pace-setters
Those who lead
Pace-setters are leaders who establish the standard others follow.
The term comes from racing, where a pace-setter runs at the front to set the speed for the field.
By extension, pace-setters are innovators or trendsetters in any domain: Silicon Valley pace-setters shaped the tech industry.
Also spelled as one word: pacesetter.
Those who open territory
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- trendsettersThose who initiate popular styles
- frontrunnersThose leading a competition
visionaries · leaders · changemakers · influencers · disruptors · standard-bearers · pathfinders · groundbreakers
Those who race on foot
- leadersThose with authority
- frontrunnersThose leading a competition
- rabbitsBurrowing lagomorphs with long ears
- pacersSpeed regulators or walkers
sprinters · marathoners · relay · timing · strategy · splits · drafting · peloton
Standards for measuring performance
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- disruptorsThose who destabilize systems
- best-in-classSuperior to all competitors
outperformers · pioneers · trendsetters · excellence · metrics · competition
trailblazers
Those who open territory
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- trendsettersThose who initiate popular styles
frontrunners · visionaries · leaders · changemakers · influencers · disruptors · standard-bearers · pathfinders · groundbreakers · thought-leaders
runners
Those who race on foot
- leadersThose with authority
- frontrunnersThose leading a competition
- rabbitsBurrowing lagomorphs with long ears
pacers · sprinters · marathoners · relay · timing · strategy · splits · drafting · peloton · breakaway
benchmarks
Standards for measuring performance
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- disruptorsThose who destabilize systems
best-in-class · outperformers · pioneers · trendsetters · excellence · metrics · competition
pace-settersstragglers
Those who fall behind
laggards · tail-enders · tailenders · also-rans · slowpokes