This issue really irks me right now.
The on-line space is filling up every day with new bloggers, a few more thousand Twitter folk and a whole slew of groupies on Facebook.
We all have our favourites:
- Seth Godin;
- Tim Ferriss;
- Steve Pavlina;
- Chris Brogan; and
- Guy Kawasaki.
They have spent years cultivating their voice, and in turn their follower base.
They have published best selling books and have successful blogs.
But ...
They are not You.
You are You.
You have to stand for something. Anything as long as it's real, authentic, well meaning and credible.
You have don't to copy someone else or continually ride on their coat tails to be noticed. You might think there are some clever shortcuts but you will get found out.
I know many people will say that there is no such thing as an original idea (Other Peoples Experience and all that) and no doubt it is much harder to find your niche in this technological age, but plagiarism will leave you under-valued and feeling like a fake.
It is impossible for the style of one of your heroes not to rub off on you - I am guilty of dropping into the conversation one too many Godinisms - but after a year of blogging, I have found it much easier to write in my style. My inspiration is driven by what I see around me and trying to inspire you to reach your full potential, not by what someone says all the time.
Next time you come to pen something or deal with situation look inside your heart, reach back to your experience, your mistakes and don't rely on what others do all the time.
If you are confident in who you are then it is far more likely that you will grow and deal with life's challenges. There is nothing wrong with having a mentor or coach but they can only help you to hold a mirror to your persona. You are you, even if you think some of the edges need to be worked at.
~ Julian Summerhayes ~
Posted by: |