(Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath)

Everyone loves the David and Goliath story because it makes them feel good about being an underdog. Cute little guy with a rock takes down a massive beast, cue the inspirational posters and LinkedIn humblebrags. But here’s the truth: David didn’t win because he was plucky or because he “believed in himself.” He won because he refused to play Goliath’s game.

And that’s where most of us screw up.

We look at the giants, big companies, influencers, institutions, entire systems, and we think the only way to succeed is to copy them. More followers, more reach, more polish. We start playing their game, by their rules, with their weapons. And then we wonder why we keep losing.

David didn’t pick up a sword. He picked up a slingshot. He used speed, precision, and intelligence. He weaponized the one thing Goliath couldn’t match. That’s not “bravery,” that’s strategy.

But modern underdogs don’t think that way. You’re obsessed with what you don’t have instead of using what you do. You waste time chasing the wrong scoreboard. Followers don’t equal impact. Revenue doesn’t equal relevance. Being loud doesn’t mean you’re being heard.

Here’s the cold truth: giants aren’t unbeatable. They’re slow, bloated, and blind to their own weaknesses. Their power only works if you agree to step into their arena. If you stop playing their game, their size isn’t intimidating anymore; it’s a liability.

That’s the point of being relentless. It’s not about faking size or pretending to be something you’re not. It’s about using what you have, your honesty, your speed, your humanity, to cut through the bullshit. The world doesn’t need another giant. It needs more people who fight differently.

So if you’re an underdog, stop apologizing for it. Stop trying to prove you belong at the giant’s table. Build your own table. Use the weapons they’ll never see coming.

Giants only look scary when you’re stupid enough to fight them on their terms.

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My Relentless Creativity takeaway:
Stop chasing giants. You’ll never out-spend them, out-shout them, or out-polish them. But you can out-think them. That’s where your real power lives.