Zero to Hero E-Book

Adedara S. Oduguwa PhD

• Herausgeber: COMMUNE WRITERS INT'L
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Zero to Hero: The Birth-Effect Argument is a book that captures hidden traits in people. It helps you to understand who you are, who you should marry, why you behave the way you behave, who you should employ, what your month says about you and what you are likely to become. The book is divided into four uneven sections; months, other factors, theoretical perspective and illustrations. People’s months of birth is technically described as the month in which one was born. This comprises January to December. This section delved in 1200 highly influential people across the globe (100 persons per month) and the influence their months of birth have on their life-outcome. Section two probed other factors essential when analysing people’s personality. These factors include; gender, birth order, socio-economic status, and family background. Further, the third section is a theoretical perspective to the birth-effect argument. It recced various theories as they relate to life-outcome and a typology called ‘Birth Factors Theory of Success’, a proposition the author introduced in 2018. The last section of the book focuses on illustrations of personalities from military, business and politics. The section explored life of some influential people (with major examples from Nigeria and Africa). At the end, their lifestyles and lifespans were examined. This is a personality handbook that is designed to guide personal and business relationships. The book is a requisite for scholars, business owners, multinational companies’ directors, human resources practitioners, professionals in human administration, students of higher institutions, government officials, politicians, Counsellors, couples, and anyone that fancy to understand the hidden individual birth-related traits.

Leseprobe

ZERO TO HERO: THE BIRTH-EFFECT ARGUMENT

When you are born

Where you are born

How you are born

To whom you are born

matters

Adedara .S ODUGUWA, Ph.D

Most Exclusive Biographer titles are also available at major online and offline book retails.

Copyright 2020 Adedara S. Oduguwa

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the Author.

Printed in Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Exclusive Rev. 10/04/2020

205, Uplands Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, United Kingdom

1, Akarigbo Street, Makun Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Tel. [phone]

[email protected], www.exclusivebiographer.org

Dedication

To Prof. Johnson Egwakhe

CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Section One: Months

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Section Two: Other Factors

Gender

Socio-economic Factors

Family Background

Birth Order

Section Three: Theoretical Perspectives

Previous Theories

Birth Factors Theory of Success

Section Four: Illustration

Military: Idi Amin versus Adolf Hitler

Samuel Doe versus Sanni Abacha

Business: Aliko Dangote versus Tony Elumelu

Ibukun Awosika versus Folorunsho Alakija

Politics: Adams Oshiomhole versus John Oyegun

Bola Tinubu versus Bukola Saraki

References

CONTRIBUTIONS

The book “Zero to Hero: Birth Effects Argument” is a compilation of eminent personalities and biographies of well-known characters both locally and internationally, considering months of their births as the consequences of their actions. This book is based on empirical and comparative study, which examines birth factors, such as month of birth, gender, socio-economic status, birth order and family background as determinants of success or failure effects. In the same vein, the author concluded that birth effects are contributory factors to life-outcome.

This book could be described as the most precious treasure one can hold, while acknowledging the vision and mission of the author. After, I have gone through the book, the author provides compelling evidences that birth factors played significant roles in the success or failure of entrepreneurs as well as the characters of entire humanity. Chapter one to twelve dwelled on the calendar months of birth. While other Chapters discussed extensively the theories of personality traits exhibited by individuals including the illustrations and characters of selected men and women globally. The book is a must read text that is useful for the growing body of knowledge.

The author’s writing style is simple, clear and easy to understand. This book is highly recommended for all students of management, professionals, academicians, business practitioners and others who seek knowledge for better performance. It is my hope that, this book provides an effective learning experience and reference resource to all and sundry.

ODUNSI, Kehinde Ph.D, FCA, FCTI, CFA.

Knowing oneself and others and the ability to apply control over what we know will signify the extent of one’s ability to ride the waves of life and reach the peak of one's chosen mountain.The good book admonishes us to get knowledge and understanding with all our might. No knowledge is lost or wasted; you cannot have too much of it. But limiting oneself because knowledge is infinite is an exhibition of crass ignorance.

