Can the weak win?
Let us assume and present two example countries in a mathematical equation: let’s say if country 1 = x then country 2 = 10x.
In other words, country 2 is 10 times bigger than country 1 in terms of its size, economy, resources, population, army, arsenal, security intelligence, etc.
Question: Which country do you think would win if they were to have a war?
It’s a no-brainer; country 2, right?
Suppose we were to study all the wars in the past 200 years in this world where very large countries (the 10x types) have had wars with very small countries (the x types), how often do you think the bigger side won?
Most of us would probably answer a number close to 100%. After all, how can you overlook the ‘10 times’ difference? It’s actually a lot.
But the answer might surprise you!
International Relations Professor and author of the book “How the Weak Win Wars: A Theory of Asymmetric Conflict” Ivan Arreguin-Toft did the calculation a few years ago and concluded, it’s 71.5%!
Yes, more than 1/3rd of times the smaller/weaker side has won the wars in the past 200 years.
It didn’t end there, Ivan changed the question a bit; what happens if the weaker side refuses to fight the way stronger side wants to fight, using unconventional or guerrilla tactics?
Answer: The winning percentage of the weaker side climbs from 28.5% to 63.6%
Almost 2/3rd of the times the weaker side has won the war.
That’s 2/3rd of the times.
To put that in perspective, let’s talk about the employment canvas of New Zealand. More often than not, you—the jobseeker—end up being the weak party. You seem to be a ‘no-one’ in front of the might of employment challenges. Your rejection in the application process is nothing more than a number.
You are competing with countless other applicants for the single role in contention. You don’t know how to respond when you are asked for NZ experience. You don’t know how to be culturally fit.
You hear so many things from so many people: what to do, where to go, whom to speak, what’s right, what’s wrong, etc. The numbers of unanswered questions are always more than the answers you get, leaving most of you in a confused state of mind. You are and you feel weak.
Don’t worry, 1/3rd chances are that you will still win this war; you will be employed. As Ivan says, “Stronger side has lower interest in war’s outcome as their survival is not at stake, whereas the weaker side has very high interest in the outcome as their survival is at stake.”
But the moral of the story is if you need to shift the odds in your favour, stop fighting the way you are asked to fight by the stronger side.
Be different.
Remember, it’s not all about fighting fair, it’s about fighting differently.
And the data proves the weak who fought to their strengths have won many wars.
The article is inspired by an article read at http://thehustle.co/
Talk to the author Raj Singh on 021 102 2010 (M) or email him at raj@rentarecruiter.nz if you are interested to know what can work for you and how you can be different.
Raj Singh is the Managing Recruiter at Rent a Recruiter Ltd and is sharing his knowledge and experience with migrants and international students choosing New Zealand as their study and employment destination. He believes in talking about the topics with no sugar coating and advises readers' discretion.
Let us assume and present two example countries in a mathematical equation: let’s say if country 1 = x then country 2 = 10x.
In other words, country 2 is 10 times bigger than country 1 in terms of its size, economy, resources, population, army, arsenal, security intelligence, etc.
Question: Which...
Let us assume and present two example countries in a mathematical equation: let’s say if country 1 = x then country 2 = 10x.
In other words, country 2 is 10 times bigger than country 1 in terms of its size, economy, resources, population, army, arsenal, security intelligence, etc.
Question: Which country do you think would win if they were to have a war?
It’s a no-brainer; country 2, right?
Suppose we were to study all the wars in the past 200 years in this world where very large countries (the 10x types) have had wars with very small countries (the x types), how often do you think the bigger side won?
Most of us would probably answer a number close to 100%. After all, how can you overlook the ‘10 times’ difference? It’s actually a lot.
But the answer might surprise you!
International Relations Professor and author of the book “How the Weak Win Wars: A Theory of Asymmetric Conflict” Ivan Arreguin-Toft did the calculation a few years ago and concluded, it’s 71.5%!
Yes, more than 1/3rd of times the smaller/weaker side has won the wars in the past 200 years.
It didn’t end there, Ivan changed the question a bit; what happens if the weaker side refuses to fight the way stronger side wants to fight, using unconventional or guerrilla tactics?
Answer: The winning percentage of the weaker side climbs from 28.5% to 63.6%
Almost 2/3rd of the times the weaker side has won the war.
That’s 2/3rd of the times.
To put that in perspective, let’s talk about the employment canvas of New Zealand. More often than not, you—the jobseeker—end up being the weak party. You seem to be a ‘no-one’ in front of the might of employment challenges. Your rejection in the application process is nothing more than a number.
You are competing with countless other applicants for the single role in contention. You don’t know how to respond when you are asked for NZ experience. You don’t know how to be culturally fit.
You hear so many things from so many people: what to do, where to go, whom to speak, what’s right, what’s wrong, etc. The numbers of unanswered questions are always more than the answers you get, leaving most of you in a confused state of mind. You are and you feel weak.
Don’t worry, 1/3rd chances are that you will still win this war; you will be employed. As Ivan says, “Stronger side has lower interest in war’s outcome as their survival is not at stake, whereas the weaker side has very high interest in the outcome as their survival is at stake.”
But the moral of the story is if you need to shift the odds in your favour, stop fighting the way you are asked to fight by the stronger side.
Be different.
Remember, it’s not all about fighting fair, it’s about fighting differently.
And the data proves the weak who fought to their strengths have won many wars.
The article is inspired by an article read at http://thehustle.co/
Talk to the author Raj Singh on 021 102 2010 (M) or email him at raj@rentarecruiter.nz if you are interested to know what can work for you and how you can be different.
Raj Singh is the Managing Recruiter at Rent a Recruiter Ltd and is sharing his knowledge and experience with migrants and international students choosing New Zealand as their study and employment destination. He believes in talking about the topics with no sugar coating and advises readers' discretion.
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