first mover vs. fast follower

it doesn't matter who started it first, what really matters is who executes it better.

anyone can copy an idea. few can copy thousands of correct decisions, deep customer relationships, and organizational knowledge built over years.

look at

• google > altavista

• facebook > myspace / friendster

• apple > blackberry

• netflix > blockbuster

• cursor > github copilot

• tesla > early electric car makers

• linear > jira

• tiktok > instagram

• instagram story > snapchat

we celebrate ideation because it's romantic, but business success comes from the unsexy work of consistent implementation. Ideas are multipliers of execution - but without execution, even the best ideas equal zero.

In short, execution isn't just important - it’s the difference between dominance and obsolescence.