Outsmart Industry Giants: How To Succeed When They Want You To Fail

Outsmart industry giants: How to succeed when they want you to fail
Most people are playing it safe and following the old routes to success. They start businesses because they’ve seen someone else doing something similar. They copy blueprints and try to replicate the revenue and results of others in the space. Exceptional entrepreneurs know that’s not where the magic happens. But the new routes are where they face resistance. And you will too.
Every time you try to break into a new space, build something different, or challenge the status quo, you'll meet people who want you to stay exactly where you are. Not because you don't deserve better, but because your success threatens their position. They don't want you in the game.
I started a social media agency in 2011, when most companies weren’t using it. The industry’s work was split between fewer, bigger, more established agencies. They didn’t want newbie freelancers in the game. The big players want to maintain their advantage. And they always will. But their resistance actually signals your potential.
Why gatekeepers want to keep you small
The pattern is everywhere once you spot it. Big agencies don't want freelancers stealing their clients. Your boss doesn't want you to start your own business. Record labels fought against singers releasing their own tracks. AI companies build elaborate moats and tell you it's "too complex for you to understand."
YouTube stars preach "anyone can do this" while quietly implementing strategies to keep you from competing with them. They'll sell you courses on "how to succeed" but never reveal their actual playbook. It’s obvious what’s happening. They're protecting their advantage.