People want underdogs to succeed in the worst way. I believe it's the reason SO MANY people screamed their head off when Calista Papas and Chris Spealler were finishing the clean and jerks at the 2008 CrossFit games. Or when a sporting event is happening so many people who aren't firmly rooting for the favorite will root for the up-and-comer. Maybe this has to do with the hope that springs forth from people witnessing our claim of what we want to do and they get inspired to take greater healthy risks in their lives.

Here is what the dictionary has for underdog:
1. a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict.
2. a victim of social or political injustice: The underdogs were beginning to organize their protest

Think about that for a second... I am an underdog... CrossFit is an underdog... honestly, ALL small business owners are underdogs.

If you step back for a moment looking at what WE want to do... topple the Globos, we have a huge DIS-advantage. We are poorly funded (no one from the venture capital community has approached me, have they approached you?). The health and fitness industry easily makes $45 Billion without out us. Yes, that's with a "B." We're challenging the "conventional wisdom" of decades of bad education. We consciously compete with the laziness and apathy of the masses who have been brainwashed into believing that a "gadget" could give them better abs... and that having washboard abs meant they were in shape. And none of us have a 4 year degree in Crossfit because that doesn't exist. Yet.

So I implore everyone to continue to tell everyone your dream of Crossfit world dominance. By doing so you strengthen your commitment to your cause. And you may just inspire the person within earshot to follow their own dreams.

Please proudly post and tell me if you're an Underdog.

Here's a video of one of the most famous underdogs. Plus I'm a Rocky fan.

BTW - I couldn't decide which was best so you tell me.

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Cool post, John - I can definitely see people rooting for the underdog all the time in CrossFit. I think because we all know what it feels like to be the new person, or to struggle with a certain exercise, we can really empathize with the heart and work ethic it takes to push through that.

If we can all apply this same mentality to business - dedication to technique (business systems), logging (tracking numbers), and the commitment to performance - then the CrossFit underdogs will come out on top!

Nice post John. We certainly feel like the underdogs here in New Zealand. Hardly anybody has heard of CrossFit, so we've got our work cut out for us. Two more affiliates are in the process of opening, so we'll soon have some help spreading the 'gospel'.
Every new member is a mini-victory over the globo-gym dogma.

Hmmm, two religious metaphors in one paragraph - I must be a CrossFit zealot

Great clips! Yes I am an underdog! Wouldn't have it any other way! It is too rewarding and fun knocking the favorite out! Becca those are really good points also!

Very nice. That must be the secret John...embrace being the underdog, just be impeccably purple about it.

It was great being on the phone conference yesterday, even if I was an hour early.

Underdog is exactly how I describe us to our clients. We have just finished opening up our own box. Roughly 1300sq ft. It is very tough to be considered an underdog, however I have been crossfitting for over a year and have followed your progress on your site as well as on the main site forums. I know that this is going to be a battle, however nothing in my life has been easy, so I don't expect this to be. I greatly respect your business sense and how willing you are to help others succeed. You have helped me, and continue to help me with my business. I am looking forward to attending a seminar in the future.