that because we should be mindful about the kind of structures that we're putting up in place and how they affect people's ability or people's propensity to to rise and to make something of themselves in this light in this life. But now let's come down to business.

Let's think about it. What are the implications for business? Because here, you know, this podcast, that's all we talk about sales and marketing business. So implications for business. Some people think it is. So last week I saw some idiot on LinkedIn guy guy begin to rat. The guy was talking anyhow, the guy said that OK, well I shouldn't call him an idiot, sorry, because he has a different point of view. I shouldn't call him an idiot.

But I was just ranting about how Dangote is not a role model or Ted Dollar is not a role model. Da Vidu is not a role model. He calls from other people and the reason why he says because those people were born into wealth and so because they were born into wealth, they didn't have to struggle like the rest of us and were not born into wealth. And the guy just they rant, just they rant, just they rant. There are some people who believe that Dangote is where he is because he was born that way.

He was born into the Dantata family. He was born into millions. They gave him millions and so he continued to has me to have millions. Some people believe that oh Davido. The reason why Davido is big is because Davido was born into wealth. His father gave him wealth, his uncle gave him wealth and he will continue in wealth and prosperity. There are people who believe that so they say OK Dangote born into a wealthy family, his uncle had correct pepper and gave him C capital.

They say young man take this thing go and buy 3 trucks start your business. So Dangote had the advantage of wealth and the wealthy uncle who gave him money. I say go and buy 3 trucks to start your business. That's what the guy claimed on LinkedIn. But think about it, is Dangote, the first person to come from a wealthy family is down with a the first person to have a three truck advantage. I've seen people who have been given an advantage take this fleet, 5 cars start this business and they run the business into the ground.

I have seen that happen. I'm related to this person so I don't want to say anything more than that, but I've seen it happen. Somebody has been given 5 car advantage and the person who ran the business to the ground because somebody dashed you 3 trucks or five cars is not a guarantee that the business will succeed. It is not. If that were the case, every single person in down with his family should be incredibly wealthy as he is.

But is everybody in his lineage or his cousins, are they all as bastard wealthy as he is? In our families, We know our families now, some of us are born in the middle class section. There's some people that are born in the poor section and there's some people that are born in the wealthy section in the family. One of my aunties used to tell me, Terry Schumer, no condition is permanent. You're looking down on these people now.

No condition is permanent as we're growing up now. I'm seeing that. Yeah, Auntie was correct. There's some people who are born in the quote, Paul, part of the family who now they're the ones on top. They don't hammer large, big boy, big girl. Confirm. Meanwhile, they were born in the poor section of the family. The part of the family that way you see them is just like, you know, you just look at them anyhow. And then also people who are born in the rich part of the family, holidays abroad,

shopping at Harold's, vacations in Switzerland, vacations in America. But now you look at them, you know, it's not as if they're poor. But life did not to arrange these things happen. It's not every single person that was born rich that is rich today. It's not every single person that was born poor that is poor today. Yes, these things might help. Let's not use it to call our perspective. So please, if you are born with a silver spoon, don't take it as a guarantee, as a short thing that you will hammer, that you will make it.

No, don't. It's not a given for you and I can tell you from my own family's experience, if you are born in the poor side of the family, it doesn't mean you will remain in the poor side of the family forever. You will elevate. Don't worry, you will. We pray as our hard work. Dangote is not the first person to have a three truck advantage or A5 car advantage or a wealthy uncle advantage or a wealthy grandfather advantage or a wealthy whatever advantage.

Now even me, small boy, I haven't arrived yet, but I will arrive in Jesus name and you guys will feel it when I arrive. Some people look at me and they say, oh it's obvious and I say it's obvious how they say you know you're from media, family know Popsy was an NTA. Mumsy started off an NTA, Popsy was in radio productions, Momsy was in TV productions. You are around that whole thing of TV production, video production, radio production.

Later on, Momsy became a marketing executive. So I've always been around marketing, public relations, advertising consulting. Moms used to buy, have a business review when we're in secondary school. Just believe it in the house, you know, So that's where I got my first stage of reading some of these things. So some people look at me and they say is a given now is because of your family background? Oh really? It's a giving because I'm the first person to be born in a media house.

