I was really intrigued by latest Malcolm Gladwell book titled David and Goliath. David and Goliath book provide point of view that need to be understood by young entrepreneur. I really think that this book can help me to understand how should I build my perception upon latest business competition. Sadly, I still can’t find one at Gramedia. I assume that that book hasn’t been translated yet to bahasa. (Actually, I can find the English version of this book, but I can’t afford it with my current salary, hehehe. So, I’d better wait for the bahasa version)

So, to satisfy my curiosity, I went to youtube and watched several Malcolm Gladwell video talking about his latest book.

Yup, one thing I learned from that video was that I’ve been so naive that I assumed David was the underdog. True that Goliath was a Giant, but David wasn’t an underdog either! Gladwell said the fact that Goliath was a giant also became the source of his vulnerability such as, double vision, short range vision, unresponsiveness. More over, Goliath was expecting to fight an infantry soldier, not a sling shepherd. Now, is it true that Giants in business also has the same characteristics? I would love to read this book first, then I’ll come back to update you all about what I learn.

I’ve already got the book! From Gramedia last Sunday. I’ve read the book over weekend and here’s my learning from that book;

• Don’t fight Giants in their playground. Bring them to fight you in your battle ground where their advantages means nothing.
• Desirable difficulties are good, because it trains you to master other skill to compensate your weaknesses.
• Adding more resource doesn’t always mean increased productivity or result. (law of diminishing marginal return)
• When you have nothing, you can’t loose anything. So the absence of ‘something’ could be your strength.
• When there’s a powerful entity thinking that they can control everything using their power or authority, not by earning legitimation from others, it means they are digging their own grave. Big mistake! It usually explain why Giants fall.
• Rules of the game usually set by Powerful Giants. Do not follow their rules, make your own rules, where anything you have could give you result.

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