<p>Hi Parents,
I am a short kid who is 5’6’‘. I’m currently 17 and I haven’t grown since I was 12 years old. I need some advice on what I can do to grow 4 inches so I can reach normal height. My height is a serious problem for me in so many areas. I can’t play sports because I am so short. At the same time, I can’t be a good leader because people won’t take me seriously since I don’t have that presence associated with height. I’ve worked so hard throughout my high school years and I feel that all of this work is going to waste. After reading that 70% of CEOs are above 6’2’‘, I’ve realized that I have virtually no chance of becoming one regardless of how hard I work. In fact, after doing more research, I’ve even found that every single president of the United States has been above 5’9’’ since the 20th century. I’m sick and tired of being so short compared to my peers. All of my friends grew to 6ft and above while I am stuck at 5’6. Although my friends don’t mean it, they constantly joke around about how short and I can’t do anything about it. My parents are both short; my dad is 5’6’’ and my mom is 5’2’'. However, my younger brother is already almost as tall as me and he is 14 years old. I am seriously willing to do anything to grow taller. I’m willing to take human growth hormone and get the leg lengthening surgery as long as I get taller. But, I don’t know if these procedures will work since I am 17 years old and I probably don’t have much growing left. I’m losing sleep and I am constantly depressed over my height. I have high aspirations, and I feel that I can achieve them once I my height problem. Do you have any suggestions to help me grow? Any help would be gladly appreciated.</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better my husband is 5’6" and he is a partner in his own firm making in the mid six figures, answering to himself. Height is not what keeps you from participating in life.</p>
<p>My son is 5’8" and is a FOUR SPORT varsity athlete (football, wrestling, lacrosse, and weightlifting). There is no reason you can’t play sports. None. You might want to avoid football and basketball but other than that you should be able to play ANY sport you like. </p>
<p>As for growing past age 17, it probably isn’t going to happen. Embrace who you are and stop blaming your short stature for not participating in life.</p>
<p>First, don’t confuse “normal” height with “average height”.
Poor ol’ Spud Webb, at 5’7" too short to be a CEO according to the Op. He had to settle for being a pro basketball player, and won the dunk contest in '86.
At 17, you are still likely to grow some taller. As tall as you want? Who knows?</p>
<p>You could see a doctor to see if there is any hormonal imbalance, but chances are, you are normal.
Back in George Washington’s day, the mean lifespan was about 50. When Ted Roosevelt was pres, the average span was 50. Sure you want to use Presidents as your standard?
An ‘05 survey of Fortune500 showed an average height of 6’. And 30% of Fortune 500 CEOs are 6-foot-2 and taller.
CEO of Pitney-Bowes is 5’8". Poor ol’ Warren Buffett is exactly average at 5’10". Gosh, maybe he could have been successful if he were taller.</p>
<p>Look at it this way, as long as you think you can’t make it, you can’t. Change your way of thinking and maybe you can.
Plus, keep in mind many people are happy successful people that are neither 6’ tall or CEO’s. At only 17, likely your height, weight, experience, and your needs and wants will change. You don’t think now, the same way you did at 10. You won’t think the same way at 25 that you did at 17.</p>
<p>I’m just over 50, and I won’t put Brad Pitt or Harrison Ford out of work. But I have a happy life and I am not crying myself to sleep at night.</p>
<p>I’m a 4 foot 11 blonde girl, but I have the leading position in all my extracurriculars and all the boys know not to mess with me!