Nature is a phenomenon of infinite knowledge; even a resort to Darwinism requires an understanding of cause and effects. The wind that formed a curios pattern of interest on a beach needs a scholastic understanding and interpretation. A denial of the necessity of study is a denial of the value and essence of progressive excavation of life’s beauty.

Dr. Adedara Oduguwa, in his book on the birth effect argument, has brought to fore an attempt at understanding those poignant issues that some with ordinary understanding will wish away as mysticism. He has dared to thread on topics that very few have rarely given further thought. In this exposition, Adedara seeks to show that birth effect is a significant determinant of the path and destination of man. He successfully uses factors like a person’s month of birth, gender, socio economic factors surrounding birth, family background as well as birth order in the family, while making references to real life characters and personalities to consider the probability of success and a trajectory of the individual's life.

This is not a call to astrology; it is a scholarly inquisition-using hypothesis that attempts to draw inferences from observations and documented occurrences. It is a book that should be an academic reference for students of leadership, entrepreneurship, administration, human resources, medicine, etc. in their bid to understand the idiosyncrasies of the various shades of individuals they encounter in their endeavors. It also presents a massive load of hypothesis and gaps for research students.

As expected, this book has exposed the sound mind of a bold writer who never fails to intrigue his followers and admirers alike. Having gone through this mind-blowing and revealing unputdownable exposition of the factors of success or otherwise, I recommend this book: Zero to Hero; The Birth-Effect Argument, for your reading pleasure and library.

Olusegun Dada

Founder, the IDEAS Centre.

I praise the search for knowledge and application of the wisdom of Dr. Adedara S. Oduguwa for writing this book. It is a book that needs to be read by every citizen of the universe. Of course, we all did not fall from heaven as argued by the author. We all came from a family, born in a particular month and naturally stratified into a birth-order. Today, we celebrate birthdays and respect our family background throughout our stay on earth. Importantly, many of us do not ask questions about the birth-effects, which when we do, can help tremendously in the understanding of events in our lives.

The knowledge of these effects might help us in shaping or reshaping our lives, that is it might stand as a guard to use in understanding the best people to socialise within a society, a fair selection of employees in your business, and most suitable socio-economic activities to participate. Nevertheless, the knowledge might aid our choice of career as well.

Nevertheless, a well organised and analysed research adds value to the body of knowledge both in the academia and real-world scenarios. ‘Zero to Hero’ did not just add value to the body of knowledge; it is ground-breaking to the understanding of birth factors and human resources realism. Therefore, it is a must-read book for anyone who wants to learn from history, achievers, legends and legacies that are influenced by the birth-effect factors. The author has put it well together in a professional way that is understandable to a layman. You have no excuse not to benefit from this heart-warming share of knowledge and human breakthrough.

Adegbuyi Oduguwa (Ph. D in-view)

Birmingham, United Kingdom

The Zero To Hero is a highly beneficial book for making life choices. It broadly explains the hideous reasons behind certain actions of different classes of people. With examples that cut across every walk of life, it is a work that aptly reflects the happenings in human lives and the previously unknown reasons behind them.

Reading through, I found very strange and classical examples, which underlined the richness of the work put into this book. Sportsmen, political aficionados, business tycoons, activists, and other people from different human endeavors were factored in during the process of making this beauty. While it also has an air of controversy to spice up readership, the research done is of global standards and international value. This book is indeed, one for every hero.

Dr. Rilwan Balogun

I must appreciate the writer for asking me to contribute my thoughts to his new book. Before, I start, permit me a little latitude to comment on the character and mental prowess of this young man. Our paths in life are very much different but our paths crossed, perhaps orchestrated by the celestial forces. In the time we have interacted, mainly on social media, I have learnt and gained from his wealth of knowledge. On some occasions we have disagreed, but we maintain a rare mutual respect for one other.

I must admit that in our world with its torrents of information, it is easy to simply ‘keep up with the jones’ and forget the essence of oneself, but the writer appeal at addressing the fundamental issues around human existence are rare and must be applauded.

