When I became an Aussie citizen recently, Malcolm Turnbull officiated the ceremonies.
There were just eight of us becoming Aussie citizens and since I live within Malcolm’s area in which he is a Member of Parliament, before he recently became Prime Minister, it was his duty to officially make me a citizen of this wonderful country.
After the ceremonies, there was a light tea and coffee reception outside the building where the ceremony took place.
It was just a small group of us with our families, under the sunset, overlooking the Sydney Harbour.
As I was walking to the table that had a selection of different flavoured teas on it, Malcolm approached me, and on his own initiative, started up a brief conversation.
He asked me what I did for a living.
I briefly explained I was an entrepreneur and his eyes immediately lit up.
He asked me a bit about my business, the market I serve and the prospects for the future in my industry.
Very smart questions.
Questions only an ambitious, opportunistic business man would ask.
I instantly had respect for him.
Fast forward to today, I read in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning, now that he is Prime Minister, he is being criticized and attacked for being independently wealthy and successful.
I had to read the article a couple of times to really understand what the heck was going on.
Since when does a society criticize someone for beating the odds, taking risks and becoming successful?
If you’ve followed Malcolm’s career as a business man (not as a politician), you’ll know that he was a lawyer, was involved with investment banking and started and sold a successful technology company.
Do you think along the way he took some risks?
Do you think at certain moments when he had to make tough decisions, he knew exactly how things would turn out?
Do you think every decision he made worked out exactly as he planned?
Probably not, to all of the above.
I’m still grappling with the whole Tall Poppy Syndrome you have here in this country.
Sure I’m a citizen now (as well as a US citizen), but I’m certainly not going to take on the burden of the Tall Poppy Syndrome, no way.
In my office this week, a line of consultants where at my office door, every hour of the day, to have a meeting with me to see if I’d take them on board to help them become the Trusted Authority in their market.
Guess how many took the leap of the ones I offered a slot to?
Just 20%…the other 80% were too scared to make a decision, because the idea of becoming financially successful, “stepping up” and being different to attract their ideal high-paying client — scared the living daylights out of them.
(If I was offering this in the US, which I plan to do next year, it would have been more like 40%/60%).
Now don’t start thinking, “Oh, maybe they couldn’t afford it.” Believe me, they all had enough money in their bank account to easily join up.
They were simply afraid of what their peers, family and others around them would say to them if they tried to step out of their comfort zone…the idea of being cut down back to “where they should be” held them back from achieving their dreams.
Pareto was right, there really is a 80/20 divide in the way the world works.
My advice to you is to do whatever you can, to fight against the opinions of others who don’t support your success.
Malcolm fought the Tall Poppy Syndrome his whole career and now he has to fight the battle again, in a very public way.
Seize the day….
Ari Galper
Share This Post
About the Author
Ari Galper is the World's #1 Authority on Trust-Based Selling and the creator of Unlock The Game®, a new sales mindset and approach that overturns the notion of selling as we know it today. With over 74,433 subscribers and clients in over 35 countries, Unlock The Game has become the most successful Trust-Based Selling approach of our time.
For more information, visit unlockthegame.com.
10 Comments on “What’s wrong with being wealthy and successful?”
Thanks for sharing this Ari.
I enjoyed the encouragement of the entrepreneur. I am about to step outside of the “security” ( Perceived) of a company to begin my own venture.
It is amazing how many people have asked Why?
Why now (when the market is so depressed)
Why bother (Just find another job and hide till the storm passes)
Why Risk it (apparently trusting a corporation is better than trusting me)
I also love that Malcolm Turnbull has pushed the need for entrepreneurs, innovation and people willing to have a go. Australia, as with most countries , was started with a vision, a lot of effort and people willing to have a go.
As I start this part of my journey I have begun to realise that it can be a lonely path. Too many Australians nay-say and miss the wonder of opportunities they could embrace.
No matter the outcome I know I have the heart of an entrepreneur and it’s about time I started feeding it properly.
Once again thanks for a great read.
AD
The tall poppy syndrome exists everywhere. Ayn Rand’s books are full of examples of it – and those books were written a long time ago.
Another saying along this line is from the movie, “The Treasure of Sierra Madre”: Ah, as long as there’s no find, the noble brotherhood will last but when the piles of gold begin to grow… that’s when the trouble starts.
I am not a shrink or sociologist (I am an engineer) but I notice it anywhere I have gone and everywhere I have worked. So it appears to be a trait of human nature. I just accept it and then go and surround myself with successful people, or those who want to be successful and are willing to learn. You can lead a fool to knowledge but you can’t make them think!
The people who put down business and entrepreneurship will always be there and will be eternally jealous. If they get put into leadership positions, they don’t last long. You chase business away and all of a sudden the taxes collected from them to keep the “common good” running dry up and things start to fall apart. Then businesses are welcome back with open arms. It is a cycle – catch the wave when the time is right and just keep on trucking.
