[Episode 53] Boost Your Business Workshop: Leave Tall Poppy Syndrome at the Door

The Ask Fleur Difference: A Culture of Celebration

If you’ve ever been in a room filled with business owners and professionals, you’ll know how quickly the energy can make or break the experience. Some spaces buzz with possibility, you hear encouragement, authentic stories, and a genuine desire for everyone to succeed. Other spaces, unfortunately, are clouded by judgment, competitiveness, or the quiet cutting down of those who dare to stand tall.

At Ask Fleur, we have no time for the latter. Whether you join our Boost Your Business workshops or step into the Success Community, we ask you to leave tall poppy syndrome and negativity at the door. Why? Because growth happens faster, deeper, and more sustainably in a culture of celebration and collaboration.

We’re here to help you define and achieve your version of success, and tall poppy syndrome has no place in that journey.

What Exactly Is Tall Poppy Syndrome?

Most Australians are familiar with the phrase, but it’s worth pausing to reflect on how deeply it influences business culture.

Here’s the definition you’ll find in the Urban Dictionary:

“A cultural phenomenon where people who are perceived to be successful, or standing out, are resented, criticised, or ‘cut down to size’ by others.”

Put simply: if you’re the “tall poppy” that rises above the field, someone feels the need to slash you back down.

This mindset is not only disheartening, it’s damaging. It breeds scarcity thinking, undermines confidence, and stifles innovation. And it is the opposite of what we stand for at Ask Fleur.

At our Boost Your Business workshops, the atmosphere is deliberately different to your typical networking or training event.

We create a space where:

• Success is celebrated. Big or small, every win matters.

• Challenges are reframed. Struggles aren’t reasons for shame; they’re opportunities for shared problem-solving.

• Collaboration thrives. Many leave with new partnerships, referrals, or supportive friendships.

• Accountability is built in. You will leave not just inspired but with a practical 90-day plan you can implement immediately.

That’s the Ask Fleur difference. Programs are designed to be engaging, practical, and energising—because success should be fun as well as purposeful.

Spotting Tall Poppy Syndrome in Yourself

Tall poppy syndrome doesn’t only live in “other people.” It sometimes sneaks into our own thinking. Here are some signs:

• You think “must be nice…” when someone shares a win.

• You play down your own achievements to avoid resentment.

• You assume someone else’s success means less opportunity for you.

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Many of us have been conditioned into this mindset. The key is awareness—and choosing differently.

Instead of envy, practice admiration. Instead of hiding your wins, share them proudly. Instead of seeing success as a zero-sum game, remind yourself: in business, we create value. The more value we bring, the more success is available for all.

A Simple Coaching Exercise

Here’s a quick, practical tool you can try right now:

1. Write down the name of someone in your field who inspires you.

2. List three qualities or behaviours you admire about their success.

3. Choose one of those behaviours and commit to modelling it this month.

This exercise transforms tall poppy thinking into action-oriented growth. You stop asking, “Why them?” and start asking, “Why not me, too?”

Why This Matters Now

The business climate is challenging, with economic pressures, changing markets, and rising competition. Under stress, tall poppy syndrome tends to worsen.

That’s exactly when we need communities of encouragement the most. This is why Ask Fleur exists: to create spaces where professionals thrive, connect, and innovate together.

As a certified coach in the Success Principles and an experienced business owner, I know that when you combine personal accountability with a supportive community, extraordinary results follow.

Boost Your Business – 9 September 2025

If you’re ready to leave limiting attitudes behind and step into a culture of success, I invite you to join us at the next Boost Your Business Workshop:

📅 Monday, 9 September
⏰ 8 to 8 pm AWST optional open networking until 8:45 pm
📍 Hybrid format – join in person in Perth or online from anywhere

This workshop is designed to help you:

• Reset your goals and direction for the quarter

• Build momentum with a 90-day plan tailored to your business

• Connect with a community that celebrates and uplifts, rather than competes and criticises

• Experience what it means to work with an online business coach who blends evidence-based strategy with a human touch

👉 Secure your place here – limited spots available

Final Word

Tall poppy syndrome may be part of our cultural landscape, but it doesn’t need to define your business journey.

At Ask Fleur, we believe success is contagious when celebrated, and growth is sustainable when supported. So bring your ambition, your curiosity, and your willingness to take 100% responsibility for your success. Leave the rest at the door.

Because at our events, there’s no room for tall poppy syndrome, only space for you to grow tall, strong, and unapologetically successful.

✨ Written by Fleur Allen – Online Business Coach, Success Strategist, and founder of Ask Fleur