The Power of Chance and Talent in Success

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Manuel Andrada was born on January 9, 1890 in the estancia Cucumalán, a large estate located in the homonymous locality (today called Curu Malal) in the Buenos Aires district of Coronel Suáres, a polo zone in those years in Argentina.

When he was 12 years old, he worked as a fenneler and muleteer in the estancia, one of the most formidable estates in the province of Buenos Aires, which belonged to the English shipping company Houlder. Having learned of his skills as a rider, the administrator of the estancia, Alejandro Smith, called him to play a match against a contingent from India, the birthplace of polo. Due to the lack of numbers to complete the team. Half an hour on horseback from the farm to the hull. Although it was the first time he had ever wielded a cue in his life, Andrada stood out by overriding his opponents and attracted the attention of teammates and rivals alike. Someone said "this boy seems to be part of the animal". Grisghar Jodhpur, one of the visitors, said "I'm taking him to India, I'll compensate the parents with five thousand rupees".

Gladwell's concept of the relative age effect highlights the potential advantage that athletes born earlier in the year may have due to being older and more developed physically compared to their peers.
However, Andrada's story demonstrates that individual talent, opportunity, and hard work can also play crucial roles in achieving success.

The explanation for age relative phenomenon is based on the way that youth sports leagues are organized. Most youth sports leagues organize their teams based on the age of the child as of a specific date, often January 1st.

As a result, children who are born in January and February will be among the oldest children in their age group, while those born in November and December will be among the youngest. This means that the children born earlier in the year are often bigger, stronger, and more developed than their younger peers, giving them an advantage in sports that require physical size and strength.

This advantage can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the children who are born earlier in the year are often selected for more competitive teams, receive better coaching and training, and have more opportunities to compete at higher levels. Over time, this extra experience and opportunity can lead to a significant advantage that carries over into later years.

Gladwell argues that this phenomenon demonstrates the importance of recognizing the role that arbitrary factors, such as birthdate, can play in determining success. He suggests that we need to be more mindful of how we organize youth sports leagues and other activities to ensure that children of all ages and abilities have equal opportunities to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

I always believed that learning a parent's job and skills through observation during everyday family interactions is the best not-innate skill we have.

Similar to the idea of the relative age effect in sports in that both demonstrate how arbitrary factors can influence the development of skills and opportunities for success.

In the case of learning a parent's job and skills, children who grow up in households where parents are actively engaged in their work may have a distinct advantage over those who do not. Through everyday interactions such as dinner conversations, children can absorb valuable knowledge about the industry, problem-solving techniques, and communication skills. Over time, this exposure and learning can lead to a greater understanding and ability to succeed in that particular field.

Both of these concepts illustrate how small, seemingly insignificant factors can have a significant impact on an individual's opportunities and success in life.

While the relative age effect in sports is often seen as unfair, the advantage of learning a parent's job and skills through observation is generally viewed as a positive aspect of family life and a way to foster intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Manuel Andrada's story combines elements of both the relative age effect in sports and individual talent and hard work. Born in a polo-rich region and being used to horse riding, Andrada may have had a slight advantage over players.

What did you learn from spending a lot of time listening to your parents or relatives during your childhood?

Andrada's natural talent for horse riding and dedication to developing his skills played a significant role in his success. Even though he had never played polo before, his exceptional riding abilities caught the attention of the estate administrator, who invited him to participate in a match against a team from India. Despite his lack of experience with the sport, Andrada impressed his opponents with his riding and quickly gained recognition for his talent.

While Andrada's success story illustrates the role of individual talent and hard work, it is important to note that his initial opportunity to showcase his skills came from an arbitrary factor – the administrator's need to complete a team. In this sense, his story also highlights the potential influence of chance and circumstance on an individual's path to success.

Still, that arbitrary factor was combined with the fact that he was highly trained in knowing horses, in riding them. When the opportunity came, he was ready.

Are you doing what is truly your innate virtue? Do you apply what you learned from your parents, even if you do something completely different? Did you know that what you learned from your parents can help you in what you do even if they are diametrically opposed occupations?

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