Of human height, achievements, Power and SUVs
A very vague seemingly incoherent title, I noticed a natural yet interesting correlation between one’s physical height and height of one’s achievements.
Perhaps in their childhood, and adolescence their ability to take jokes on (at the expense of their relative height) by their immediate friends (Arey Chotte, Gidda! in urdu/Hindi…) makes their grit emotionally stronger than rest around. During their formation years the fact their peers take them in a lighter vein perhaps, moulds their personalities into bigger and stronger beings. Please notice I am trying to see the constructive side of the side effect on the psyche of the subject, the side effect could be constructive or destructive (depressing or in that lines) Hope I am not crossing the line and trying to sound professional psychiatrist presenting his paper in a convention…
Also such persons take it in a lighter vein if someone in their immediate known circles call them ‘smally’…but if the same joke is cracked by a relatively unknown they take it offensive…This happens with all of us will of course up to some degree.
There are some colloquial idioms in languages , “ Lambe ki akal ghutnemein rehti hai>..” in urdu/ hindi meaning …the tally guys brains are in his knees;…. “pottivadu gatti vadu” in Telugu, meaning short guy is stern and stead fast(which is positive note)….in urdu..some nasty jokes like… “Vo dekho adhi duniya ja rahee hai” when someone is passing by…meaning (‘hey look half of the world is going).. some nick name, “ short put”, “ full stop…!!!!!!.” What not…prank to the rest but pain to the subject.
It’s a sign of imperfect education without values, lack of empathy (not being good at heart) to utter such usages….knowingly or unknowingly(that’s no excuse) and hurt others without some 'taken for granted' natural abilities. We are not discussing abuse of the handicapped by the normal and healthy…about the treatment of some who slightly fall ‘short’ of (watch my words…it’s the language/usage itself culprit as well, it makes is seem like short is a deficit) of the relative height parameter…
I remember vividly in a leading national daily there was picture of then US and Japanese presidents Clinton and the other I don’t recall (who was obviously less than 6 ft in height, right besides Bill)…The caption beneath the photo was: G7: The summit and the summiteers…now what does that imply…clearly he is underlining the contrast in their physical heights… at the same time featuring G7 summit..
It is easy to laugh when someone cuts a joke at the expense of others ..but it is toughest to be laughed at…(it takes a lot of spirit to see that)…that too on their natural state, color or height…what he or she cannot change wantonly.
Disclaimer: This is neither an expert research, nor am I passing loose comments without salient observation…but trying to put interesting facts for your analysis in a new light…
The result is:
They put extra effort and care to succeed…
They take failure seriously unlike their normal height (and get back on track)…
They don’t forget words and their implied meanings so soon…
They have natural composure (keep thoughts to themselves, like introverts) and speak in actions, relatively ambitious… they won’t flare up so easily…
They speak well, relative to others, caringly. Always politically correct…
Incidentally these are called leadership qualities(or perceived as backend masterminding qualities from a different angle)
More awareness about opportunities…and constant pursuit till they reach…and get ‘higher’ from where they are.
On the whole they are more focused and destined to achieve…
For better off-roading or some reason if a relatively short guy in a group buys an SUV … the less successful bunch, relatively taller guys around him may perceive it with a green eye, as otherwise and color it as display of tall achievement/ power and high position at work.
‘Bottom line’ is they are more successful…
Some weightage could be ascribed to their physical height..which perhaps constantly reminds and drives them to achieve par excellence and reach ‘heights’. (err…again) (there may not be 100% validity to this theory but some grain)
Nature Inc. compensates heavily when it errs, more generously than any Union Carbide (of Bhopal fame) with some positive qualities and strengths…circumstances and peer pressures also contribute to harness these qualities and personalities are hardened by blows. (including self-pity by oneself upto some extent.)
On the other hand a near majority of normal and above average height guys in their respective communities will take life easily, careless, don’t have focus, who make the mediocre lives around the world and only a minority of them who take life seriously and focus achieve…
Here is the catch…this statistics is reversed when the sampling is done in among below average height:: a minority of them are non achievers and majority would turn out to be.
I have not done this but love to do this a long sabbatical from a cruise ship. Its my wise guess based on the little world exposed to me.
A short list below 6 feet achievers:
· Sunil Gavaskar
· Sachin tendulkar
· Maradona
· Mike Tyson vs. frank Bruno …relatively short in his circles…
· Adolf Hitler: 5.8
· Charlie chaplin 5.5’
· Valdamir putin: 5.5 to 5.7 (when compared to Russian average)
· Alpacino …relatively short in filmdom
· Amir khan
· Lal bahadur Shastry… who is said to have walked and swam to a distant school…later on went to become Prime Minister in pre-dynasty days of Indian Congress party.
· Likewise most Japanese in general are …nation of habitual achievers in terms of the production quality perfectionists, sensitive (highest suicide rate).
· Carlos ghosn Nissan Renault CEO
The list is endless…: (close your eyes recollect and amazingly you can contribute to the list your known success stories, who have made up to there, be it middle management or celebs..)
Not to offend I urge the reader to notice the pattern…and get inspired and dare to compete with their shorter peers and not to undermine them.
Consider two equals in education joining a firm, one with average height, and the other below average height. After a decade the one who climbs ‘up’ the pyramid will be most likely (if not invariably) will be the one with the relatively shorter. My point is they have an intrinsic natural urge bottled up for years, ‘to come up in life’(err…again)...and a constant drive..that makes them born fighters, fighting ‘upstream’. This is a natural advantage. Not to offend but there is a serious state and conditioning of mind that shapes the inner person.
This pattern is not limited to male achievers but extends equally to the fairer sex… in the corporate world exceptional achievers women who upto some extent are relatively short make it up the ladder (of course brains and beauty coexist but that’ a different story line )….they break the glass ceiling more often than their other peers do…this is no thumb rule or generalization but a side note.
A digression but worth mention, unfortunately height has become metric in beauty pageants…Due this odd parameter , perhaps we are missing some genuine beauties (what a sad thought) surfacing in the media.
The Summam Bonum is watch yourself in the presence of the relatively short guys around you…you may not think of them as serious rivals…there is risk due to your unmindful behavior, they could be considering you as enemies… this you should avert by self observation(donot be paranoid of them at the same time). One has to be psychologically prepared for a healthy competition esp. if the adversary is shorter than you never rub in wrong direction…lest he should have the same advantage that Mike Tyson had when he fought Bruno…access to target and vision to deliver punches.
The guy ahead in race throughout the race is not aware of the competitors behind till the last lap…but the guy who ‘feels’ he is left behind has a target to reach and go beyond…that’s advantage… of being second
I hope my neutral observations are not pinching to anyone, but I urge to take them in the stride and consider it like just another perspective to look at things…or simply dismiss it as silly.
The moral is Nature comes with variety and difference we should love to tolerate and accept it.In an inclusive world not all fingers all alike… …one finger is fat and strong, one is pointing always, one is long, one is relatively fancy (ideal for a ring) and last but not least one is ‘little’(err…again) but yet when they come together they can deliver a punch.
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