“The fact of being an underdog changes people in ways that we often fail to appreciate. It opens doors and creates opportunities and enlightens and permits things that might otherwise have seemed unthinkable.”
It’s natural to feel like the underdog. Our minds tend to gravitate toward those we perceive to be ahead of us, to our competition, to someone in the market who we imagine has a natural advantage (more money, more time, an established reputation).
Underdog feelings aren’t all bad, of course. They can be a great motivator, a way to keep your internal fire burning when others have thrown in the towel. To see yourself in the lean, mean, and hungry mindset of the underdog makes your aspirations glitter all the more.
But the toxic side of seeing yourself as the underdog is when you begin to resent those “alpha dogs” you imagine are running your market. Resentment, in its many forms, can set your business back in a big way. Is it really You vs. the World?
So how do you keep your underdog feelings in check? How do you keep the motivation while dodging the resentment?
One thing to consider: Use yourself as a yard stick instead of the current pack of alpha dogs. Focus on topping your personal best. How many meetings did you land last month? Can you beat it this month? How many letters did you send out to stay in touch with clients last week? Can you top it this week? Keep track. Make it a game.
The concept of setting “new personal bests” is what makes champions out of amateur athletes, and you can use the concept to drive yourself to think and perform on new levels.
