Unleash the Underdog
Few things tug at the heartstrings of people quite like a good Underdog story.
March Madness glorifies the underdog story and creates moments that become must-see TV. The back against the wall, down to the last chance, “nobody puts baby in a corner” situation. It’s an identifiable feeling that invokes a feel-good moment we can all share.
At some point in your life you’ve been the underdog. Chances are you relished the opportunity. Our societal infatuation with the underdog makes me question two things:
“Why do we love the feeling of the underdog?”
“If we love the underdog feeling so much, how can we make that feeling a part of our daily lives?”
Here’s my three answers to both questions.
What is it that makes the underdog so loveable?
1. Hope/Faith
No one believes in themselves or their situation more than the underdog. People admire and fall in love with underdogs and begin to regain that same hope and faith in themselves. The “if they can do that, then certainly I can do this!” mentality gives people a renewed sense of motivation.
2. Perceived Injustice
Underdog stories give us the opportunity to remember the times when we felt slighted. The times when things weren’t fair and we had to persevere through the injustice. We’ve all been wronged before and the underdog reminds us of that time.
3. Redemption
The underdog allows us to vicariously live through them in the moment. The one moment where we can get even. David beats Goliath; even if it’s just for one night. The ultimate redemption story is achieved when the underdog triumphs against all odds.
How to unleash the “Underdog” in your everyday life
1. Chase big dreams
No one celebrates the underdog for getting up on time in the morning or opening the lid on the pickle jar (even though that does feel really good!) The underdog feeling is only unleashed when dreams are realized. To feel that moment where the you’ve beat the doubts and stand victorious; you’ve got to chase the biggest dreams you’ve got.
2. Never give up
Millions of underdog stories are lost every single day. Anytime you give up on something; you lose your shot at your underdog moment. Everyone remembers the underdog for their one shining moment without ever acknowledging the amount of work that went unnoticed to ever reach that opportunity.
3. Acknowledge (and Embrace) reality.
The underdog doesn’t sugarcoat things or try to make themselves feel like they deserve to be where they are. The underdog takes pride in how far they’ve come and the path it took to get there.
Everyone has some underdog in them. Those who find ways to channel that emotion and desire are the ones we see celebrating the buzzer beaters and changing the world.
It’s time for you to unleash your underdog.
Let’s Ride!
Dr. Nathan Unruh, CXO, SIDECAR
