I am moving through a new phase in completing my book, The Influence Factor: the editing phase. Yes, I have an editor, but I STILL have to review notes and changes and approve them or rewrite. It is a tedious process, that is for sure!
As I was going through a chapter today, I reread a section where I share that becoming a copycat won’t create your influential voice. This is counter intuitive to what many teach us. “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” “Find someone in your field that does it well, and do what they do.”
I am sure many of you have seen it:
1-a new manager that starts to look and sound like another leader in the organization
2-a speaker that shares the same points as one they admire
3-a teenage girl trying to be like the “popular” girl
4-a customer service rep that is so scripted they cannot hear what your need is
I could go on and on.
Reality is this. Copying works short term. Originality works long term. Copying is easy, originality takes more work. When you step into the real YOU, you step into your ability to share your influential voice. Your originality. Your view of the world. I get it. People copy because they don’t know HOW to be their best selves. Some would say the world teaches us how to copy. Interesting.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Very interesting topic, Ann. It’s extremely helpful when first starting a business to copy what others before you have done. Learning when to let that go and really put your personal stamp on what you do is so important. I understand how that can be counter-intuitive to most people. Thanks, as always, for your great advice and much luck with your book!
Absolutely Cory, and I believe that people who have found their Influence Factor know who to make that shift.
I think there are so many out there who don’t know who their real self is and are afraid to find out. They’ve been beaten down by life, by circumstances or whatever and they have no faith or trust in themselves. I see them everywhere. It is a long process to overcome and it takes courage. It can be done. What I finally figured out is that people like the “real” me, not the one I was trying to be to get them to like me!
Susan Berland
I love this @susanberland ! Simply awesome! and so true!
This is so freeing really….To have permission to be who we truly are! it can be so difficult for us to be ourselves because, as you say, the world does teach us from an early age that there are certain standards we must meet in order to be accepted, to be liked, to be successful, and if we do not feel confident in ourselves then we look outside to find what we should do, how we should act, etc. I remember having that experience as a 12 year old that looked up to a neighbor girl who was a year older than I was, and I thought she was so beautiful and so cool and I thought I wanted to be like her. What a mistake that turned out to be! Trying to copy her led to so many problems and heartbreaks that maybe someday I will write about, but for now I am just grateful that I can look back and see how that taught me so many lessons about what not to do! I am still working at being comfortable with who I am as a unique and one of a kind child of God, and you are right in saying it is more work. I am grateful, too, though that I can look at my daughter and see that she has and is learning to step into the real Taylor much earlier in her life than I did, and I am thrilled to watch as she blossoms and becomes.
Donna! such a beautiful story that supports why stepping into your Influence Factor is so critical! I love that you have honored Taylor being her true self!
This is a topic that has fascinated me endlessly, especially coming, in part, out of the martial arts lineages As a teacher I always feel best when I look at students practicing some qigong form I’ve taught them and they all look a little different, not like me but like themselves, bringing their personality and unique self into the equation.
I believe that the line between quoting, carrying forward, honoring the heritages (whether in sales, teen life or anything else) and still finding your original stamp is one I have mused on for years. I think in all the examples you name, there is a common theme that says the only way to be better is to become “other” which is a rabbit hole. The question that keeps me curious is where does carrying wisdom forward stop and becoming a carbon copy (remember those??) begin?
It is interesting to look at those that have truly found their Influence Factor while learning versus someone who has not. The wisdom is in having it, because as they learn, they know when it’s time to honor their mentors and BE them. And they are not afraid to do that. Those that have not found the Influence Factor, continue to mimic and copy, and even as the teacher/mentor is pushing them to own it, they fight it, wanting to copy it. Often not even realizing they are doing it!
Love this. I also know of people who want other people to write the script for their website or posts on FB biz page. How can someone else write for you? That’s another issue than copying but again, it’s not the authentic self.
Julieanne Case
Always from the heart!
Reconnecting you to your Original Blueprint, Your Essence, Your Joy| Healing you from the Inside Out |Reconnective Healing | The Reconnection| Reconnective Art
http://thereconnectivehighway.com
It’s amazing that we can get that lost that we want someone else to write our tweets or facebook posts huh? Even if you use a copywriter, the BEST ones, take time to DRAW out YOU!
I think “acting as if” can work in the beginning if you know you are copying. The copying has to serve the purpose of helping you take a few steps towards something new. But if you don’t then find your original self, you will be a dull version and have no energy. I am very put off by people who copy others and don’t seem to care about developing themselves. I guess it takes some originally just to understand that you can learn a skill from someone but then use that skill in unique ways.
Judy
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing
Yes! I love your style as a marketer, Ann! There were so many business things I used to avoid because I was told I had to do them this one way or just like that person or the magic formula wasn’t gonna work and I’d be alone and clientless! I think so many people drag their feet in business because they think they need to do something or be someone that just doesn’t feel natural. Thanks for giving us permission to be ourselves!
thank you @rebeccacowan ! Be you. Do you! We all win!
It can be scary to be a leader. I love it. It allows me to be me and it allows others to be who they are. Leading in my book means others can choose to be part of your team and love it. Originality creates and expands. Copying begets resentment and monotony. I love your philosophy.
Sue Bock
http://couragetoadventurecoaching.wordpress.com
So true. It’s been said that the education system stresses memorization instead of critical thinking. Maybe that’s why plagiarism is so rampant. While I am “inspired” by the work of others, creativity and originality is an internal process.
You know @maureenabivins:twitter that was my experience until college!
Yes! So very true. Originality is definitely more work and also requires courage to break molds.I think that your last sentence is really very telling – I do believe the world teaches us how to copy and also teaches us that this is desirable!!!!
It is so important to have the ‘originality’ message pushed, the ‘be your best self’ goal touted and the long term results understood. Love it!!! Step into your true self and use your own voice. It’s the best way for your passion to come through.
♥
I so agree Lisa! Imagine if we taught our children early on!
Beautifully said Sue!
This reminds me of a cartoon illustration of a group of Penguins hanging out and one Penguin busts out singing, ” I just wanna be ME”! Lol. Who wants to be a penguin? God made each and everyone of us with a unique DNA. There is only ONE of YOU in this entire world. So I rather be me than just like someone else. If you rock the boat, have a few jealous people murmuring under their breath, well then you must be doing something right. I think life gets Boring if you live life too safe. Good job Ann – you are an inspiration !
great insight – the popular girl thing is so profound b/c it demonstrates that we learn at an early age that to be cool, popular or well liked, we must copy.
we learn to NOT want to stand out and that is so bad! Being a tall girl – I always stood out. I was physically different always – this small lesson taught me a ton about learning to enjoy being different. We must learn to inhabit what makes us different, be someone unique, and offer something that is truly our own!
I see people ridiculously watermarking images of their work. Having been a floral designer who was an industry leader, I always knew that regardless of whether my work was watermarked or not, it would be copied if it was good, so why bother diminishing beautiful work. Once you’ve done it, it’s done. Move on to your next new idea. There will always be leaders, there will always be followers. It’s in our nature. I don’t really think we have any control over it.
It can be intimidating as a teacher/coach/speaker. What do I have to say that hasn’t been said by people who are so much more established than me?
But what I’ve found is that the originality doesn’t have to be in the content (though always give credit where credit is due!). But it has to be in the expression, It has to be how my unique brain processes it. How my unique voice expresses the concept. I’ve always felt that I’m really good at synthesizing. Taking existing ideas and putting them together in ways that are more than the sum of the whole.