Have confidence in yourself

David and Goliath is often referenced as a moral lesson of how underdogs can succeed despite the odds.
The phrase “David strategies” has been used to describe what underdogs have to do to overcome Goliaths or favourites, in business, sports and life.
To add colour in our discussion, let us look at the boxing career of the former world champion Mike Tyson. Tyson is a true legend of the heavyweight division.
He entered the ring with his insane rage and power.
But, almost always, Mike’s opponents were much larger and powerful than himself.
One particular fight was with a British boxer Frank Bruno who was an unusually powerful boxer.
Standing at 6ft 2in and an arm span of 82 inches, he had the physique of a body builder.
He also possessed a powerful knockout punch from either hand and had experience in the ring.
The direction of the fight became clearer in the first few seconds when Tyson struck Bruno with a right cross.
After that, it became clear that Bruno wanted to escape the ring more or less intact and not necessarily with a win.
He began to clinch, grab and cling over at every opportunity and didn’t want Tyson to get to a good range and shatter his jaws.
This helped him hold out in the first round. But this made the match referee angry.
In the 3rd round, Tyson connected Bruno a right body shot followed with a left hook in the head and a series of combination.
Finishing off with an uppercut leaving Bruno hanging on the ropes only to be saved by the referee from further beating.
Size doesn’t matter and neither does money, wealth or power.
It is sheer determination to rise up to the challenge against all odds.
A motivational writer said: “Think bigger than the challenge, be bigger than the obstacle, and act as if it’s impossible for you not to fail.
“Have self-confidence, conviction and believe in yourself more than you believe the challenge is too big to handle.”
My message to the new contenders, especially the young men and women contesting the National Elections in 2022, is that the country needs you now more than ever.
You can become your own David or Mike Tyson and smash your way in.
If David and Mike did it, so can you.

David Lepi