Back to his new book, Zero to Hero, which clearly is another well-researched and analysed scholarly material, I must admit seeks to answer a few pertinent questions. Many of which resonates with me. For many years, I have remained fascinated about leadership and the construct around leadership. My focus mainly on political leadership, how to leaders emerge from a zero position to a hero position. How best can we interrogate such transition?

Like myself, I know many are out there in various sphere with similar thoughts seeking a balanced perspective to engage such thoughts. What isn’t in doubt is the self- discipline and a preparedness to go the hard- way if need be in many of these heroes. It is my hope that this book would not only illuminate our scholarly minds but would be a manual for many in the younger generation seeking to learn from history, achievers and models in society to decided not to excuse failure or be blinded by the lure of the easy and short-lived path to success.

May I conclude in the words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo "If we are in the habit of practising the opposite of what we preach, our admonition will not only lose their force and cogency, but also we ourselves will forfeit every claim to credibility. An ounce of example, it has been widely said, is far better than a ton of precepts."

Dr Babatunde Tikare MBcHB, Msc, DCH

FOREWORD

I met Dr Adedara Oduguwa in one of my quests to emancipate the society I belong from the claws of negative vices, which are wrecking the society like a ship that capsized in the sea. Ibugbe Associates lecture was being organised in Sagamu, my hometown and the Secretary of the Organising Committee of the programme, Seun Olusola told me about the genus of a generation, Adedara. I was very enthusiastic to meet him, and was highly impressed on meeting such a delightful person of high integrity and have since been working with him as one of the resource persons of Ibugbe Associates.

Dr Adedara Oduguwa, son of renowned politician, is multitalented and he channels his potentials towards the benefits of humanity. He is a poet, trainer, researcher, historian, human rights activist, culture enthusiast, publisher, public strategist, human capital development expert, lecturer and public speaker.

He is also the Founder and CEO of some companies including Exclusive Biographer, Daro Motors, Curam Gerimus Management Services Limited, Magazine and others. He has been appointed into honorary positions as well, such as Non-financial director at Mega Praise Time International Limited; Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Ogun State and executive member and fellow of several professional institutions and has won numerous awards.

Life to each individual is a journey never embarked on but only passed through once. It is a one-way journey that sojourner has no information about how to undertake it, where to pass through and when to get to various points and even the end of the journey. Actually, life is a process of trial and error indeed! Therefore, it is pertinent to search out some information from those who had passed through such journeys as guidance, even when it is obvious it would never be exactly the same route or experience.

The book “Zero to Hero” is an essential book, a compass to guide the young to navigate through the journey of life to focus on the appropriate perspectives, mirror of life to encourage the middle-aged individuals to view their achievements towards proper navigation for improvement of progress. The book gives philosophical update for the advanced to reflect on the attainment of life attributes towards gratitude to God, mobilisation of energy for better achievements and being source of encouragement to those coming behind.

The title of the book is quite significant to Ponder about, ‘’Zero to Hero’’, insinuating when an individual is born he or she would be on zero level as the destiny is just starting, as life goes on for those that fortune smiles at would attain Hero status. In actual fact, while life ends it seems none of the achievements would have any physical value to the departed person but the legacy of heroic status lives on.

The book also highlights the roles of circumstances of birth such as the period, parental social and economic status, societal values and exposures, position amongst siblings, how, where and when born. Information in the book also encompasses previous theories surrounding success in life such as month of birth and gender. Paramount to all these factors is the profound effect of the environment the individual was raised or the place he or she discovered certain predisposing factors primordial to opulence. It is byzantine to fathom the concept that these factors become potpourri that determines people’s providence.

Zero to Hero revealed underlining factors of the roles of these attributes in the lives of prominent individuals of historic importance, which are incredibly analogous to their lives and achievements. The eminent personalities are from all walks of life, such as the military, business and political careers from various societies all over the world. Some of the famous personalities discussed in this book include Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler, Samuel Doe, Sanni Abacha, Aliko Dangote, Tony Elunelu, Ibukun Awosika, Folorusho Alakija, Adam Oshiomole, John Oyegun, Obafemi Awolowo, Olubukonla Saraki, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ebenezer Obe, David Adeleke (Davido) and more.

