Why You Should Be Glad You’re an Underdog

Nobody thinks you can do it, but that’s probably the very reason you’ll be able to

I have a nineteen-year-old nephew for whom I feel both sympathy and pride.

He has a learning disability which makes his life extremely difficult. For example, when he got his first job at sixteen, his mother had to help him practice counting money back because his cash register was always off. He failed his driver’s test nine times. And getting through school was an achievement of monumental proportions.

My nephew also struggled socially. He admitted to my sister that he would often hide out in the bathroom at lunch because he didn’t have any friends.

Ironically, his goal is to be in broadcasting. And just a few months ago, he started a podcast. He’s a movie buff, and his podcast is centered around interviewing people on movies they’ve seen.

My own son is the same age as my nephew (my sister and I got pregnant within three months of each other), and they attended the same high school. They know the same people, so I’m privy to my nephew’s classmates’ opinions of his new endeavor.

They make fun of his casts. Unfortunately, it seems they only listen to them with the intent of finding more reasons to laugh at his expense.

And I tell them two things when they do this (the second thing is most important).

One: Karma’s a bitch.

Two: One day, you’re going to eat your words about him, and it’s going to be painful. He’s going to be more successful than every last one of you.

These comments I tell them are not simply to “put them in their place.” I tell them this because it’s true.

And if you’re one of the beautiful people most of us mere mortals aspire to be like, you’d better up your game — because do not doubt some bullied, ridiculed underdog is coming for you.

So, if you are an underdog, believe it or not, you’re in an advantageous position.

Your struggles have given you gifts that are invaluable to success. And research backs up the fact the odds of winning are in your favor. Here’s why.

The Advantages of Being an Underdog

Author Libby Bray says in her novel The Sweet Far Thing:

“There is an ancient tribal proverb I once heard in India. It says that before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.”

And underdogs have clarity of sight because tears and sweat have been a constant in their lives.

That old adage that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?

That strength is one of the underdog’s superpowers. However, it’s only one of many.

Here are a few more gifts that often propel the underdog towards success.

Underdogs are driven by a desire to prove the world wrong.

Yes, yes, I know you’re probably going to say that it’s unhealthy to be motivated by a desire to impress others. Still, when you’ve been laughed at, doubted, and underestimated your whole life, the astonished, envious look of a naysayer is worth more than gold.

And this “I’m glad to make you eat your words” attitude has fueled many an underdog’s success.

As Olympic gold medalist Heather Mitts says,

“Tell me I can’t, then watch me work twice as hard to prove you wrong.”

In addition, research even proves that when individuals feel underrated, the winner instinct kicks in.

For example, in Samir Nurmohamed’s article in the Harvard Business Review entitled “The Upside of Being an Underdog,” he details the findings of his numerous studies on the “underdog effect.”

Nurmohamed ran an experiment with 156 business school students. The students’ tasks were to effectively negotiate when put in a negotiations simulation. Before the simulation, the students were deceived and told researchers had evaluated them beforehand and made predictions on their ability to successfully negotiate. They were each informed of one of three things: their researcher had high expectations of their success, low expectations, or remained neutral in their expectations.

When the simulation was completed, the students were asked about their level of self-confidence, assertiveness, and motivation to prove others wrong.

Nurmohamed explains the findings of the experiment. He states:

“Consistent with my prior studies, I found that those who experienced underdog expectations performed better than those who experienced high or neutral expectations. In addition, I found that, as opposed to having greater self-confidence or being more assertive, the desire to prove others wrong was what explained why those experiencing underdog expectations performed better.”

Many A-list celebrities also explain they were driven to succeed because others viewed them as inferior.

For instance, a BET article centering around comedian Chris Rock’s rise to fame explains the superstar was bullied for his small size and for being the only black boy in his grade.

They quote Rock, who stated his experience was “the defining moment of his life.” They also relay that, during an interview on Inside the Actors Studio, Rock thanked the bullies who “kicked [his] ass, spit in [his] face, and kicked [him] down the stairs” because they were his motivation to succeed.

I’m betting Rock’s bullies are feeling pretty stupid. I’m also betting that most underdogs want their tormentors to feel the same way, which is why they keep grinding when everyone stops.

Underdogs are fearless because they have nothing to lose.

When you’ve got a long list of people who don’t believe in you, what’s the worst thing that could happen if you fail?

That people would laugh at you?

Well, that’s not a problem for an underdog. It’s basically been his life story.

Author Malcolm Gladwell expands on this idea in his book David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. He states:

“Courage is not something that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been through the tough times and you discover they aren’t so tough after all.”

So while others hesitate to make bold moves that could ruin their reputation or tarnish their “cool quotient,” the underdog fearlessly leaps from one daring action to the next.

And keep in mind that because the underdog has an ax to grind, he’s probably not jumping blindly.

To accomplish his goal of disproving those who looked down on him, he’s likely experimented, researched, and done enough homework to lessen the chance those risky moves prove fruitless.

And when you combine the underdog’s motivation, guts, and knowledge, the potential to achieve great things is multiplied.

Underdogs are more comfortable with adversity.

Author and poet Criss Jami says:

“The harder you fall, the heavier your heart; the heavier your heart, the stronger you climb; the stronger you climb, the higher your pedestal.”

When you’ve overcome one staring eye after another, one beating after another, one degrading term after another, one low grade after another, you learn to cope with difficulty.

This means that when challenges present themselves, underdogs are calmer. Their familiarity with physical, emotional, or mental hurdles makes most troublesome situations less daunting for them.

Because of this familiarity, underdogs have the composure to see problematic situations more rationally because they have endured so many.

In other words, because the mental toughness required to persist during negative events is already there, underdogs can more quickly focus on solutions while others are still grappling with anxiety and worry.

An article in Verywell Fit relays a 2010 study of high achieving female athletes. They reveal that numerous athletes “suggested that mental toughness often [developed] out of negative experiences,” and as a result, these athletes “[developed] new ways of managing stress and excelling in the face of difficulty.”

And being less stressed means being more rational, more creative, and more adaptable — a trio of traits essential to success.

A Few Tips to Help You Use the Underdog Effect to Your Advantage

Motivational speaker Israelmore Ayivor, author of Mine Your Gold: How to Dig Up and Optimize Your Hidden Greatness says:

“Your previous accomplishments should be your stepping stones; you need them to jump up. They should not become beds that should keep you comfortably sleeping.”

And if you’ve reached a point in your life where you’re satisfied with your level of achievement, enjoy it. After all, being happy with your life is the most important measure of success.

However, if you’re relatively successful but still want more, resting peacefully on your accomplishments won’t move you up the food chain.

So here are a few tips on how you can use the underdog effect to help you more quickly reach your goals.

• Visualize obtaining the goals you set. Imagine the stunned looks on the faces of those who have doubted you.
• Stay hungry. Even if you’re well-respected in your field, give yourself a bigger challenge that will make you even greater. Then work diligently towards accomplishing it.
• Think of someone in your field you admire, and work towards achieving the same level of success.

The Bottom Line:

American singer and poet Dory Previn warns people of the dangers of teasing and taunting those who seem unqualified to be genuinely great. She says:

“Beware of barking at underdogs; don’t fight with people who have nothing to lose.”

And if you’re an underdog like me, don’t you dare allow others’ skepticism to break you down. Instead, use it to build you up.

Keep fighting and keep working.

Most importantly, turn up the volume on that little voice in your head that still remains even after all the put-downs.

Can you hear it?

It’s saying, “You were made for amazing things.”

Now go out and make them happen.