As I continue on my "adventure" in the Cryptosphere, I have grown more aware of a certain edge of contentiousness I often encounter.

That is, a lot of the "players" on the field seem just as intent on watching the progress of other crypto projects as they are on focusing on and succeeding with their own.

There's something mildly toxic about such a mindset that brings to mind a piece of wisdom I was offered many years ago, and which has stuck with me:

Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make YOURS burn any brighter!

In this world of investing — which seems to be the predominant angle of crypto — I can completely appreciate people's desires to succeed. And to make money at what they are doing.

But to have made a conscious choice to invest in one basket of tokens and not a different basket and becoming so attached to your choice "being the right one" that you start wishing ill on the ones you didn't choose?

"I invested in Pancakeswap, so I want Uniswap to GO DOWN!"

I would say that's a form of madness! At the very least it's toxic thinking.

But that's just opinion. From a more functional perspective, it also doesn't make business sense, because you are giving attention and energy to something you're not supporting (and actually have no control over), rather than putting all that energy into what you are (allegedly!) supporting.

I believe it was industrialist Henry Ford who famously said: "Whether you believe you'll succeed or fail, chances are you're right!"

Point being... what are you giving your attention to?

I believe we're always best served by focusing on our own businesses and projects. That's how we "keep our head in the game," so to speak.

Ultimately, we have to think beyond just our own little gigs. The failure of a rival is generally further reaching than just "a competitor gone," it's also "a failure" for the entire industry. And we ultimately benefit if our industry — whatever that might be, crypto or otherwise — is thriving, rather than failing.

Of course, there are also deeper questions associated with someone wishing ill on a rival. Are you doing so because you're not actually convinced that yours is the best answer to satisfy user/client/customer needs?

Once again, if you harbor such doubts, it's your project you need to be paying attention to, not someone else's!

Or perhaps there is some kind of "bad blood" between you and that rival? Maybe it's time you got that out of your system! As the old saying goes "anger is like acid, it mostly corrodes the vessel that HOLDS it!"

It's just interesting — and maybe a little disturbing — just how much energy people expend (waste?) on worrying about their competition, rather than on optimizing their own projects or passions.

Thanks for visiting and having a look at my blog, and till the next one!