There’s a Southpark episode called “Simpsons Already Did It” and I think you can guess from the title what it’s about, and from that you can probably guess the gist of this post too.
Butters is dressed as his alter ego, Professor Chaos and is trying to think of a plot to take over the world. It turns out whatever he thinks of has been done already by the Simpsons and there’s no room for originality, much to his dismay.
Now whether you like Southpark or not, I love this reference because it’s so absolutely true. The Simpsons have already done everything.
Everyone has already done everything.
From cave paintings to Roman statues, from the Dutch Masters to the Minimalist movement.
I’m not saying this is it. I’m not saying there aren’t great entrepreneurs out there who are still creating amazing new things like my toaster tongs (thank you Lakeland). No. I’m actually saying the opposite. There is always room to be original. Because the difference is this time it’s coming from you.
How to be original
At first I felt like there wasn’t room for me to become a life coach because there’s plenty of other people already doing this, but then I thought y’know what? They’re not me. We might offer a similar service, similar prices and similar structure, but they’re not me. They don’t have my words, my personality or my experience, just as I don’t have theirs. Our clients will choose us based on these qualities and whether they connect with us. It’s not to say one is better than the other, they’re just different. Like two artists painting the same flower will be different because it comes from different hands. Two chefs making the same dish will be different because they’ll have their own tastes etc.
There is a huge amount of room to be original in this world. Don’t be put off by the thought that someone has already done it. Do it again. Do it better. Do it your way. It will be original because it’s come from you.
There are more people in the world than ever before. That means there are more eyes to see your work than ever before.
Don’t listen to the naysayers who protest “they’re copying me, I did it first”. Do you remember in school when people would be like “I liked Panic at the Disco before they were mainstream...” Oh stop it, no you didn’t, you heard them on XFM like the rest of us.
Just laugh it off. Because unless that person is a prehistoric cave-painting Neanderthal - and fair play to them if they are - then they didn’t do it first, they just want you to think they did.
So, you’re not treading on any toes don’t worry. Just be mindful and kind and give credit for inspiration where it’s due.
Apart from that, there’s nothing holding you back now is there?
Go fly.