I certainly didn't want to be. Being tall meant I didn't quite fit. Being tall meant that I was always noticed, and, if you read my earlier blog on networking, you may remember I'm on the shy side - when I was a child I was way far over on that shy side.
So, the fact is I'm tall. I'm noticed. I stand out from the crowd. Oh, yes, and I'm also a substantial person. Nothing willowy or wispy about me. Two ways to impress the world I grew up wishing wouldn't notice me.
Over the years, I guess I've gotten used to it. It's not like I could go get a couple of inches sheared off. I stopped living life in flat heeled shoes, started wearing colour (Hooray for RED!!!), and...
TA DAH!
Somewhere along the line I became a red-wearing tall poppy.
Tall Poppy: It's a term I've only just learned from my coach, Christina Sestan, of Citrus Coaching Solutions.
It seems that there's a syndrome about tall poppies. Apparently it's well known in Australia that tall poppies don't last. In a field of poppies, the ones that lose their heads are the ones that grew too tall, and stick out for the wind and whatever to lop off. The trick to survival for poppies is to not exceed the height standard. What that means is, don't excel... don't stand out... don't attract attention... above all, don't call attention to yourself. Don't toot your own horn.
Well if I got used to being noticed, maybe I can get used to tooting my own horn.
I must practice tooting my own horn, proclaiming my value, loudly. It is the way for me to promote my services, to build my business, to gain new clients. I must state aloud, often, "I am very good at what I do. My skills have value."
Surprisingly enough, I've been doing just that at all these networking events. And guess what! I still have my head. Apparently, I'm too darned substantial for anyone to threaten me.
So maybe my shyness was a hindrance when I was a child, but I'm all grown up now. It's not holding me back anymore - I guess I'm a LATE BLOOMING TALL POPPY.
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