Growing up on a farm in rural Australia meant growing up with something called the Tall Poppy Syndrome. It may sound like some ailment associated with cocaine addiction or a nasty chronic medical condition, but it’s actually a cultural condition. While I’m not cultural historian, I think it stems all the way back to our convict ancestors who were determined to create a more egalitarian society than the class system they left behind in mother England. And over the generations it manifested into the self-deprecating Aussie culture that hailed the ‘down to earth’ and scorned anyone considered ‘up themselves.’ Standing out from the crowd meant risking being cut down like a tall poppy. Needless to say, it wasn’t an environment that always inspired the entrepreneurial spirit.To be outstanding in life, you must be willing to stand out.
Fortunately the influence of the Tall Poppy Syndrome has waned in recent decades as we’ve seen so many Aussie’s stand out on the world stage for their talent and accomplishment. Which is a good thing! Even former Australian Prime Minister John Howard was said, “The one thing we need to get rid of in this country is the Tall Poppy Syndrome.” And yet while the Tall Poppy Syndrome may be uniquely Australian, having travelled to 60+ countries around the world, I believe that the fear that drives it is universal – and stronger than ever. That is, we all live with what I’ve dubbed a “Small Poppy Committee” in our heads, whose sole mission in life is to keep us thinking small, playing safe and avoiding any possibility of being ‘cut down’ by those around us. It’s not trying to hurt us, rather to protect us from the sting of rejection, the disappointment of failure, or the embarrassment of looking foolish when our efforts to achieve a goal fall short.
It is simply our ego’s way of alerting us to potential threats to its safety, and the risks inherent in daring to do something in which we have no guarantee of success. But the reality is that nothing worth doing comes with a guarantee of success. Every worthwhile endeavor will require a degree of risk. It will also require a degree (or five) of Tall Poppy Courage. That is, the courage to dare to stand out from the crowd, to step onto new ground, and to do more and be more than we have up to now.
To be outstanding in life, you must be willing to stand out. When all you do is try to fit in, you negate the difference your difference makes. Being a Tall Poppy is not about being “stuck up” or walking around with a sense of superiority. Far from it. It’s about daring to think bigger about what’s possible for you, to embrace your individuality, to express your uniqueness and to follow your dreams . . . however magnificently humble or audaciously huge they may be. It’s not about being better than anybody else; rather it’s about being a better version of yourself. The irony is that expressing the full quota of your brilliance in the world is only possible when you give up trying to show people how brilliant (smart or accomplished) you are. It’s just about doing what inspires you, and stepping courageously through whatever Small Poppy fears, real or imagined, are standing in your way.
Have you got Tall Poppy Courage? Of course you do. More than you know. It’s just waiting on you to decide that the time has come that the risk of remaining tight inside your tall poppy bud, is greater than the risk it will take to blossom.
Margie,
thank you for an inspiring message! I would love to hear your thoughts about instilling this quality in children. So much about school age kids is about fitting in. How do you effectively teach them that it's ok to take a stance that is different from what the crowd is doing (saying no to drinking, smoking, junk food, playing video games all day long, etc).
in health,
Linda
Kids don't always listen to what we say Linda, but they always watch what we do. So I believe there is nothing more powerful than simply living like a Tall Poppy – fully expressed, open and embracing of your own individuality and willing to say no when we need to and do things differently that those around us. ANd of course encourage your kids to express themselves, don't laugh at them when they look a bit 'silly' and help them realize that failing to express themselves fully because they are afraid of what other kids might say is giving their fear a lot of power.
Margie,
thank you for an inspiring message! I would love to hear your thoughts about instilling this quality in children. So much about school age kids is about fitting in. How do you effectively teach them that it's ok to take a stance that is different from what the crowd is doing (saying no to drinking, smoking, junk food, playing video games all day long, etc).
in health,
Linda
I remember growing up the biggest insult you could throw at someone was to say they were 'stuck up'. And i remember being too afraid to say what i really wanted to do because i was afraid people would think i was 'up myself'. So your words really hit home. It's taken me 45 years to realize that what other people think of me is irrelevant compared to what i think of myself and that tryingn to avoid being criticized is a really limiting way to live. Here's to Tall Poppy Courage!
Great article. While i've never heard of the tall poppy syndrome before, i agree that we all struggle with small poppy fears throughout life. Some of us more than others! Another great article… am going to put on my brightest sweater today!
You call it a Small Poppy Committee. I call it my gremlin. It's the same thing. All of it driven by fear and all of it with the power to keep us living really miserable small lives and staying in crummy relationships and settling for crappy jobs and sitting on the sidelines while we wait for life to turn out how we want. And of course it never will. Thank you for your article Margie. It really gets to the heart of what holds so many people back in every area of life. Well written, real and focused on action. Perfect combination!
Thanks Gary. You say it very well. Thanks for your comment. Keep them coming!