Maybe it’s the language and phrasing that implies 1 of the 2 extremes. 1. Self made, implying it was solely the efforts of a said persons OR 2. Product of tim

Maybe it’s the language and phrasing that implies 1 of the 2 extremes. 1. Self made, implying it was solely the efforts of a said persons OR 2. Product of timing, luck, circumstance, implying there was nothing special about what the said person did. Reality is it’s probably often a mix of both. The person had help, the right environment etc but also talent and put in hard work. Maybe there is a better phrase than “self made”. “Through effort and circumstance”, but catchier.