What is a Trailblazer?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “trailblazer”.

A trailblazer is someone who cuts a path through the wilderness: they’ve got the machete, the boots, the hat. One too many buttons undone.

It’s the whole image of a guy who knows what he’s doing.

We throw it around as a word of praise:

“Ryan Dahl was a real trailblazer for JavaScript.”

And the glorious image of Indiana Jones comes to mind. Who wouldn’t want to be a trailblazer?

Trailblazers: Cut a path to connect one place to a goal over uncharted territory. They do this because:

• those two places