An Australian visiting the US noticed a striking difference between people in Sydney and New York. It had to do with the way they talk about themselves.
Anaita Sarkar, an entrepreneur from New South Wales, said Australians will only support you on one condition: that you present yourself as the underdog.
“In Australia we really downplay our success and don’t even talk about our goals in a positive way,” she said.
‘Australia values the underdog very much. If you see yourself as an underdog and promote yourself as an underdog, people will really support you.
“Once you consider yourself the best, no one will come after you.”
Anaita compared this to the mentality in New York, where people are “open to it” when you talk positively about your success and goals.
“They’re so excited for you, they put you in touch with other people, they tell you to talk to that person. Because if that’s your goal, I know someone who can help you with that,” she said.
Ms Sarkar is not the first to criticise her home country for its tall poppy syndrome, with many Australians quick to agree that it is a lonely place to pursue your goals.
“The tall poppy syndrome is a cruel thing in Australia. We were brought up with the idea that if you have any self-confidence you are arrogant and cocky. It took me a long time to change my mind,” one of them said.
Anaita Sarkar from Sydney said New Yorkers are more likely to talk positively about themselves and their success
The Sydney entrepreneur said Australians will only support you if you present yourself as the underdog
‘We all have tall poppy syndrome in Australia. It doesn’t exist in the US,’ added another.
Another said Australians were driving them “crazy” with their “small-minded” mentality and accused the country of hating successful people.
Another man from Down Under who had lived in America agreed that The Big Apple has a much more “expansive energy” and is welcoming of people who aim for the stars.
One man believed that having dreams and talking about them made you a ‘tough’ candidate Down Under, and that the country only likes people who ‘fit in’.
“So true, it’s cool not to try too hard in Australia. Whereas the US rewards ambition and chasing a dream and doing your own thing,” he said.
Another argued that the mentality of a country had nothing to do with it, but that it simply depends on the kind of people you surround yourself with.
“Nowadays it’s changing. People here are networking, passing on useful contacts and encouraging others,” he said.