At its worst, someone who exhibits traits of the Napoleon complex may be belligerent, quarrelsome, aggressive, and difficult to deal with. Is that you? We don’t think so either.

On the other hand, do you have a penchant for wearing shoes with a slight thicker heel? Do you hang pictures a bit lower? That doesn’t make you a despot.

What if after some careful soul searching you find that there might be a little bit of Napoleonic aggression in you? Domage. Is it all bad news?

The Silver Lining and Last Laughs

Taller people may enjoy more presidential campaign wins, go out on more dates and earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more than their shorter counterparts. But shorter people enjoy the last laugh.

Research from the University of Hawaii revealed that shorter men were more likely to have FOXO3, a protective form of the longevity gene.

Shorter men also have lower blood insulin levels and less cancer. The news gets even better if you happen to be under 5 ft 2. Researchers say those folks live the longest. Conversely, the taller you get, the shorter you live. [Excuse me as I get my affairs in order.]

Actually, there are several physical advantages to being relatively short.

Faster reaction times, quicker muscle gains when hitting the gym, greater endurance, and being less likely to break bones in a fall or die in a car crash. No joke!

Physiological benefits aside, are there advantages to getting your Napoleon on?

In a word, yes! The Napoleon complex is a phenomenon that implies motivation to do more, to try harder, to go faster, to be better.

If we can borrow a Charlie Sheen-ism, it’s about winning. And although we’re all pretty sure there was something wrong with him, there’s nothing wrong about trying to be the best you possible.

If we get down to brass tacks, shorter people often have to work harder to prove their worth.