I’m a Kiwi. Yes, I agree that there is a “Tall Poppy Syndrome” in the antipodes, and it can be a corrosive social and personal dynamic. However, just a socially and personally corrosive is the opposite of that syndrome – exceptionalism. The belief you are better or superior to others because of wealth, status, qualification, values or circle of influence.
The TPS is the dark side, and misinterpretation of egalitarianism – which is a human value I cherish.
Both the TPS and Exceptionalism dynamics create an illusion of separation between ourselves and others which erodes trust.
I’m a fan and user of your programs and philosophy Ari. I was attracted to them because of your emphasis on building trust.
Regards
Bernard
While I certainly agree that there are many who look down their nose at the wealth and success some entrepreneurs have attained – I’m not so sure that 40-60% of US citizens would respond differently than you experienced down under, Ari.
In the last number of years, people here have been trained to take instead of make. More businesses are closing than are opening, for the first time in US history. And the animosity shown to entrepreneurs is at high levels. Some want the government to “do something” and are even supportive of a guy who’s proposed a 90% tax rate for millionaires.
As Lincoln once said “the best thing we can do for the poor is to avoid being one of them”. I agree!
Well Ari, that’s an interesting interpretation of your prospect’s decisions. I agree that the “Tall Poppy” syndrome is alive and well in Aussie, & equally so in New Zealand. But I think its more in the mind of the employed public (and especially the media) than amongst self employed consultants. If I heard that story about Kiwis, I’d interpret it as a caution about spending money on “overseas experts”, and scepticism about polished marketing, rather than fear of success. Tall Poppy is the “unhappily employed” sniping at the successful self employed, and reporters creating scapegoats to sell advertising. I think your experience is more about your consultants life style balance preferences- does the consultant want to make the commitment of time and effort to step up. We have another “Syndrome” here in NZ. That the aim of the small businessman is not to create another Google; but to get enough profits to have ” The Bach, the boat & the BMW.” (Translation; The small holiday house, the boat for fishing, and the BMW as a sign of success.) Its an expression of lifestyle values, and a desire to balance work and material success with home, family & recreation. Best illustration is the norm in NZ of 3 or 4 weeks holiday a year; compared with the not uncommon American habit of not even taking their normal 2 weeks holiday.
At least in NZ, the history suggests that the media “Tally Poppy” criticisms you read are usually criticism not of success, but of the implied belief that success only comes from breaking the rules.
I’m with you and John from SA, we should celebrate success. I believe that in NZ & Aussie we do, and that the Tall Poppy purveyors are a vocal and newsworthy minority. Most of us are more likely to say ” Good on yer, mate”.
Cheers, John P
Wow, apparently there’s no way to satisfy some people. If a politician gets rich way beyond his payment, it’s not correct. Now it turns out that if he gets rich legally and independently, they criticise him. I would say this man is worthy of all my respect. I think all politicians should be rich as businessmen.
In the USA it sometimes seems that there are political persuasions who (in serving their own political self interest) seem to want to vilify successful people. The 1%ers have become a target due to their success (or the success of their forbearers).
I worry when the media and politicians begin to opine that ‘wealth is sin’ and ‘poverty is virtue’ our younger generations will not want to take risk–or take the risk of being successful. Why take risk when you get paid not to work? They rely upon the unstoppable spirit of the entrepreneurs for growth, yet punish that same spirit when it yields success.
Hi Ari,
Successful people want more successful people – unsuccessful people want more unsuccessful people. The Clinton’s – if elected will be sure to fill our ranks with unsuccessful people. They are trying to breed the handout mentalities in our country that will lead to their permanent reelection.
Our best option is to lift up the successful and ethical people as role models for future generations. Show off their achievements – the farther they have climbed the better. People will always be pulled toward what is rewarded – and recognition/attention is one of society’s highest rewards.
On a side note – I hope that you have not left our country for good. We need more people who exhibit your thinking.
Bill
I’ve been seeing and reading about Ari for around 13 years now.
I just ordered his book online via the link on this article.
Concept being to use his mindset and recommendations to call back Adwords and Facebook Leads for my Real Estate Business.
Well put Ari.. In my country (South Africa) success is also politically frowned upon, albeit not officially. But you listen to the rhetoric and its clear. If you achieve success you are seen as automatically bad, greedy and the oppressor of the poor.
I wish that success would be celebrated and honoured. If it were, those who are successful, I believe, would be so much more willing to share their knowledge and their success with those around them.
And while I get that there is a great divide in our country, and the world at large, that’s not the fault of the successful person. What the rest of society and government should focus on is “how do we mimic their success to get everyone up there”, not the current “Well I’m down here so how do I get them down here with us”…
Cest la vie..