Self-Made Person - doesn't exist

So I met this guy at a BBQ, clearly the type who commands attention—an alpha personality. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand, cracking jokes with confidence and just a touch of arrogance. After a few beers and kebabs, he came over, and we struck up a conversation. Turns out, he owned his own property management business, had several investment properties, and even owned a boat. “I’m a self-made man,” he said proudly.

Curious, I asked him a few questions. “So where did you grow up? It’s not easy doing it all on your own. You’ve done well,” I said. He responded, “Oh, I grew up around here. I’ve got a family—mum, dad, a brother, and two sisters.” Then I asked, “How did you buy your first property?” Turns out, at 19, his dad lent him the deposit for his first property, and things took off from there.

As the evening wound down and it was time for me to leave, I offered him some parting words. I said kindly, “Here’s the thing: the idea of a self-made man is a myth. When we’re young, our parents or guardians do everything for us. As we grow up, our teachers, friends, and family shape our character. You learned to walk from someone. You gained knowledge from others. Someone gave you that first break, that first loan or opportunity. Every step of the way, there were people supporting you—whether it was your wife, your dad, your mum, your grandad. No one achieves greatness entirely on their own.”

I continued, “The notion that we do everything ourselves is just an illusion—an ego trip. The truth is, no man is an island. No one is truly self-made. So, it’s always important to acknowledge and thank the people who’ve guided and supported you. And that applies in life and at work—always thank your team, because no one achieves anything meaningful alone.”

While this story is fictional, the message remains: never forget the people who helped you get to where you are. No one does it alone. Wouldn’t you agree?