Story of the Week
I don't get mad when people copy my stuff anymore.
I do get mad when people download my content and re-upload it as their own — but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
The truth is, coming up with something truly original is hard — maybe even impossible. Every idea builds on what came before it. When I started creating content, I was heavily influenced by creators I admired. My early work wasn't a direct copy, but if you looked closely, you could certainly see the DNA of my influences.
When I saw my friend’s video, my first reaction wasn't anger. It was something more complex — a mix of flattery and disappointment.
Flattery — because imitation is indeed a form of recognition.
Disappointment — because I knew this creator had so much more to offer than an echo of someone else's voice.
This experience got me thinking about a challenge all creators face: How do we learn from others while still maintaining our authentic voice?
There's nothing wrong with being inspired by others. In fact, it's essential. Every great creator stands on the shoulders of those who came before them. Steve Jobs famously quoted Picasso: "Good artists copy, great artists steal." But what Jobs understood that many miss is that "stealing" in this context means taking an idea and transforming it through your unique lens — not reproducing it verbatim.
When we're starting out, we often mimic our heroes as a way to learn — I certainly did. But the magic happens when we begin to infuse those influences with our own perspectives, experiences, and insights. That's when we stop being cover bands and start writing our own hits.
My friend's video wasn't a failure because it resembled mine. It was a missed opportunity to take what resonated with him about my approach and evolve it into something uniquely his. Something that only he could create.
So how do we walk this line?
- Study widely, not deeply: Draw inspiration from multiple sources rather than obsessing over a single creator. This naturally leads to fusion rather than replication.
- Ask yourself "why," not just "how": Understand why something works, not just the mechanics of how it's executed.
- Add your perspective: What unique angle can you bring to this format or concept that no one else can?
- Credit your inspirations: When you are directly building on someone else's idea, acknowledge them — it builds goodwill and integrity.
- Focus on serving your audience, not impressing your peers: When you're genuinely trying to solve problems for your audience, originality often follows naturally.
Remember, the world doesn't need another (insert anyone else but you) — it already has one. What it needs is the only version of you that will ever exist.
What's one way you could take something that's inspired you recently and put your unique spin on it this week?
I hope this helps.