So when I say media house, it's not big, big, big like that. What I just mean is my Popsy was in radio productions, my Mumsy was in TV productions. Mumsy later on became a marketing comms professional. So I've been around some ideas like this. Is it a giving? Was my brother not in the same space? Why is my brother in academia now? And then me, I'm here. It's not a giving. My parents raised seven of us. Why am I the only one who's doing this thing now?

Why is it not a given that is seven of us that are all into this thing? Why is it not a given? It's not like that. Doesn't interest have is a role to say about it? Don't passions have a role here? What about resilience? I mean, come on. I had close to 1000 podcast episodes before I got my radio show. That was me. That was my own effort. I haven't been able to get the TV show yet, but by the time I get the TV show, I would have put in a certain number of reps on the radio show.

I mean, some of his work. I mean, who knows? Maybe me, born into the family that I was born to, will be responsible for whatever success that I'm going to achieve. But a certain part of it is also going to be me as well. So please, if you're one of these people that has read Malcolm Gladwell from beginning to the end, please, this is just chapter one. Oh, so maybe he will change the tenor of his argument as the book goes.

But so far in chapter 1, I won't lie, I'm not feeling this book, but I'll continue. I will review it until the end because I promised you guys. Now please, it's not as simple as people try and make it out to be. Remember the statistics that Malcolm Gladwell is quoting? Yes, 40% of elite players in elite Canadian National leagues and elite American leagues and whatnot happened to be born between January to March. But that is only 40% big.

There is still 60% of people who were born in the wrong month and who still end up playing in the National League and collecting that juicy, you know, nice, correct money. Be careful what you read. I guess that's just what I want to say with today's podcast episode. I will finish the book review or please, please, I beg, be careful what you read. Sometimes some things might be true, but it's not helping you. It's not helping you at all.

In Nigeria, we have this narrative of, you know, corn off and Yoruba. Let me not talk too much, but you know, we have that thing going on here in Nigeria. I'm Steve. According to 791979 census, we are the 4th largest tribe in Nigeria. But then there's this whole gist of, you know, northern hedge money going on. And so because of that key people will never reach or never thrive or never go beyond a certain threshold. There's not undercurrent there.

If I believe nothing, how will you help me to achieve the things that I want to achieve? How will you help me even if it's true? Will me and my people, the Tea people, the Tea Nation, will we have any odds for growth if we believe this thing? Even if it's true, it's not by striving against our odds that we'd even stand a chance to break beyond these certain limitations, whether it is true or not. And whatever tribe that you are in Nigeria, because you all have this thing going on, you know,

you say, oh, OK, you're able. No, I'm not able. Actually, I'm in Donnie and the Ebo people are oppressing also in Donnie people. I mean, we all have these things depending on the region. And I beg, let me stop here before Spotify deletes my podcast because I'm saying controversial stuff. So let me just leave it like that. But bottom line, be careful what you read and the circumstances of your birth and your patronage is not the only thing that will determine your success.

Please. There are too many people out there saying all this crap. Do not believe it. Yes, it is important. It is nice if you have a rich daddy and a rich auntie, but the fact that you are born poor does not mean you will not, you will not make it. Keep listening to this podcast. Keep listening to other podcasts where people are devoted to trying to figure out the principles for business growth, the principles for personal development, the principles for achievement and just give it your best shot.

And then continue to pray and then to work hard and give it your best shot. It's not all of us that become billionaires. But I firmly believe that if you are born at 0, it doesn't mean you have to remain at zero. With some hard work, even if you don't get to 100, at least you can enter 20 or 30. And going back to this whole argument thing, if you were born at zero, were you able to achieve to 20 or 30? Level 20, level 30, by the time your children are born at level 20, level 30, at least they now they're also having their first advantage.

Because even these language itself is not as if if we track their family lineage, that they were all rich from the beginning of time. It had to have started somewhere with someone. They had to have been one person who took the bold step and started establishing that lineage. Anyway, let me go off your mic. I beg before I say something I'm not supposed to. So that's all, if you'd love to connect, call me, SMS me, WhatsApp me on 08064662140.

Again, the book that we're looking at is Malcolm Gladwell, The Called Outliers, The Story of Success. You know, read it if you want to read for yourself because it's possible that maybe I'm getting angry about something and I'm missing the main point that the guy is trying to say. So read it for yourself. So thank you very much for your time and attention. I will catch you next time. Same place in your headphones or in your speakers.