?? New Zealand's Tall Poppy Problem ??

Kia Ora,

Recently I did a poll on Linkedin and 79% of Kiwis thought NZ's Tall Poppy Syndrome is getting WORSE in 2023!!!! Yesterday in America - the entire country stopped to celebrate July 4th with basically 99% of humans hyped like the Team America Cartoon movie screaming 'Americccaaaaaa F*CKKK YEAHHH!!!!'. Flags, Parades, Fireworks and a HUGE HUGE sense of pride of their country and their people.

I then REALLY wondered today what Aotearoa COULD look like if we truly embraced the brave ones who step up publicly to try win, if we genuinely supported the masses on their own goals, if friends 'in your circle' ACTUALLY had your back to really get behind your own missions, companies, projects and startups, if the hundreds of leaders who preach 'bravery', 'transparency' and 'authenticity' actually practised what they preached and genuinely supported those beneath them to rise up and succeed like them, instead of feeling threatened by new talent thats rising that ranks. And we aimed our focus GLOBALLY - instead of attacking each other Locally.

I genuinely believe in the talent and skills that exists in NZ - and it is hard for me to write this, but the more I've seen behind the curtain over the years, if I was a young entrepreneur, Founder or Startup right now I feel that their talents would be better appreciated, better paid, better funded, better backed and better supported by their peers, industry and political climate - potentially elsewhere.

Aotearoa is my home - and I believe in a Braver and Better NZ, but I believe our continued success for the next generation will only come from pockets of great kiwis who WANT others to win and genuinely band together with aroha and without any ego, instead of a bunch of players in the ecosystem and business community who are secretly jealous of others success or have resentment that they're not brave enough to go after what they REALY want.

So for as much stuff as I have done publicly over the years, I feel my calling will continue to get more behind the scenes, connecting, inspiring and supporting these small pockets of Founders, Startups and Leaders in Aotearoa to help more Kiwis win. Because that's all I want them to do - WIN! To win for them, their whanau - and for New Zealand. And if I zoom all the way out - to show the world for decades to come that we maybe a Small island - but we are a Giant Nation.

Much love yo.

-?Robett Hollis

ps. I haven't posted much in the last few months - and that's simply because I feel I didn't really have anything valuable to say. But today - I felt this should be said.