Effort and unconventional strategy allow underdogs to beat better opponents 29% of the time

New Yorker

I just got done reading Malcolm Gladwell’s How David Beats Goliath: When underdogs break the rules. It’s brilliant. The most inspiring essay I’ve read in at least two years. Instead of getting in the way, I’m just going to point you there, admonish you to print the 7,000 words, and read it. Afterwhich, you should full court press, challenge conventional wisdom, and display chutzpah for the rest of your life.

—May 7, 2009

4 Comments

Nick

May 7, 2009 at 8:13 pm

I haven’t read the whole article yet, but what does it mean for the better player (the Goliath.) Should he play by the rules or not?

Blake Snow

May 8, 2009 at 7:14 am

Nick, there’s a difference between playing by the rules and playing by convention. Pressing for an entire basketball game and attacking from the desert in war are allowed. That said, yes, the better player will win 99% of the time, as the article states, when both sides play to conventions, because the better player built a reputation on conventional strategy. What’s more, the better play should always prepare for the worst, which is hard to do when pride has got the best of you.

Myles Brown

May 8, 2009 at 9:52 am

Fantastic insights. Blake check out OODA loop strategy that change warfare strategy mid 20th century…principle behind the “no huddle offense” in football. It is “real time” analysis: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Check it out.

Mark

May 8, 2009 at 10:04 am

Great read. I love Gladwell. The only part that sucks about being a David is Goliath is in charge of the rules. You might be able to beat Goliath in a battle, but he will change the rules on you to win the war.

It reminds me of a high school football team that developed the A-11 offense. Under the A-11 offense, every player was an eligible receiver. That meant that the defense couldn’t just set up to defend the typical 4 or 5 receivers under a typical offense. The defense now how to defend all 11 offensive players not knowing who was an eligible receiver.

The school district allowed for the A-11 offense for one season. After that season, they had a rules change that banned that type of offense and forced the school to play a more “traditional style” of football.

Goliaths are poor sports and lazy minded. If you find a loophole in the rules, they change the rules and take their ball home.

Blake Snow

writer-for-hire, content guy, bestselling author

Effort and unconventional strategy allow underdogs to beat better opponents 29% of the time

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