As the city of Philly winds down after hosting one of the biggest parties in its history, I can’t help but think about the amazing underdog story that took place with the Eagles. It’s easy to forget that back when the 2017-18 season started, not many people were lining to lay money on the Birds winning it all. Even when the Super Bowl was upon us, Vegas still predicted they would lose.

It got me thinking about how powerful the underdog mentality can be. That hunger is something we as sales professionals and business owners have to embrace and leverage. I mean, how many times do you hear of successful entrepreneurs that were initially regarded as crazy? Anytime someone looks to turn the tables, to do something different, to cast the status quo aside, they are always met with opposition. That opposition can either cause them to quit, or it can galvanize them to work harder, longer, and better. For many, a chip on your shoulder can lead to your name on the building

I always say there’s nothing more motivating to me than someone telling me I can’t do something. That chip on the shoulder is something that can help you fight through the pain, go the extra mile, and never give up because you hear a chorus of voices laughing at you and saying they were right. But the underdog mentality is more than just a competitive chip on the shoulder, what makes it so powerful is it becomes that person’s “why.”

Don’t get me wrong, I know the Eagles were fighting their hearts out for the Lombardi, but what made this team so special was it was about more than a trophy, it became a movement about proving the pundits wrong, coming together as a team, and bringing home the championship for the city. The unified underdog hustle is what took a bunch of talented individuals and made them into a superstar team.

When you look at your business, what’s your underdog mentality? Are you fighting for something bigger than just money and accolades? Those accomplishments will always be fleeting. If people aren’t saying you’re crazy, you’re probably not doing anything great. All the great inventers, entrepreneurs, and social justice warriors of this world started out as the underdog and it turned out to be a blessing. They used it to their advantage to build movements. So if you find yourself as the underdog today, and you don’t have a lot of people that believe in you, embrace it, let it be your fuel. Then go win your Lombardi trophy.

Philly Philly!