Popular author, Malcolm Gladwell, writes a ten page article for the New Yorker entitled How David Beats Goliath.
A few tidbits from the article:
In the past 200 years, every war fought between strong and weak combatants, the Goliaths won 71.5 percent of the time. However, when the underdogs acknowledged their opponents weakness and chose an unconventional strategy, the percentage went from 28.5 to 63.6.
David can beat Goliath by substituting effort for ability-and substituting effort for ability turns out to be a winning formula for underdogs in all walks of life.
When underdogs choose not to play by Goliath’s rules, they win, even when everything we think we know about power says they shouldn’t.
Remember when David refused Saul’s armor because it was too conventional and did not fit his style? Remember when David ran out from the lines toward Goliath? Remember when David picked up five smooth stones and his sling? Remember when David used one stone and his sling to put a stone in the center of Goliath’s head? Remember when David used Goliath’s sword to cut off his head?
People talk most about how David picked one stone and slung it.
Why? Unconventional strategy. He attacked where Goliath was weak and not where he was strong.
David was a shepherd. He knew stones. He knew a sling.
He brought a shepherd’s rules to the battlefield.
What rules do you know that are unconventional, but very well may be what you need to win?
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Sometimes Goliath calls a press conference, declares he has won, and ships out, even when David is whipping his butt. The fact is a determined underdog can never be beaten; he can only be contained, or totally destroyed.