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!

Perfectionism Is The Mother Of Procrastination

I believe most of us are very bad at managing our time. We all love that ‘last minute’; in fact many of us would never get anything done if it wasn't for that ‘last minute’…

‘I will start the cleaning tomorrow’

 ‘I will start my assignment tomorrow’

‘I will start my diet tomorrow’ (just as you are eyeing up that delicious bar of chocolate!)

The inspiration for this topic came after I watched a video by Michael Hyatt (if you don’t know him – go check out his videos on YouTube.  You will love him!).  In which he stated that;

‘Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination’.

WOW.

This is probably one of the greatest quotes that I have ever come across in my entire 23 years of existence. For years I struggled with perfection (and being a Virgo doesn't help). I always felt like I could do and be better, that whatever I had achieved to date could be enhanced. Even during my school years if a project I completed had one silly mistake I would scrap it (quite literally) and start again from the beginning and I didn't care if that meant extra work.

Not only that but I was terrible for leaving things to the last minute! I believed that if I waited that little bit longer I would create better work. But I was wrong and there it was the mother of procrastination yelling at me constantly to put things off!

Now that I am a graduate and in full time work if I EVER attempt to put things off in fear of perfection, I quickly slap some sense into myself and start the project or task straight away. Because at the end of the day, it is much easier to start something whether that be a business venture, a blog post, a dance routine, a piece of artwork…whatever it may be, it’s always better to have something to work from where you can edit what you don’t like and improve on what you do like. Surely this is much more promising and rewarding than looking at a blank canvas for days having nothing to work on?

Do not and I repeat do not let the fear of perfection hold you back or keep you in the same position for too long! If you are presented with amazing opportunities take them and then worry about the outcome later and never ever delay something great because you worry that it will fail and it will waste your time. How do you know that? (Let me break it to you – you don’t know that!)

Grow and learn all the way to the top! Perfection is boring, it’s useless and it doesn't serve you! So start that assignment you have been putting off for weeks, go to the dance studio and improvise some moves, go get your paint brushes, go start your blog! Do whatever you got to do to just to START!

You have the choice to let perfection hold you back or you can go out and take a chance! I promise you won’t regret it!

Sj

 Stay curious  x

Do you have a story about a time when you delayed a project? Or do you disagree and think that perfection is a great way to work? Let me know! Share your thoughts and stories by commenting below! I can’t wait to hear from you!