An underdog is our current research subject. Consider the history of the word, its translation, because it is tracing paper from English, and examples.
We open the English-Russian dictionary
A rare event. Usually we get by with the explanatory dictionary of the Russian language, but not now. The English word "underdog" is translated as follows:
- Outsider.
- Jonah.
- An impassable candidate (when it comes to politics).
And then the reader thinks that he understands the essence of the word "underdog" - this is a simple mess and a simpleton. But this concept is not so simple as it seems. Therefore, we pass from the translation to the origin.
History
The term came into use thanks to the organizers and participants of dog fights. In this way they called a dog, which was clearly inferior to its rival. That is, the English translation into Russian is consistent with the meaning.
But there is one subtlety: outsiders sometimes won. The “Fighter”, driven into a corner, discovered a remarkable strength, which he drew from his ability to concentrate his will, and defeated his opponent. An underdog is one who has an internal reserve and therefore is not just a failure.
The script about the notorious loser as a winning cliche in Hollywood. Stallone Case
If the reader immediately remembers the American action movies, for example, with Jean-Claude Van Damme, then he will be right. Most of the scenarios of films with his participation describe the fate of the underdog, who turned out to be in a hopeless situation and forced to attack. But not only be aggressive, but also learn, develop.
Sylvester Stallone was not far from his fellow worker, because his Rocky is also a typical notorious outsider: a strange, uneducated, one might even say stupid, amateur boxer, but he had a chance to fight with a professional, and he almost won. Ah yes the underdog! This is the movie that, one way or another, is remembered.
But few people know, besides amateurs, that Sly himself is perfect for illustration. And this is in a way a business. Stallone before the "Rocky" no one knew. In addition, he went to various movie studios for about 7 years, no one took him to work because of a physical ailment: partial facial paralysis. Therefore, then a young actor sat down and wrote a script for the film, which became his lucky ticket.
But that is not all. Stallone acted farsighted, setting the condition that he and no one else would star in the lead role. How it all ended, the reader probably knows. In the language of the cards, Sly was dealt cards so-so, but he played his game brilliantly, not only in the movies, but in life. Yes, he is a typical underdog, and that's great!
Why is it preferable for a business to be an outsider?
This is a pretty simple question. In the English antonym of the word underdog is overdog - a person who is already at the top, master of the situation, leader, favorite. But circumstances, competitors are constantly pressing him. And the “dark horse” is good because it is not really interesting to anyone, nobody takes it seriously, which means that no one interferes with it and does not oppose it, and when the former loser got into people, it’s too late to change something.
What does an underdog mean, what is its distinguishing feature? It is not scattered by opportunities. Favorite or leader can allow themselves relaxation due to their position, an outsider - never! He's on the alert all the time.
To surprise the reader, let's say: the icon of the modern world, Steve Jobs, is a great example of a “dark horse”. His path was thorny, and life was full of falls first, then ups. As a result, Jobs is now considered a genius. Now you can calmly answer the question: underdog is what, or rather, who, what is its distinguishing feature?
Psychological mechanism creating a shadow leader
The author of the key to help us discover this secret is Alfred Adler - the founder of individual psychology. He postulated that two forces create a person: an inferiority complex and a desire for excellence. The bridge between these two entities is the mechanism of compensation or hypercompensation. The first differs from the second in that compensation simply relieves stress, and hypercompensation forces a person to direct unreasonably large efforts on the target, which, however, leads to an outstanding result, but greatly depletes the body as a whole.
We give an example with the same Sylvester Stallone. When he was not hired due to partial paralysis of his lips, cheek, and tongue, he used his intellectual abilities, thus compensating for the deficiency. But his epochal hero, Rocky, used hypercompensation, because he, being blind in one eye, continued to train his body and ultimately achieved an outstanding result.
Of course, the reader can say that Stallone is also not the last person in the world, but here the starting point should be taken not the final achievement, but only the efforts made. And Rocky, if at all comparable, labored harder than his creator.
The ability to compensate for one’s weaknesses by developing strengths or, conversely, to develop weaknesses is the key trump card of the underdog (the meaning of the word is already known to the reader). Overcoming is what creates an outsider who is about to become a leader.