Poor countries do not have to follow, they just need to do what they do best, and focus on that as much as possible.
Like if you are still an agriculture country, in todays world, it would be very tough to be as rich as the big nations, but at the very least, improve that, get better trucks, better machinery, better results, best produce, so that you can be a nation that makes enough for you, and that would be great. You are great at coding? Do that, have better schools, hire the best coding teachers, raise the best coders in the world.
You want to be great at finance? Then do that, get the best math teachers for all around the nation, get the best finance education, basically focus on what you can do. Look at Singapore, what the hell did they have? Nothing at all, and now look at them.
FOMO which is an abbreviation of Fear Of Missing Out. It is often seen as a psychological issue which is linked to social media but it effects the real life as it increase the personal anxiety. In wealthy nations people consume social media and try to follow the trends, lurxury lifestyle and technological upgrades which creates an impact of inferiority in their minds. It doesnt mean just wealthy countries face this issue some developing countries also face this fear. When they see the wealth snd lifestyke of the global elite they try to get the same standards buying phones, clothing, or products that they cant afford just to feel included in elite class. Social media add blow to this fear making unmet expectations. FOMO reshapes our priorities both personal and political away from what truely mattrrs.