Zero to Hero is a personal pilot to guide and throw some light into areas of success in life. I strongly recommend the book to individuals of all ages and backgrounds and believe everyone will enjoy it and benefit immensely from it.

Olusola A. Okhiria

[PhD Microbiol; PGCE; FIBMS (UK); MA Admin Law & Pub. Policy]

PREFACE

Zero to Hero: The Birth-Effect Argument is a book that was conceptualised after about eight years of management studies (observational and empirical). In the wake of 2015, I started a doctoral programme in business administration, with specialisation in Human Resources at Babcock University, Ilishan, in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Before this period, I have been functional as a management consultant. I joined the school with the mindset of researching public sector reward management, using the Nigerian Police as case study. I had previously studied Expatriates’ Reward Management in Bristol, United Kingdom, three years earlier. However, after completing the research proposal, I said to myself, ‘Dara, what is new in reward management that you would like to teach the world?’ This question kept coming recurrently to mind, until I settled with an affirmative answer ‘absolutely nothing new!’

Then, I remembered my long unanswered question ‘what makes people succeed in personal and business endeavours? With this question at the backdrop, long list of illustrations of how men and women of means could not succeed in their marriages and how brilliant students end up becoming wretched vagabonds came to mind. During this period, I examined a long list of people who were trusted by the people to represent them, but ended up defeating the trust in exchange for greed, affluence and self-centeredness.

I became very concerned: Why would a very intelligent man, with stunning curriculum vitae engaged in unethical deals? ‘Something must be responsible for this’, I said to myself. Nevertheless, ‘what that was’, remain unidentified. It was in this mind-battle, that something told me there must be factors responsible for human personality traits outside education, experience and business environment. I pondered on what these factors could be for years, until, I received a plethora of evidences in months of birth (the months people are born), birth order, family background, of course, we all know the power of gender. These conceptual thoughts helped in broadening this abstract idea into the birth-effect phenomenon. However, I did not come across them with a breakthrough. Thanks to Professor Johnson Egwakhe, the man who saw the end from the beginning, my Ph.D. thesis’ supervisor, in whom I owe the book’s dedication. You will read more about this role model later.

As a doctoral research, how can a study be carried out if these variables are not adequately coordinated? Besides, a study should be developed on past studies; conceptually, theoretically and empirically. My thoughts at this point were merely a thought, which was yet to be proven scientifically. We all know about Zodiac Constellations, what scholars and clergies refer to as work of sorcerers or mystical work of magicians. How then would this be different from previous mystical conclusions remain a conundrum.

Then, I came up with ‘birth-effect’ as the ‘X’ variable to house all the birth-factors and ‘CEO Success’ as ‘Y’ variable with special attention on two hundred and eighteen selected Chief Executive Officers of Firms in Nigeria. This became the topic, however, during the departmental doctoral seminar; experts (professors and doctors) were against such thinking. Some believed it was mystical while others saw it as voyage of no empirical consequence. Then, with one voice, I was asked to develop a theory for the exploratory study. I did and that proposition is further lengthened and provided as a chapter in this book. Further, I got all the approvals needed not because I was intelligent or brilliant, but because I observed constituted authorities advice, most especially, I enjoyed the generosity of Prof. Johnson Egwakhe whose advice could be summed up as ‘focus on the goal and not the destructive criticisms’. In the year 2018, Prof. Egwakhe and myself at Babcock University, concluded the first birth-effect empirical study in Nigeria (with over 200 selected CEOs as participants). We found Birth-effect to be a contributory factor to CEOs’ success. The study became first of such in Nigeria, and perhaps in Africa.

