Why Being Second in the Game Can Lead to Greater Success in Business Here's how being a second player in a market can provide unique opportunities for growth and success.

By Roy Dekel

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Many people assume that being the first to enter a market is a crucial factor for success. But being a second player in a market, as sneaky as it may sound, can provide unique opportunities for growth and success.

Think about companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon. They were not the first players in their respective markets, but they leveraged their position as second movers to create unique value propositions, differentiate themselves and eventually become industry leaders.

Google was not the first search engine, but it created a user-friendly and efficient search experience that changed the game. Amazon was not the first online retailer, but it created a seamless and convenient shopping experience that transformed the industry.

Leverage the first player's experience for success in the game

The first player can't always hide what they've done from almost anyone. You know their successes and failures, which means you can use them to your benefit.

You can borrow from what worked for them in order to replicate their success. By examining why some things worked for your predecessor, you will be able to apply those lessons to your own version of the game — especially if they were playing on a similar platform or with similar resources that you have access to now.

If something didn't work out very well for them, then maybe it wasn't such a great idea after all! Learning how not to do something gives us valuable insight into what really works when it comes time for us (or someone else) to try again later down the road with another iteration or spinoff project using slightly different rules or parameters than before.

Related: Competitive Rivals Can Make You More Successful

Second players can innovate beyond the first ones

Second players have a leg up because they can learn from the mistakes of the first players. They can also innovate beyond them.

You see, when you're a first player, there are certain things that you just don't know how to do yet. You might not know exactly what your customer wants or how to deliver it in the best way possible. That's why second players often come in and find ways to improve on your work — they know what works and doesn't work, and they're willing to experiment with new ideas while also having a deeper understanding of what makes customers tick than you'll ever have at this point in time (since you're still figuring things out).

Sometimes you don't have to win, you just have to beat the first person in order to succeed

Winning is overrated. You don't always have to win first.

In business and in life, it's important to remember that being second means you can learn from the mistakes of your competition and innovate beyond them. Here are some examples of successful businesses that have done just that:

  • Apple was not the first computer company; it was second behind IBM, but it learned from its competitor's mistakes and came up with innovations like the mouse and graphical user interface (GUI).

  • The Michael Jordan brand was built on Nike's failures — they lost out on signing him twice because they didn't believe he would be good enough for their company image at the time, but MJ eventually signed with Adidas (who then later sold him back to Nike).

In conclusion, being second can be an advantage in many ways. It allows you to learn from the mistakes of others but also gives you time to come up with your own innovations that could make your product even better than what was before it. So, if someone asks me who was the first person to "walk on the moon," I would tell them it wasn't Neil Armstrong but Buzz Aldrin.

Related: What Apple and Netflix Got Right About Being Second Movers

Wavy Line
Roy Dekel

Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor

CEO of SetSchedule

Roy Dekel is the CEO of SetSchedule, an American software company specializing in big data and AI technologies. Preceding SetSchedule, Roy sold billions in financial products and prior to trends, institutionalized the buy and hold residential lifestyle model managing a lofty residential portfolio.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Business News

'I've Got the Bug for Business': See All of Mark Wahlberg's Entrepreneurial Endeavors, From Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch to Wahlburgers

Mark Wahlberg owns businesses in several categories, including entertainment production, apparel, fitness, and nutrition.

Business News

'I Am Just Floored': Woman Discovers She Won $1 Million Lottery Prize While Checking Her Email at Work

Initially, she thought the email was a scam, but went to lottery headquarters and walked away with a six-figure check after taxes.

Business News

South Park Creators Spent 'Infinity Dollars' Renovating Iconic Colorado Restaurant, Set to Reopen Soon

Casa Bonita, a long-time favorite of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, went bankrupt during the pandemic. The duo purchased and painstakingly renovated the Mexican spot "like a piece of art," Stone said.

Business News

Amazon Might Soon Be Adding Ads to Prime Video

The company wants to generate more ad revenue for its streaming service.

Growing a Business

Want Startup Advice? Start by Getting Off TikTok

TikTok is better used for cooking demos than startup advice. You'll get a lot more value face-to-face.

Leadership

How to Identify and Handle Toxic Business Leadership

Toxic business leaders are the danger of modern corporate life. Unfortunately, they may hide behind good reputations. Let's discuss four signs of toxic leadership and strategies to deal with it.