The Copycat Syndrome

You know how the saying goes ‘you're born an original so don’t die a copy’ but why are so many of us choosing to die as copies? 

Most of us can admit that having a copycat is like having your own personal pest (annoying as hell). It's like you come up with a unique idea, a new business, a new venture then somebody comes along and pretends that they thought of it first. Infuriating right?

It can get a lot of us down, we start to feel robbed, we feel manipulated and we feel angry. But have you ever thought of the reasons why they copy? or the reasons why you shouldn't get annoyed in the first place? If you haven't, please read below. 

The 4 reasons why you should never get annoyed over copycats

1)      You are always going to be the original – It may be annoying at first to see somebody ‘steal’ your business idea, your venture, your sense of style, your hobbies. But in reality they are only going to be a 2 – dimensional version of you, like a photograph. They may have taken the idea from you but they don’t have all the ingredients and the complexities that made up that idea, they only have what you have shown to them. They will never get to feel the heart of it nor will they ever experience what it is like to think the way you do. Who is the better person to explain, change, and execute this idea (venture, business) YOU and it will be YOU every time.

2)     They are lazy, you are not – Come on. How easy is it to copy someone else? I say lazy people copy others because they don’t spend enough time to understand themselves. It’s a breeze to follow the crowd but where is it going to get you in the long run? The person you are mirroring will accomplish what they set out to accomplish, you on the other hand will come 2^nd if you are lucky enough that is. Most the time the copycat will stop half way and think this isn't me, what am I doing? why have I pretended to be something I am not, why did I pursue this idea that I didn't create myself? And bang they are back to square one. Its laziness.

3)      Insecurity – They copy your idea because they don’t have confidence to pursue what they want to do. They begin to analyse every thing you do, so that they start to believe that they are YOU.  It’s almost like the self-fulfilling prophecy if you ask me. They are too insecure about their own abilities that they try to copy yours.

4)      Results in extreme jealousy – They become green with envy and jealously because you are doing a much better job at being you than they are. Jealously is not attractive. 

The copycat has to be pitied if you ask me. I wish they could see the beauty in their own ideas and the beauty in themselves instead of having to steal other peoples ideas and reaping the rewards that are not rightfully theirs. I also know how annoying it can be to have a copycat do everything you do (I have experienced the odd copy cat in my life). 

It is much better to live and die as an original than to live and die as a copy. Originality is much more authentic. After all authenticity can live on forever.  

Have you ever experienced a copycat in your life? Or have you had the copycat syndrome? Let me know. It’s fun hearing what other people have to say!