A Dozen Ways to Beat Goliath

We all love an underdog. Win or lose, we’re on their side.

The biblical tale of David and Goliath is arguably the most famous underdog story of all time. The story goes that Goliath, a giant and the champion of the Philistines, challenged the Israelites to send out their champion and decide the outcome of their ongoing war in a single, one-on-one battle. None of the Israelites dared to face the fearsome behemoth…except David.

Despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds – going against a well-armed and trained warrior who HAPPENED TO BE A GIANT – David was fearless. He brought only a slingshot and a pouch full of stones, against Goliath’s colossal sword and shield. Then, as Goliath charged at him, David slung one of his stones at a weak spot in the giant’s armor. His precise throw hit Goliath in the head and knocked him out, allowing David to move in for the kill and win the war for the Israelites.

The story of David and Goliath teaches the important lesson of how underdogs can overcome the odds and be successful. Actual giants don’t exist, but we all face everyday Goliaths or favorites in business and in life.

Maybe Goliath is the industry leader seeking to snuff out the competition through shady pricing or acquisition strategies. Perhaps you’re pursuing a project with a potential client, but Goliath the incumbent uses their superior resources and inside knowledge to make it hard to compete. Or maybe Goliath is a colleague who uses their position, connections, and influence to keep you from moving up or standing out. 

No matter the Goliath, always respect them. They didn’t get to where they are by pure luck. So proceed with caution. They’re bigger, stronger, better connected, and have more resources than you do.

But for every Goliath, there is a stone.

A Dozen Ways to Beat Goliath 

1. Know your weaknesses. Knowing your strengths is easy. Knowing your weaknesses will allow you to stay nimble and pivot when taking on Goliath.
2. Know Goliath’s weaknesses. You can’t fight Goliath where they are strong. But the very thing that makes people so intimidating can also be the source of their greatest weakness. Find their Achilles heel and exploit it.
3. Master three things you do better. You set the terms of your battle in the market. Identify three strengths that you have that Goliath does not. Master those strengths and combine them in unique and creative ways.
4. Don’t try to be Goliath. Study your opponent. Learn their moves and formations, but don’t try to be just like them. If you try to copy their winning formula, how will you beat them? You must take advantage of your own strength, not someone else’s.
5. Focus on specialization. Goliaths tend to generalize in order to spread their influence and power base. You must specialize to capture market share from them. If they are an ax, you are the scalpel.
6. Create a threatening presence. When you’re small, make yourself appear bigger. Walk tall and don’t be intimidated by Goliath’s size and strength. Embody your future truth and compete as though you are the one with the advantage.
7. Trade space for time. Retreat in the face of a stronger enemy is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. By resisting the temptation to respond to an aggressor, you buy yourself valuable time to develop, get stronger, and gain allies.
8. Leverage your speed and agility. Goliath isn’t as fast or nimble as you. They have too much to lose to take risks, and they are slow to respond. Once you identify Goliath’s vulnerability, wait until they are exposed and use your inherent advantage of speed to strike with ruthless precision.
9. Build strategic alliances. Goliaths create a lot of enemies. Partner with another competitor who also views Goliath as a foe. Look for your synergies with these potential partners and build strategic alliances. Together, you can topple the giant.
10. Study history. Despite all our technological and social advancements, the human mind hasn’t changed all that much in the past 2,000 years. Studying history can give you context and strategies that you’ve never thought of in your fight against Goliath. Knowledge is accessible and can only help you.
11. Let other competitors wear your opponent down. Goliaths must fend off a lot of enemies. You don’t always have to be on the front line. Standing back and letting someone else take the spotlight can give you the cover to consolidate your resources.
12. Don’t disclose every aspect of your strategy. I never give advice that I don’t take. Strategy number 12 is my personal favorite, but that one is just for me. You never know who might read your content.