Most people think failure is what holds them back.

It’s not.

The real threat — the silent killer of momentum — is playing small.

In this episode of The Underdog Standard, Andrew Owlett takes you inside the psychology, identity, and economics of staying safe… and shows you why it’s the most expensive decision you’ll ever make.

This is not a motivational rant.

It’s a pattern interrupt.

Andrew shares how he went from a 1.6 GPA, to a firefighter struggling to believe in himself, to building inside a Fortune 5 company, to becoming a multi-company founder across real estate, hospitality, construction, and AI.

The turning point wasn’t talent.

It wasn’t luck.

It was the moment he stopped waiting for permission and started building systems that made the next version of him inevitable.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “playing it safe” erodes identity
• The hidden opportunity cost that compounds every year
• How underdogs scale by changing their internal standard, not their external goals
• The 3-part Underdog Scale-Up Framework Andrew uses in every business
• Why pressure isn’t the enemy — it’s the training program
• What separates underdogs who stay stuck from those who break through

If you want deeper support building identity, systems, and momentum — DM “STANDARD” on Instagram for early access to Underdog Circle.

From firefighter → Fortune 5 → developer → AI founder… Andrew’s entire journey proves this:

You weren’t meant to stay where you started.