It’s about not making excuses for yourself. So what if you have to work a little harder.</p>
<p>rd2012,
I’m sorry your height is causing you so much stress. You could visit an endocrinologist to see whether growth hormone might be an option for you, but the treatment is extremely expensive and not covered by insurance unless medically necessary. You might ask about becoming part of a clinical trial. If you see a doctor, then at least you will not regret not having explored that possibility.</p>
<p>One of my best friends was the shortest kids in his high school class. Imagine their surprise when at their fifth year reunion he had become one of the tallest. Some people just get their growth late. That said if both your parents are on the short side, you likely come by it naturally. 30% of CEOs are under 6’-2" - there’s no reason why you can’t be one of them.</p>
<p>Plenty of short people are successful. Not to sound harsh, but it’s about your attitude, and you need to quit feeling sorry for yourself. Yes, check out the medical options, but with short parents, well, genetically, that’s what you get. Don’t resign yourself to less because your height makes you feel lesser. I just saw former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who is 4’10", on TV. He knows he’s short and rolls with it. While debating a Republican about spending and the size of the deficit, he said, “Do I look like Big Government”? Hilarious. And nothing is sexier than a man with a good sense of humor. ;)</p>
<p>I’m 5’5" and taller than several of my uncles. I was praying my boys would make 5’8", and they have. The college sophomore is still growing. I’m hoping he makes 5’9", which is the average height for a male.</p>
<p>It’s the attitude, not the altitude that counts. Really.</p>
<p>You could water yourself a lot.</p>
<p>Your goal in life is to be a CEO? Pretty narrow objective. There are millions–that’s right, millions–of very successful vertically challenged people. Like everything else, the most high profile of them would be in sports and entertainment. Besides Spud Webb, there’s Nate Robinson (another NBA slam dunk champion) and Muggsy Bogues. In the NFL right now, the leading rusher (Maurice Jones-Drew), leading receiver (Wes Welker) and top receiving running back (Darren Sproles) are all under 5-8. Baseball rookie of the year and MVP Dustin Pedroia is 5-8. Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, and Al Pacino are among the many big-time actors under 5-7. </p>
<p>That’s fine for the famous people, but most of the successful short people come from everyday careers. My son is the tallest kid in town. His best friend is one of the shortest. That kid is heading off to premed at an Ivy. He will no doubt be a very successful doctor.</p>
<p>Your potential is only limited by your mind.</p>
<p>Being tall is not environmentally correct. Takes up more space, uses more resources…</p>
<p>I don’t think it is worth risking your health to add height, coming to terms with our qualities that we like/dislike is part of becoming an adult.</p>
<p>I agree that many short people are very successful- I can think of one guy who is 5’6’ and is often photographed with a friend who is 6’3" [Sundance</a> Channel | ICONOCLASTS](<a href=“http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500010241/]Sundance”>http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500010241/), is one more successful than the other because of his height? I don’t think so.</p>
<p>( you also may keep growing- I kept growing till I was 22)</p>
<p>the Fortune 500 survey I saw said 30% were over 6’2". That means 70% are under 6’2".
That means it’s actually harder to be one of the taller CEOs. The majority of CEOs are under 6’2"!</p>
<p>OP…sorry this is so upsetting to you. But really, statistically speaking if your parents are 5’6" and 5’2", your chances for growing 4 more inches is probably pretty low no matter what you do medically. Try focusing on what you do have in life. This is hard when you are only 17 but in the great game of life, not being as tall as you would like is not that important. It really is more about attitude. If you blame your height on everything that doesn’t happen the way you had planned and expected, you will only hurt yourself.</p>
<p>Height need not be an impediment unless you allow it to be.</p>
<p>One of DH’s best friends is 5’6" tall. He has a sweet, loving, beautiful wife, an adorable little boy, lots of friends, and a very happy existence.</p>
<p>Oh, he also runs his own business and is a MULTI millionaire.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I’m going to agree with you. No, it doesn’t determine how successful one can become. Yes, there is a stigma and no short! supply of jokes made. It gets old. I’m 48, 5’2" female. I still hate being short as much as I did at 17. Both my boys developed very late. I think being a shorter boy is even more difficult than being a short girl.</p>
<p>In addition to being short, are you really small for your age? I would highly advocate seeing an endocrinologist. They can test blood and take a bone-age xray to determine if your growth plates are closed. There may be a problem that needs medical attention. If not, you will always know you tried. Many boys do continue to grow after age 17.</p>
