You might not have to go first to succeed.
But going first will give you a considerable advantage over everybody else...
The longer it takes until everybody else joins the game, the more time you'd already have spent mastering your craft (or the game).
But as soon as you stop moving you'll stop learning.
And as soon as you stop learning you'll stop moving.
And when you stop moving you can't possibly win.
And that's why the first mover advantage usually doesn't last.
Because people, companies, institutions or governments stop moving.
Don't be one of them...