At this junction, it is important to say some things about Prof. Johnson Egwakhe; he is such a man that puts it the way it is. He is hard working, humble, friendly, intelligent, supportive, scholastic, simple, wonderful and determined. For the first time in many years, I agree there is a man who is full of knowledge and ever willing to empower others. He got his doctorate at 32 and his professorship at 40. He is such a man that would not stop at showing others how to do it. I thank him greatly.

Back to this book, for several years now, I have been concerned about ‘people’, ‘leaders’ and chief executive officers of firms. Now, in my painstaking considerations, I have examined 1200 highly influential people across the globe. Some are Late while others are alive. These highly successful and influential people were selected randomly across different cultures, generations, races, age, and careers/occupations and gender. The revelation of what their personalities entail cut across months of birth, family background, gender and birth order. It was revealed that not everyone become great due to good education, luck, pluck, determination and experience. For the 1200 people examined in this book, majority became great owing to a conglomeration of birth-related factors.

However, the book is divided into four sections; months, other factors, theoretical perspective to birth-effect and illustrations. People’s months of birth is technically described as the month in which one was born. This encompasses January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. This section delved in 1200 highly influential people across the globe (100 persons per month) and the influence their months of birth have on their life-outcome. The section found that people’s months of birth contribute to the way they talk, walk, work, and relate with others. Individuals are bound with certain characteristics, and these features form their character. For instance, why are September babies so classy and great dressers while August (a border month) babies so rough? Or why are March babies so accommodating and April (a border month) aggressive?

Beyond arguments of previous researchers (Bell & Daniels, 1990; Dixon, et al., 2011; Du, et al., 2009, 2012; Fumarco, 2015; Huntington, 1938; Kassel, 1929; Kawaguchi, 2006; Musch & Grondin, 2001; Oduguwa, 2018; Pintner & Forlano, 1934), one could see a striking resemblance of months similarities with a corresponding differences among personalities across national boundaries and how the successful 1200 people expresses these features. Month of birth section is empirically presented, comprehensively interpreted and statistically analysed through descriptive statistics. The section investigated how month of birth influences people from the following perspectives: birth and death age, marital status (single, married and divorced), occupation and parental background. The section also included summary of months’ characteristics and introduction of the push and pusher personality.

The pushers are proactive, take initiative and will make you run to achieving your dreams. They know what they want and would do anything to achieving it. They are not afraid of taking new risks and would be ready to damn consequences. The Pushers are risk takers. People born in the months of January, March, April, June, July, August, September and October fall within this category. In contrast, The Push sets of people are natural reactors. They will not move if you do not encourage them to move. They need to be cossetted and seriously guided if they must actualise their career and marital goal(s). Sometimes, these people can lack ambition or have narrow dreams. They are simply ‘contented’ and usually a victim of 'life complexity'. These people include those who are born in the months of February, May, November and December. In addition, every month is epitomised with an example of a personality that explains the month’s qualities. Finally, the section on months comprised about 50% of the entire book. Personally, I do not agree with the argument that month of birth alone determines life-outcome, however, I concur that month plays pivotal role in what we become.

Section two examined other factors essential when analysing people’s personality. These factors include gender, birth order, socio-economic status, and family background. In the book, it was argued that the aggregate of these other factors and the months of birth that makes people what they are. Explaining this, gender according to this section is described as male, female, and the relationship that exist between them. Birth order simply means birth position, that is; first, second, third, last, only child, twins and subsequent born. Socio-economic factors (status) are economic state of parents; are parents of the selected persons educated, wealthy or connected? Or are they illiterates, uninformed, unconnected and or wretched? In the light of family background, the section takes a bird-eye at the characteristics of these identified persons’ parent from angle of social or family expressed behaviours that grossly influenced their learnings, thoughts and life-long attitudes. For instance, a boy whose father usually beats the mother might end up beating his own wife at adulthood. Similarly, a son who was born into a royal home instinctively becomes a prince (royal heir). The family of birth can make or mar individuals. The section concluded that it is the aggregate of these factors and the month of birth that make us what we become.

