My son Levi has been playing and teaching me about football. I know, I know, it’s supposed to be the other way around. However, beyond hosting Super Bowl parties (what happened at those, stays at those 😉 😆 ), I never had much interest in football. But he does, and I enjoy hanging out with him in the garage on Sunday afternoons watching games. I have a sense of pride watching him teach. He’s growing up so fast!
Nowadays, there’s a national day for everything, and today is National Underdog Day. Who knew there was such a thing?! The third Friday in December is designated to cheer on teams and individuals who are statistically expected to lose in competition. No, I’m not talking about the Vikings –– or am I? 😉
I grew up as an underdog. By looking at my stats, one would have thought, yeah, this guy isn’t going anywhere. But being an underdog has its advantages. Here’s what I mean:
1. I didn’t have to worry about being perfect. No one expected me to be. This allowed me to focus on growth rather than perfection. Growth did and continues to move me forward. Perfection can hold you back and limit your abilities, opportunities, and quite often, joy. The fear of not being perfect is stifling.
2. I had the freedom to try things. I was able to gain unique experiences because I broke free. I put myself out there in ways that were different from what I knew growing up. I’ve traveled the world, known the exhilarating feeling of jumping out of a military plane, and built my own, still growing, company.
3. Underdogs are used to seeing obstacles. That gives us a leg up when it comes to problem solving. We see the problems, know what is and isn’t working, and understand the need to try something else. Conquering obstacles is familiar to us. We figure it out. Whether we win or lose, we’ve got a plan.
4. And if that plan doesn’t work, we make another and more after that. Underdogs are persistent and resilient. The feeling or label of being lesser can be a great motivator. It was my fuel to the fire to prove people wrong. Some say we “have a deeper well.”
5. Growing up I didn’t feel the pressure to save face. I wasn’t at the top of my class and didn’t feel the need to be. I wasn’t a star athlete that had to win every competition. This allowed me to take risks and have the room to make mistakes, which made me stronger and not be afraid of adversity.
Conclusion
I’m grateful for my underdog status growing up. As an adult, I’m a fighter. I’m not afraid to fail, and I appreciate each success. Either way, I keep moving forward. That’s what underdogs do. We’ve got grit. Underdogs for the win! 😀
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Jeff Salzbrun is the owner/broker of Commercial Equities Group (CEG). As a veteran-owned real estate brokerage, CEG has been involved in thousands of sale and lease transactions, ranging from single offices to 250,000+ square foot buildings. At CEG, we get your deal done. We know space, and we know the CRE business.
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