The mythology of innovation worships the first-mover. We celebrate pioneers, early adopters, and those brave enough to venture into unknown territory. Steve Jobs did not invent the smartphone, but he is credited with revolutionizing it. Google was not the first search engine. It was just the best one at the right time. Facebook was not the first social network. MySpace, Friendster, and SixDegrees all came before it. Yet somehow, being first has become synonymous with winning in the cultural consciousness. This is a dangerous delusion. The truth is far more nuanced and far more useful for anyone trying to capture...