The third section is a theoretical perspective to the birth-effect argument. It examines various theories as they relate to life-outcome and a typology called ‘Birth Factors Theory of Success’, a proposition the author introduced in 2018. According to the section, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Cognitive Developmental Theory, Human Capital Theory, and Relative Cohort Size Theory are personality theories that explain why people behave the way they do. However, what these theories were unable to achieve was to link birth-related features with individual’s success. For this reason, the birth factors theory of success was introduced. According to the new theory, success in life is determined by when you are born, how you are born and to whom you are born. The theory has two components: birth productive effect (when someone is born under favourable circumstances) and birth unproductive effect (when someone is born under unfavourable circumstances). The elements of the birth factors include: month of birth, family background, gender, birth order, cohort-size and socio-economic factors. The theory concluded that success or failure cannot exist outside one’s birth factors.

The last section of the book examined illustrations of personalities from military, business and politics. The section reconnoitered life of selected influential people (with major examples from Nigeria and Africa). At the end, their lifestyles and lifespans were examined. This section is biographical and analytical. Major persons examined included:

Military

Idi Amin versus Adolf Hitler

Samuel Doe versus Sani Abacha

Business

Aliko Dangote versus Tony Elumelu

Ibukun Awosika versus Folorunsho Alakija

Politics

Bola Tinubu versus Bukola Saraki

Adams Oshiomole versus John Oyegun.

These are highly influential people in their professions. The book investigated these people from their birth-related factors such as family background, birth order, month of birth and gender. The section revealed that birth-effect plays quintessential roles in determining the selected people’s life-outcome while inferences were made among the pairs. What is more? Every chapter is a book on its own. I thank God Almighty for the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to put this work together. In addition, I thank all those who read this work and made their thoughts known. To my editors: Olugbemiga Akin-Williams and Ms. Oluwafunmbi Adeoni. Thank you so much.

Finally, this is a personality handbook that is designed to guide your personal and business relationships. The book is a must read for scholars, business owners, multinational companies’ directors, human resources practitioners, professionals in human administration, students of higher institutions, government officials, politicians, counsellors, couples, and anyone for that matter who fancy to understand individual birth-related traits.

Adedara Oduguwa, Ph.D. FIDP-CRM, FIPMP, ACIPD, ACIMC.

INTRODUCTION

Organisational or individual success is uncertain in a dynamic, volatile, complex and hypercompetitive business environment. However, there are success stories of persons and organisations emerging from the globe over the years. The gap in knowledge with reference to what triggers success differs conceptually and theoretically among scholars and nations (Bosman & Fernhabe, 2018). Instances of strengthening economies, welfare improvements and breakthrough products from different parts of the world are offset by reports of managerial ineptness, corporate fraud, managerial opportunistic behaviour, and socio-economic turmoil. From this perspective, Nally (2012) saw success as unpredictable and difficult to assure. In the corporate world, creating an atmosphere that guarantees individual or organization’s success has been more important and paradoxically elusive today than ever.

However, what is yet to be ascertained is finding what exactly these combinations of traits and experience are (Hambrick & Quigley, 2014). Besides, why are many people failing integrity or competency tests after selecting them based on ability, experience and academic qualifications? For instance, between 2009 and 2016, not less than two state governors, four aviation agencies managers, ten banks managers, five network provider managers, five chief medical directors (CMDs), at least 50 armed forces heads and five oil and gas controllers were forced to resign, suspended or dismissed for fraud, incompetency, bad debt and non-performance in Nigeria (Duke & Agbaji, 2017).

In similar vein, companies are faced with problems of business failures, liquidation, low productivity, high attrition rate and financial corruption, which are attributed to non-performance of CEOs (Quadri, 2010; Sanusi, 2010). For example, according to Babatunde (2009), over 60% of the total funds to foreign accounts were laundered by banks’ heads. Further, when an organisation employs best brains, setting ‘qualifications and job experience’ as criteria, one would expect a commensurate result (Nasir, et al., 2014). Conversely, the result is opposite; everyone is a product of an environment: a home, school, orientation and belief system before becoming head of a conglomerate, as such, got influenced by that background not terminally but life-long (Bosman & Fernhabe, 2018; Oyedijo, 2012).

