It pains me to have to do this, but apparently the image that I thought was so clever and cute has gone un-noticed. It was brought to my attention by one reader that she thought it was a picture of a cat on a litter box… ;) If you look a bit more closely, you’ll see it is a cat on a copy machine… the pun = “copy cat”. Hope that helps! LOL
It was with considerable amusement that I read an article received in my email inbox this morning. The article is written by someone I do have the utmost respect for. It was evident to me, however, that he has been misled. The article mentioned a business opportunity that is also a training program (which shall remain nameless). It indicated that this particular “system” is being imitated by others. “Imitation is the biggest form of flattery”, the article reads…
I chuckle because the program being touted as the “original” is a knock off of Val Smyth’s truly original “Mentors In Motion”. I call Val Smyth the Original Renegade Marketer because, in my humble opinion, he is. I know of several well known programs that are obvious knock offs - the one indicated in the article in my inbox included.Â
This article also refers to The Duplication Myth - another Val Smyth original. If ever you hear these lines (or a similar version thereof): “successful people never attempt to duplicate, they delegate instead”… AND… “the only thing duplicatible is failure”, if those words are not coming from the mouth of Mr. Val Smyth, you are listening to an imitator.
Perhaps this is related to my Ego post below, but it amuses me that these Mentors in Motion graduates fail to give credit where credit is due. Certainly it is true that imitation is the biggest form of flattery, and it is truly amusing to see the imitator say so! I just don’t get it. What kind of satisfaction can there be in pretending to be a creator of something that you are not?Â
Certainly, there are many who give Val credit for teaching them the skills they have learned and gone on to create their own programs. These are the authentic people that truly have the integrity and the REAL confidence that allows them to be REAL. Imitation is fine, in fact it is the way humans learn. Being grateful to one’s teachers is a demonstration of integrity and genuiness. You don’t have to be the inventor to be the teacher!Â
Taking credit for someone else’s work is just… _______ (please fill in the blank!)
What do you think about people who take credit for another’s work or ideas? I am seriously struggling to “get” this one folks - your help would be GREATLY appreciated!
10 responses so far ↓
1 Zelda Montgomery // Jan 31, 2008 at 10:09 am
I’ve had this very thing happen to me in the world of dog training. Unique things I do on my website show up on another area trainers website somehow, they’ve sent people to my classes, and then all the sudden their structure changes and it looks just like mine.
I’ve learned to view it as a compliment. I’ve learned to go on with my thing and not let it even effect me. If I helped them great. If they are still around doing it after a period of time, then I did in fact make the world a better place!
People are going to copy, they have a hard time being original, and quite frankly struggle with creativity. If I propel them them to success, then good for both of us!
2 Karen Weir // Jan 31, 2008 at 12:55 pm
What an amazing attitude Zelda! I agree that many people struggle with being original - and even that imitation is ok… its the lack of honesty that really irks me
Cheers! Karen
3 va // Feb 1, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Yea it is amazing how much people have to depend on the ideas of others nowadays. And I agree I think that it is ok to get inspiration from others. maybe you can even do it better than them. but you have to give credit where credit is due!
4 Cindy Bolley // Feb 3, 2008 at 7:53 am
Zelda I love your attitude, I would like to adopt it.
5 Cindy Bolley // Feb 3, 2008 at 10:57 am
Karen we must be on the same list because I know the exact email that you refer to. Your absolutely right. The writer is highly regarded in my book too. But how could he have gotten what he talks about so wrong?
Perhaps he really does not know , I find that very hard to believe. He is definitely give credit where credit is not due.
I’ll try Zelda’s attitude on this one as I bit my lip.
6 Cindy Bolley // Feb 7, 2008 at 10:21 am
I will fess up I wondered why you had a picture of a cat with that, it makes sense now. I put on my glasses and looked closer.
COPY CAT…
Very clever just like a little Fox.
Cindy
7 Bobi // Feb 14, 2008 at 6:23 am
Nice! Thanks!
8 Rick // Feb 18, 2008 at 9:42 am
Nice Site! Thanks!
9 Anne // Mar 1, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Nice Site! Thanks!
10 Online Pharmacies // Apr 19, 2008 at 3:24 am
Nice Site! Thanks!
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