On the Matter of Originality, Copycats & Other Little Pussies

The Background

This is a story about originality. Well, technically, these are three stories about originality. All rolled into one joint… moral.

(I’m just gonna put myself in time-out for this one.)

Story One

Anyway, the first story starts yesterday when my friend texted me saying, SOB, they’ve robbed me!

So, what happened?

Basically, for about 15 years, my friend has had this social media profile where she publishes fun facts and random interesting information. And yesterday, she found out that a certain media outlet from one of the neighboring countries literally took a bunch of her posts – and her profile’s name! – and made an entire edition around it.

Story Two

Now, this story reminds me of an old friend from about 20 years ago, who was a very ambitious young trainer at the time.

Back then, YouTube videos, which were the next big thing in the world, were only just starting to knock at the door of the Croatian market, so he decided to go headfirst. After he published his first few videos, he showed up at my place one day, completely beside himself, with the exact same words: SOB, they’ve robbed me!

What happened was that his competitor – a trainer who’d been on the market much, much longer than he had – copied his ideas and published videos of their own that were pretty much the same as his.

He sat there, all shaken up, and I sure wasn’t helping with my: OMG, what are you going to do now? They have more clout than you! They have more money than you! They are ahead of you in every single way!

And while I was panicking about the impending doom, he slowly stood up, poured himself a glass of water, and looked me straight in the eye.

What am I going to do? I’m not going to give this another thought. That’s what I’m going to do.

And while he was gulping down that glass of water with the utmost poise, all I could think was: Great! The competition has just ripped you off, and all you’re gonna do about it is  – nothing! Brilliant!

After he finished, he smiled and said: Why should I? I am the original. They’re just a copycat. I’m always three steps ahead. At least. So while they’re busy copying, I’ll be out there creating new things.

He raised his eyebrow meaningfully and concluded, Come on. Let’s get to work.

He sat down, opened his laptop, while I was thinking, Oh, you poor little delusional man!

Story Three

Fast forward a few years, and I’d already been running my language school for a few years. This, by the way, is the third and the final story – my story.

I was doing great, and everything was peachy. In fact, I was doing so well that one of my acquaintances asked whether I could talk to their friend who was also opening a language school and perhaps give them some pointers. They were truly impressed with how I ran things and were certain my advice would be highly useful.

I eagerly accepted because I was really proud of what I was doing, and I secretly hoped that my story might actually inspire someone to find their own way, too, just like I had found mine.

About a month or two later, I was scrolling through a business magazine and stumbled upon a very interesting title about running a language school – one that closely echoed my own beliefs. And I thought… Hey! More people who think like me! Yessss!

And so, unsuspectingly, I read the first paragraph and shrieked those by now well-known words – SOB, they’ve robbed me!

Yes, and not only had they robbed me of my ideas, but the person in question had literally copy-pasted my entire web content, including all my I believes and my experiences – personal experiences!

It would be an understatement to say that I was furious at first, because I cannot fully explain the rush of emotions that overwhelmed me: wrath, despair, panic, humiliation, frustration, helplessness, and that nasty little sting of violation that hits when someone lays claim to something that was never theirs to begin with.

Yet, as soon as I was able to take a moment to gather my thoughts, I instantly remembered what my old friend had taught me. I closed the magazine and threw it into trash.

I am the original, and I will always be three steps ahead. At least.

… Let’s get to work.

The Moral

Less than a year later, my copycat went bankrupt. My old friend’s copycat gave up on the videos because they simply couldn’t follow up. And somehow, I have a feeling the same destiny may be just around the corner for the copycats from the first story.

The truth is, if you’re great, you’re bound to come across a copycat or two – or a few – in your life. Perhaps in the form of a seasoned expert who has hit a rut and ran out of inspiration. Perhaps in the form of an eager newcomer who thinks success is as easy as building a mirage out of someone else’s substance.

So you see, it’s not a matter of if, but when.

And when you do find yourself in this situation, you may feel the urge to retaliate. To expose. To make them pay. But it’s not your job to dole out justice.

Remember, you’ve got better things to do. You are the original. Whatever you do, just be you, and you’ll always be three steps ahead. Because while they’re busy copying, you’ll be out there paving the path. Making new things. Making history.

And yes, it’s only natural to feel a bit – in lack of a better word – freaked out when it happens, but just process it, and let it go with a smile.

Because just as that old Oscar Wilde quote goes, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.

Or, as I like to say, copycats are just little pussies without original ideas.