Even more than a decade in, **cryptocurrency** is still very young.  The evolution of the industry is happening at a rapid pace while simultaneously crawling along.  This is how development goes.

While there were fantastic strides made in the last few years, the industry is still very convoluted.  We are at a time where infrastructure is still being created.  In many ways, things continue to be very messy.

This causes some upheaval.  Now we are at **a time of experimentation**.  There are going to be failure for many reasons.  One of the biggest is we simply do not know what works.  It is a basic premise of innovation.

When things are new, they are not easy.  Those who follow end up with a clearer path.  However, when in the middle of it, seeing any direction can be difficult.

<center>![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmbugGzd9ese2vC2fgWRskbcmPcb4oQckTXhwQZ9Yhbmts/image.png)
[Source](https://i0.wp.com/www.thebacajourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Untitled.png)</center>

### Forging A New Path

When we look at the [definition of a trailblazer](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trailblazer) here is what we see:

> one that blazes a trail to guide others: PATHFINDER

Being a trailblazer is not easy.  Everyone wants to reap **the rewards of being an early adopter**.  However, most do not want to endure the struggle that is required.

Consider the early pioneers traveling West in the United States.  They were the trailblazers, with millions of acres of land they could claim.  Of course, their path was filled with challenges.  The most basic is the absence of roads, or even horse trails, to utilize.  Instead, they were the ones laying the path for others to follow.

Isn't **cryptocurrency** the same?  We can see the emerging of a new iteration of the Internet.  At the same time, an alternative financial system is developing.  Many new applications are popping up and innovation in this area is exploding.  All this means tremendous opportunity.

There is a downside to all this.  We do not have a clear idea where everything is going.  Some of the applications we use are filled with bugs.  Many are going to fail.  There are nefarious characters entering to take advantage of unwitting people.  In short, it is a major pain in the hind end.

Nobody said it was going to be easy.

Simply looking at the definition, we see the struggle because we are all forging a new path for others to follow.  Their plight will be simpler.  That is the advantage of following behind.

<center>![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmcNQKjHjZNLoiscPXMfVeWe1oWSad6vApac4w8SFxd8Jj/image.png)
[Source](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.5Aueh18j66Vncxxfir86sAHaEE)</center>

### A Certain Temperament

It takes a certain temperament to endue the struggles that are faced.  This is not something that all can handle.

We often discuss **the difficulty with keys**.  Naturally, it is easy to identify with this sentiment.  Dealing with multiple keys and securing this is not easy.  It is often a point of contention with many newer people.

Their reply is that "it is too hard".

Of course it is hard.  Do you think crossing the United States in a horse drawn wagon without roads was a piece of cake?  There are tens of millions of people who are living west of the Mississippi who are glad that people took up the challenge.

Perhaps this is an over simplification and the analogy is a bit over the top.  However, when we look at the things that upset us regarding cryptocurrency, **it is all a part of being a trailblazer**.  There are a lot of gaps in the landscape still needing to be filled.  It is not an overnight process.

For that reason, things are going to be wonky from time-to-time.  Not everything is going to operate cleanly.  We should expect that.

From a financial perspective, this is the opportunity.  Being an early adopter usually means **a greater potential payout** when things evolve.  For that, we must endure the early days.

There is, of course, an alternative.  One could opt to leave and come back in a few years when things are refined.  We will see roads laid, towns erected, and commerce starting.  Show up around the middle of the decade and you might just find a cozy place to set up shop.

That is the life of the next wave.  It is not, however, **the trailblazer**.

<center>![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmVmWwmXBLvMw4Q48xkHvuHPM35sUkmTb7zpXuk78qTh64/image.png)
[Source](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstickybranding.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F05%2Fsmart-dedicated-hardworking-946x532.jpg&f=1&nofb=1)</center>

### Hard Work Not Luck

We are going to see many enter in the coming years who are going to call those here "lucky".  There is nothing lucky about this.

Existing at this phase means a lot of **hard work is required**.  People are spending a lot of time each day trying to "clear the follage".  Dealing with slow load speeds on websites and downtimes for upgrades is all a part of it.  We also have to endure the times an upgrade is made and everything gets zapped.  Oops didn't see that one coming.

The entire [cryptocurrency](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/cryptocurrency) realm can be look at as a single complex ecosystem.  It is spreading in many different directions with areas at varying stages of development.  Some things are a bit smoother than others.  Even places which are fairly advanced are seeing new areas of "exploration".  This begins the process all over again.

Dealing with these issues means there are enormous opportunities.  Simple math shows up there are not enough hands involved.  There is always something to be done.

Nevertheless, that is what the trailblazers do.  We step up and jump in where needed.  The role for anyone is whatever needs to be done.

In the end, we are the ones who are laying the groundwork for the nice cozy town for people to populate.

<center>![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmcxUsuzcDX8CAAt94Vn4dY9EeGPaY8hHuoqifL9r7dwUw/image.png)
[Source](https://cdn0.wideopencountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/WRIGHT1913_Dodge_City_in_1878_14782835852.jpg)</center>



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