The Copycat Trap

“It’s really important to understand what differentiates you, because that’s the only key to your success.” - Denise Warren

The Copycat Trap

We all have other people we admire.  When looking at the thousands of people we come into contact with it’s easy to see a lot to appreciate.  And, one recent experience showed me that in some ways all of us are born copycats. 

I was sitting on the couch, while visiting my daughter and her family, when I looked over to see my one-year old grandson doing exactly what I was doing.  He was carefully watching my every move and then doing his best to imitate.  We all thought it to be very cute.  But, at the same time, I thought, “I hope he doesn’t become too quick to copy me in every way!”

It’s natural for all of us to see someone we admire and then try to copy their path thinking that they’ve discovered the secret for a more successful life.  But, the challenges and opportunities each one of us face individually are very different than those of any other person so we ultimately discover the need to find our own answers.

My grandson’s proclivity to mimic my actions was sobering to say the least.  He allowed me to discover the Copycat Trap and face two of its truths.  First, I’m not a model of perfection!  Second, should he be caught in the trap, his many beautiful, unique attributes could become easily and tragically lost.  So, how can we benefit from the good we admire in others while also recognizing and embracing our individual, unique gifts as well?

Denise Warren described such personal opportunity when she said, “It’s really important to understand what differentiates you, because that’s the only key to your success.” 

How can each one of us can best discover our personal opportunities?  Start on your pathway to new found success by asking yourself two questions.  What makes me different from everyone else?  How do I use these differences to get what I want? Asking these two questions will force you to think about who you really are and what you really want.  They force you to think about your uniqueness, as an advantage, and will push you away from becoming nothing more than a mimic.

I was sitting on my daughter’s couch thinking of how cute it was for my grandson to be coping my behavior.  Then I thought, I hope he doesn’t copy everything I do!  Finally, I realized that the best way to avoid the copycat trap was simple.  You and I can be more than a mimic by avoiding the Copycat Trap.  Let’s figure out what makes us unique and what we want to go after!