Can the lack of influence be influence?
I mean, you had none, or so little that it might as well have been none. And so...You did what you did. You lived, progressed, learned, adapted, created...Based on the lack of influence, that influenced you to do so?
I'm not sure if this works or makes any sense, but it's just a thought.
Absolutely the lack of influence or intervention or support can be a delineating factor. It certainly creates different types of people who interact in big groups differently. But I think we're richer for having "self made" people amongst us.
We're all valuable in our individual way...Some just choose not to be. I pity them.