<p>My D has a chromosome disorder where she would have been ~4’8" without growth hormone. It isn’t available legally without prescription and costs $7,000/month. FDA approved in 1996 and covered by most insurances for qualifying conditions.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I know it is painful to feel like you aren’t going to get all the cards you want in life, especially when genes dictate so much. </p>
<p>You actually have your facts wrong. 30% of CEOs of fortune 500 companies are over 6’2" …meaning 70% are not (Malcolm Gladwell). </p>
<p>But so what? 89% of these CEOs are also men, and the vast majority are caucasian. Lots and lots of us are not born with easy cards to play but that doesn’t mean we throw up your hands and say “oh I would have done that, but it wasn’t possible!” </p>
<p>Stop attributing your lack of success- or future success- on the basis of your height. Since when could you not play sports when you are 5’6"? Okay maybe not basketball but seriously, you gave up all sports and think its because of your height? </p>
<p>Learn to embrace your talents and strengths to their fullest, and don’t fixate on your weak spots. That is what successful people do. You might not be able to change your height but you CAN change your attitude and at the end of the day, its your attitude and not your height that will be the biggest predictor of your success.</p>
<p>Couple of points to think about:</p>
<p>-Harry Truman was not tall, and today he is remembered as a great president by many, and there are tons of people who are not super tall who are quite successful. </p>
<p>-In a sense, taller people do have advantages, there is evidence that being taller seems to be an advantage on things like job interviews and the like or in attracting a mate and there is something to that I suspect, though I don’t necessarily think it is the height alone. What I think is that taller people because of their height might naturally have more self confidence, that in effect as you assume being short is going to hinder you, they have confidence it will help them and it shows in how they carry themselves. Women however often had trouble with being taller, a 5’ 10" woman (or taller) often had real problems, were very self conscious, and it was sad to see, when I was growing up the taller girls used to slouch over or try to make them appear smaller, now I see a lot more taller girls, and many of them will even wear heels, pretty confidentally, and it is really nice to see them have that kind of confidence…:)</p>
<p>-As others said, is being CEO the only criteria for success? They are plenty of average size doctors, lawyers, politicians out there, there are writers and actors and singers and musicians who are quite successful, and short, power brokers of all kinds. </p>
<p>Want to know a not so big secret? They got to where they are by a lot of paths, but their heiight probably had little to do with it, it was more about who they were as people. A lot of CEO’s, for example, get to be so because they founded the company, they had the entrepeneurial spirit and they founded something new. Bill Gates is 5’ 8", and one of the founders of google I saw in a picture was pretty average in height. </p>
<p>Here is something else to think of, if you look at the disadvantages you have over the advantages, if you focus on the things you think mean you won’t make it, you won’t, pure and simple. There are a ton of them, a kid who comes from a well off family, for example, who can provide the best education to the kid, all kinds of help, contacts from successful family members, is going to have an easier time establishing a foothold in let’s say investment banking then the kid ‘doing it on his own’; Someone who lives in a small midwestern town, the child of working class parents, who aspires to be a concert violinist is at a severe disadvantage for any number of reasons, but if that is their dream, then they have to find a way to make it happen, as harder as it is…</p>
<p>Steven Hawking was diagnosed with ALS when he was in his late 20’s, yet he pushed on and helped revolutionize cosmology…</p>
<p>Want my advice? Before writing yourself off because of your height, go after whatever you want to with gusto and don’t throw in the towel if you really think you can do it. You may grow still, boys can grow in many cases until they are 21 (I hit my full height when I was 20) and you aren’t that far off the mark of an average male height as it is.</p>
<p>The most successful man I know personally is my BIL. He is short probably 5’6" or maybe 5’7". You don’t even think of him being short, at all! It’s his attitude. He’s confident, successful, his own man and he’s happy, that’s what you see when you look at him.</p>
<p>Thank you for repeating what I said in post 3, and again in post 11, starbright.(para2 post 16)
I think the corrected stats really need to hit home with the Op.</p>
<p>I see your point. There are short people who are successful, and I guess I have to stop using my height as an excuse. I’ll just work hard to change everything I can change, and I won’t worry about what I can’t change.</p>