Often, researchers have concentrated on one or more birth-effect variables (that is, month of birth, socio-economic factors, birth order, and family background), particularly the month of birth as predicator of individuals’ success, rather than combining these birth factors in one study (Dixon et al., 2011; Du, et al., 2009, 2012; Fumarco, 2015). Perhaps, the early arguments of only one birth factor (month of birth) determines success as documented in Europe, America and Asia (Bell & Daniels, 1990; Dixon, et al., 2011; Du, et al., 2009, 2012; Fumarco, 2015; Huntington, 1938; Kassel, 1929; Kawaguchi, 2006; Musch & Grondin, 2001;Pintner & Forlano, 1934) cannot be true without considering other birth related factors such as; the family in which one was born, gender, birth order, all which make up individual birth circumstances (Gladwell, 2008), which are truly outside the control of the individual (Blake, & Jandhyala, 2016; Fitza, 2012).

For decades, scholars have been captivated by the relationship between individuals’ birth-dates and various outcomes in various parts of the world (Du, et al, 2009-2012; Thompson, Barnsley, & Dyck, 1999). Majority of the early researchers suggested that persons of eminence tended to be born during the spring months, with slight differences based on the specific population being examined (Huntington, 1938; Kassel, 1929; Pintner & Forlano, 1934). While the basis for these early works were to help create an understanding in the gestational patterns of the human species, it further laid the groundwork for other recent researches, linking birth-dates to performance in a variety of developmental contexts; including business, education and sport (Thompson, et al, 1999). Nowadays, it is well accepted that people born in the first half of the selection year have more chances of being successful (Helsen, Van, & Williams, 2005). Children born in September can be up to twelve months older than their peers in the same grade level born in August of the previous year. This variation in birth dates amongst children grouped in the same cohort is commonly referred to as the ‘relative age’ and its subsequent implications are known as ‘relative age effect’, month of birth-effect, season of birth-effect, and birth-effect (Bell & Daniels, 1990; Cobley, Abraham & Baker, 2008; Musch & Grondin, 2001).

Birth-Effect/ Relative Age Effect

Relative Age Effect (RAE) refers to the concept that individuals born earlier in the year have an advantage over those born later when they encounter a similar task (Bell & Daniels, 1990; Musch & Hay, 1999; Musch & Grondin, 2001; Roberts & Fairclough 2012). The first to research this phenomenon were Grondin, Deschaies & Nault (1984) and Barnsley, Thompson & Barnsley (1985). They looked at Canadian Ice hockey and found a huge overrepresentation of players born closely after the cut-off date, which was the 1st of January. According to Barnsley, et al. (1985), relative age refers to ‘the subtle chronological age discrepancies between individuals within annually age-grouped cohorts’. Similarly, the difference of age between individuals in the same age group is referred to as relative age, and its consequence is known as the Relative Age Effect (Musch & Grondin, 2001). Further, RAE is the Chronological difference in age, which is responsible for early differences in maturity (Bedard & Dhuey, 2006; Musch & Hay, 1999), which cause a performance gap and affect children’s achievements (Fumarco, 2015). More so, the relative age is concerned with identifying age (dis) advantages relative to other children within a pre-defined age group (Dixon, Horton & Weir, 2011). However, variation in birth dates amongst children grouped in the same cohort is commonly referred to as the ‘relative age’ and its subsequent implications are known as ‘relative age effect’, ‘month of birth effect, season of birth effect’, ‘birth -effect’ and ‘birth-month effect’ (Bell & Daniels, 1990; Cobley, et al., 2008; Musch & Grondin, 2001).

