I was a loser in traditional finance.
Five years ago, I entered e-commerce and found my path to success.
The other "losers" who entered with me? Some are now more successful than me. Others still haven't made it.
The ones who didn't make it have moved on to other emerging fields. Maybe they'll find success at the next stop.
This is how it works: You fail multiple times. You reflect. You change. You level up by defeating small monsters. Eventually, you break through.
The Wild West Phase
Every emerging industry starts with what people call the "bonus period."
It's full of adventurers. And 99% of these adventurers are losers from other industries.
Which means if you're slightly better than a group of losers, you'll stand out.
This is why I was a nobody in the traditional, crowded financial industry but could stand out in e-commerce.
This is how the world cycles.
The Golden Age
When an emerging industry develops to a new height, it attracts successful people from other industries.
These are people with accumulated experience and resources. Many will fail. But some will succeed in this new market.
When enough successful people enter, the industry welcomes its golden age.
The golden age only arrives when successful people bring standardized and compliant approaches. They transform the industry from wild west to regulated.
The Tourist Destination
Think of a new niche tourist destination.
At first, it only has a few Airbnbs. The slightly more creative one gains favor. The others barely survive.
As the destination grows popular, these Airbnbs can't handle the larger customer base.
Professional hotels enter. The real sign of maturity? When international five-star hotels arrive.
The early Airbnb owners complain that competition is fierce now. Money is hard to make.
But here's the truth: They weren't making much to begin with. And the five-star hotel clientele was never theirs to serve anyway.
The five-star hotels actually help them. The destination's reputation improves. More tourists come. Better facilities. More standardized management. Better employee benefits.
The reason those early homestays struggle isn't the competition. It's that they didn't improve themselves as the destination evolved.
Because even with five-star hotels, top-tier homestays are still fully booked and hard to reserve.
The Real Problem
When people fail, they complain that the environmental bonus is gone.
They should reflect on themselves instead.
All industries need high-level operational talent before they can be recognized by more consumers. A few wild west operators cannot elevate an industry.
Without major brands and large enterprises, an industry remains stuck in mutual reporting, price wars, and bad money driving out good.
The greatest value of large enterprises? They regulate the industry.
Lesson
If you're a wild west operator who achieved small success, here's what matters:
Seize the opportunity. Improve yourself. Upgrade your talent level.
Because good industries will inevitably welcome high-level talent.
You can adapt to this historical process.
But you cannot reverse it.