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Underdogs, by definition, finish second — a position no one likes to claim. No one really wants to be in second place. But being the underdog is to me, I think it's a strategic advantage. And today I want to talk about why I think that's the case.
Let's be honest: building a company from nothing is incredibly hard. It has been for me. I started my entrepreneurial journey at age 8. Yep, you read that right....8! Since then, I've started, run and sold multiple businesses with no partners and no funding. All my life I've had to build something from nothing, and that's what I've gotten really great at - tenacious, creative and extremely smart strategy coupled with hard work. Welcome to The Do What Is Necessary podcast—I’m your host, Andrew Moon.
Listen in as I share all the mistakes I’ve made and, more importantly, what I’ve learned from them, with no fluff, and no rose-colored glasses. The Do What Is Necessary Podcast is a show where we cut through the toxic hustle and grind mindset and dig into what it actually takes to start and grow a “calm business”. Calm is family first. Calm is more independence. Calm is sustainable practices for the long term. Calm is joyful. Running a calm company is a choice.
I’ll be giving unfiltered advice every week, 10 minutes per episode each. I want you to walk away from this podcast with the mindset and tools you need to be successful.
This podcast is for entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and busy professionals with a short attention span (like me)—you’ll get quick-hitting, actionable information in every single episode. If you give me your time, I promise it won't be wasted. Now let's get to work!
Underdogs by definition.
I finished second.
That's a position.
No one.
He wants to claim.
No one really wants to be in second place.
But being the underdog is to me, I
think it's a strategic advantage.
And today I want to talk about
why I think that's the case.
And why being an underdog doesn't
have to be a permanent place.
Like you're not permanently stuck there.
If we put our mind to work as
entrepreneurs, you're going to find
yourself possibly passing up the big dogs.
And I've had the opportunity to
compete with some big dogs as a
small player in the market on several
occasions, as an entrepreneur.
But did you know that some of the
world's greatest sporting heroes
in businesses were once underdogs?
you think of companies like Tesla?
Netflix.
And even one of the greatest sportsman
of all time, Muhammad Ali, they were
all, at some point they were underdogs.
Or maybe you've heard of
this one-time underdog.
If you're an it person.
Apple.
Now it wasn't too long ago that the CEO
of Dell, Michael Dell famously said that
if he owned apple, he'd shut it down.
But in the end, it really looks
like apples getting the last laugh.
I think the last time I checked,
they were valued at over $2 trillion.
And Steve jobs when he was
still alive, he put it this way.
He said, Hey, Dell's making
money because they're Walmart.
We're making it because we're innovating.
So today I want to talk about.
seven reasons why I think
being an underdog can give
you a competitive advantage.
The first one is as underdogs.
We are always looking forward.
We don't, we don't look in
the rear view mirror a lot.
We're the top dogs, those guys
that are leading the pack, they're
not worried about their spot.
And that means while they're
leading the pack, they also spend
a lot of time looking back to
see who's biting at their heels.
They're they're looking at us little guys.
The world's most successful companies
don't occupy themselves with the past.
They, they push forward.
We're concerned with
only becoming the best.
So that's my, thought process there.
Always look ahead.
And let your ambition.
Push you to do more.
And that's really being that underdog.
There's no incentive, quite like it.
When people doubt you.
And that's just the second one.
Is.
Talking about an experience experience
often comes from adversity and.
Coming from a very humble background.
I have encountered a number
of occasions where adversity,
has certainly come into play.
If you never lose, you really
don't know how to deal with loss.
And that's an interesting thing
that I've been able to teach.
My son is sometimes you got to
get kicked in the, in the face.
Sometimes you gotta get
punched in the stomach to win.
but companies, entrepreneurs
like sports people.
who never suffered setbacks.
If you, if you take a company
that's never experienced.
Setbacks.
They're at a disadvantage because
when adversity comes knocking at their
door, they don't know how to handle it.
They a lot of times take
success for granted.
But if you're an underdog, you
know how to get back up, you know,
that you've been punched, you know,
that you've been knocked down.
And a lot of times you've been kicked
while you, while you're laying down.
And cliched as it might be
there's, there's a quote that might
ring true Success is not final.
Failure is not fatal.
It is the courage to continue that counts.
Winston Churchill.
The third.
Thing that I think is a
competitive advantages.
As underdogs, our priorities
and our expectations.
They are set.
When we get our mind to something and
when we set expectations, there really
isn't anybody that can get in our way.
And when you're an underdog, you.
We're free to define our
targets, objectives, or goals.
We have.
The nimbleness to make.
Decisions a lot faster than the big boys.
But best of all, we're free from
having to defend those decisions.
And that that's one of the things being
an underdog, being a small time player.
you know We don't have to
answer to somebody else.
And we let our silence.
speak forests.
The VAR thing is, is talking about goals.
Are our goals.
When we set goals as entrepreneurs,
especially as underdogs.
We, we gotta be real smart.
We can't afford to waste effort because
we have to make every blow count.
And that's where having goals.
That are at much more
achievable than the big guys.
The big guys set the lofty goals
that are not rooted in reality.
A lot of times.
Uh, but this allows us
as underdogs to catch up.
So we just need to stay focused and
keep driving towards your goals.
The fifth thing is there really isn't any
better motivation than being the underdog.
The haters gonna hate, right.
The academy of management published
a study called the underdog effect.
And it's, it suggests that That
having people expect less of
you motivates you to do more.
And if you're, if you're determined
to prove the doubters wrong,
you can channel this focus.
You can channel that, that energy
into growing your business.
And it might even be a powerful, useful
tool to motivate your employees to.
Number six it's it's a powerful
way to drive innovation.
It's much easier for larger
companies to get stuck in a rut
that especially when you're out in
front, they get very complacent.
But if we got nothing to lose as
entrepreneurs, as underdogs, Uh,
we tend to push the boundaries.
Don't we.
Your underdog status actually
gives you a special license
to try, fail and try again.
The best way to drive innovation
is to practice it every single day
in every facet of your business.
Innovation.
Isn't just what you make or sell.
It's how you do it.
And most of the battle is won
just by believing that you can.
The last point, I'm going to leave you
with today about being an underdog.
It's not permanent.
You won't always be the underdog.
With the right focus and dedication.
We, you can become one of those greats.
You can lead the pack.
And that's why the underdog
mindset is so important.
You don't have to lose your
strategic edge when you're on top.
Keep thinking like an underdog,
even when you're out in front.
Always come out, fighting.
At the end of the day, entrepreneurship
is a battle only with yourself.
Your only competition.
Is who you're looking at in the mirror.
Winter lose.
You need to be proud of
the work that you put in.
Be proud of being the
underdog, wear that badge.
With honor.
Thanks for sharing your
earbuds with me today.
Hopefully this gives you some of that.
That deep down soul
motivation to keep going.
And if you're a fellow entrepreneur,
a fellow underdog entrepreneur.
Let me know in the comments, let me
know on social media, wherever you
happen to be watching this from.
I'm going to leave you with this comment.
Here's to the underdogs.