In addition, the differences in maturation and performance among individuals grouped by age have been termed the "Relative Age Effect" (Barnsley, et al., 1985). Although, the relative age effect may offer other advantages to those who are born early in the selection year compared with those born later in the year. Nonetheless, Vroom (1964) argued that the level of performance achieved by individuals is the product of their capacities, motivation and not their month-effect. Furthermore, factors affecting superior intellectual and physical performance have been examined in several studies (Bell & Daniels, 1990; Cobley, et al. 2008; Musch & Grondin, 2001). Conversely, because of differences in relative age across individuals, extraneous factors such as date of birth may skew access to educational opportunities as well as business success (Helsen, Starkes, & Van-Winckel, 2005). A proposed biological marker for superior intellectual performance is the month of birth (Breznik & Law, 2016). Nevertheless, July children have a one-year developmental disadvantage relative to peers born in August of the preceding year (Helsen, et al, 2012). Nonetheless, Dağli and Jones (2013) suggested that socio-demographic elements such as home language, parental level of education, family income, ethnicity, gender, child’s disability status, parental perceptions, and childcare cost must be included as potential confounding variables.

However, based on the review of literature, the author defined birth-effect (also relative age effect) as totality of the implications of one’s birth factors in relation to one’s life outcome. That is, the influence of birth factors, that is, family background, order of birth, gender, cohort-size, socio-economic background, and month of birth on one’s life outcome. These factors are not controllable to us. Whether favourable or unfavourable, there is nothing we can do about them. Therefore, in this book, the birth-effect variables include: month of birth, gender, socio-economic background, birth order, cohort-size and family background.

SECTION ONE: MONTHS

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

MONTH OF BIRTH

It is natural for a child to be born in a month without his/her input or preference. Humans do not have the choice to pick which month to be born and which not to belong. Arguably, it is not within our reach to accept or reject this fate as decided by a more supreme being. What separate us from others is the tiny-semblance of uniqueness, usually caused by months, gender, family background, and socio-economic factors (Oduguwa, 2018). Beyond Horoscope and Zodiac constellations, month of birth, perhaps, is a deterministic factor of birth-life outcomes (Thompson & Barnsley, 1985). However, the month of birth should not be confused, as ‘automatic predicator’ of human behaviour, rather, should be seen as quintessential element of birth-related factors. Birth factors can accurately provide explanations for people’s likes or dislikes in terms of work, pleasure and commitment to relationship; leadership and capacity potential; sincerity and cunningness; loyalty and honesty to principal; integrity and boldness in trial, friendliness and unfriendliness to co-workers; tendency to commit crime or become brutal; trailblazers and late-risers; and can also be used to explains why some are selfish and others selfless. Moreover, the month of birth phenomenon accounts for why some people are emotional and others logical. Adequately, birth-effect can help to X-rays individual personality.

By definition, month of birth is the month in which someone is born (Oduguwa, 2018). This includes January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December (Roberts & Fairclough, 2012). Postulators of this concept argued that the month (January to December) or season (quarters in the year such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter) in which someone is born has significant effect on life-outcome (Thompson & Barnsley, 1985). Moreover, month of birth is defined as the month, period, quarter or season in which one was born. That is, January to December, first quarter to fourth quarter and spring, winter and or summer period. Essentially, every month of birth has their peculiarity, uniqueness and features. This is according to empirical findings of scholars, philosophers, and researchers of the birth-effect phenomenon. Most of who argued that the month one was born determines one’s life-outcome.

Every individual, irrespective of their religion, race, tribe, caste, education, and experience have some unique traits and features. These traits are responsible for differences in behaviour, thoughts and perspectives. Although, studies into the birth-effect or month of birth phenomenon are increasingly evolving, no one can easily disagree with what is not known. Many have argued that what accounts for peoples’ behaviour is limited to skill, integrity, personality, age, educational background, family background, and religion, among others. However, with few empirical conclusions (Bennedsen, et al., 2010; Chandler, 1962; Dağli & Jones, 2013; Dzombak, 2015; Hambrick & Finkelstein, 1987; Hambrick & Quigley, 2014; Hannan & Freeman, 1977; Mackey, 2008; Quigley & Hambrick, 2015; Roberts & Fairclough, 2012; Salancik & Pfeffer, 1977; Thompson & Barnsley, 1985), the month of birth influence on individual’s character cannot be underestimated.

CHAPTER ONE

JANUARY