Thanks, Mom and Dad—Those Car Rides Made Me Miserable, But Successful

Were you miserable on family vacations when Mom and Dad stuck you in the middle of the back seat between your siblings?  Be grateful your legs had to straddle that hump in the floor, says a new study, because this may be the reason you are successful in business.

A study done in Great Britain by Czech auto company ŠKODA Octavia says “being a middle seat child may well set you up for success in later life, particularly in business,” according to a press release.

The study of over 1,000 people with two or more siblings shows that 90 percent of people in UK “director-level” positions sat in the middle, while nearly three quarters (72 percent) of business owners and over three-fifths (62 percent) of senior managers also found themselves between brothers and sisters when on the road.

Why? The study implies that this situation fosters certain personality traits in middle-seat kids. The study shows that 44 percent of middle-seaters are now described as easy going, reasonable (28 percent), patient (25 percent), level-headed (21percent), and adaptable (21 percent)—all good indicators for employment success.

Child psychologist and mother, and consultant on study, Laverne Antrobus says, “This research by ŠKODA into family car journeys is really interesting. Cars are a unique environment, and a lot can be revealed when everyone is sitting together in a confined space. It’s fascinating to see how a seating position in the back of the car, often over many years, can directly reflect or influence our personalities.

“Whether middle seat children were made to sit there or not they seem to develop positive traits which prove to be of real value to them as adults, and often, interestingly, in their careers.”

Maybe when you next update your job application, you can add a line—position in the back seat of the car while growing up.  It may help you avoid those bad hires who sat by the window.