i dont think you have to be born in the life to to in cosa nostra...... look @ donnie brasco noone knew who the heck he was but he met lefy ruggiero and eventually got into the circle with his charisma....... so to answer your question yes alot of wiseguys im sure were born into that life however there are alot of wiseguys im sure that werent born into th life and became friends with a made guy and went from there..