In a world where originality is everything and your ideal clients are looking more and more for mentors they connect with on a deeper level, staying true to yourself is absolutely essential in creating and communicating your brand with the world. 

But, there tends to be a cyclical copycat culture in the online business space, that not only leads to brand confusion and dilution, but also turns away your ideal clients when they do find you. 

The importance of unique and authentic personal branding cannot be understated in the online world. To capture the attention of your ideal clients, and ultimately inspire them to hire you, you must communicate your deeper truth and showcase the essence of what makes you uniquely exceptional. 

By finding and using inspiration without copying, you can build a brand that stands out and resonates with your ideal client, that communicates who you are and what it’d be like to work with you, and that inspires an immediate yes from your people. 

True originality stems from embracing your authentic self. Your story, your values, and your individuality are just a few of the things making up the tapestry of your brand that sets you apart from the rest. By channeling your distinctive voice, you create an opportunity to form a deeper connection with those who align with your message. 

Resist the Temptation to Copy Your Mentors

Have you heard that imitation is the greatest form of flattery? 

While that may be true in some cases, that is absolutely not the case when it comes to building your personal brand. It can be incredibly tempting to borrow heavily from others who have found success – I get it! But, the importance of avoiding direct imitation cannot be stressed enough. 

A few years ago, I had a discovery call with a potential client. On this call, she was showing me the website she created and absolutely loved. As we were looking at the site… I noticed that it was literally identical to my mentor’s website. Like, I could pull up the two side-by-side and not know which was which. I brought this to the potential client’s attention, and she straight up just ended the call. Awkward!! 

From what I’ve seen, people who copy others often look up to the person they copied, and can’t think of a better way to create/be/do it themselves. It’s so easy to feel tempted to copy people you respect, who have created something that inspires you. 

We all feel inspired by our role models and want to create something just as beautiful and impactful as they did! But, copying is never a good idea. Not only is it completely unethical (and illegal, although I’m not a lawyer), but it also does both parties a major disservice and makes you completely unrecognizable (or even worse, recognized only as a copycat). 

Copying others may feel like it offers short-term gains (like writing and creating quicker), but it fails to communicate your true essence and will dilute your personal brand's authenticity in the long-run. 

By stepping away from imitation, you allow yourself and your brand the freedom to genuinely reflect who you are and what you stand for, and build an unbreakable connection with your audience.

📌⬇︎PIN IT⬇︎📌

How to Ethically Use Inspiration

Inspiration is everywhere. From the way the sun shines through your window in the morning, to the funny story your friend told you, to the things you see on a walk… it’s hard not to be inspired by the world around us. 

However, I also believe that there are no new ideas – everything has already been thought, or done, or created at some point, in some way. It’s not unrealistic or unreasonable to find inspiration in the works of others (I mean… that’s probably one of the main things we like about what we see, right?). 

Let’s say, for example, you follow someone online who you really look up to – you love what they share and how they show up for their community, maybe they’re even the reason you were inspired to start your own business! It might just feel natural to do the things they do and show up in the way they do. But especially in the early days of your business, it can be really easy to fall into the trap of wanting to emulate your mentors. After all, the way they show up and the things they share work for them… so it should work for you too, right?!

Even I have fallen into the trap of emulating a mentor a little too closely. While I’m not proud to share this story, I do believe that it’s a very important part of how I developed my brand, and it’s something that happens so often yet is rarely talked about – so let’s break the ice. 

In the early days of my business, as many new business owners do ... I was trying to figure out how to be successful.

During this time, I had a mentor who I really looked up to. She had a huge following, made multi-millions of dollars per year and impacted thousands of entrepreneurs' lives (including mine!). I saw how successful she was, so my natural next thought was that if I wanted to be successful too, then I needed to be like her. 

She had a very loud, "in your face" personality, so I dove head first into trying to be entertaining, brutally honest, even slightly obnoxious, because I thought that was the only way to get eyes on my offers.

I would use her harsher tone and swear in my emails and social posts, even though that was not my natural state (like, at all).

The mentor I followed was the very definition of an Outlaw archetype, which is not me. So for her, things like swearing and crudeness not only came naturally, but felt authentic and organic. But when I tried it, my audience saw right through it. It even got to the point where they would respond to my emails letting me know that it didn’t sound like me, that it felt contrived. 

Even though I didn’t copy her color palette, logos, fonts, etc., I was trying to copy who she was being as the face of her brand. However, it didn’t work for me – because it wasn’t my authentic way of showing up. Though it took me a while, I eventually did find my own groove and my own voice, and I’m so grateful that this experience gave me the perspective to realize just how important and exceptional my uniqueness truly is. 

It’s only natural to draw ideas and inspirations from existing concepts, mentors, things you see online, etc., as creativity is often built upon a foundation of collective knowledge and experiences. But with that, it’s also essential to understand that the world needs your unique personality, perspective, ideas, and experiences – and you don’t show that by copying anything about someone else. 

The solution? 

Get clear on who you really are. 

Through tools like the Brand Archetypes and Power Profile, you can uncover your own authentic way of showing up and find inspiration from your results to help you craft your own compelling brand identity (that is, assuming you take these assessments as your true Self rather than trying to skew results). 

Building a memorable and authentic personal brand relies on cultivating a unique voice, visual identity, and even way of being. Resist the temptation to copy your role models and instead focus on creating a distinct and recognizable brand that represents your values and expertise. 

Communicating Your Unique Creative Voice

By infusing your personal brand with authenticity and originality, you not only attract your ideal clients but also build real relationships with them that ultimately lead to sales. Your audience will appreciate the sincerity and uniqueness that emanates from your work, forming a deep emotional connection that cannot be replicated through “borrowed” ideas or emulation of others. 

It is through your authentic voice that you create a memorable and compelling presence, captivating your ideal clients and inspiring them with your genuine perspective. By being inspired by the world around you without resorting to direct copying, you pave the way for innovation and contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of your industry. 

So, dare to be different, celebrate your individuality, and let your personal brand shine with authenticity.

By staying ethical and authentic, you can create a brand that not only resonates with your audience but also helps you establish yourself as a creative force to be reckoned with. Resist the temptation to copy, nurture your own inspiration, and let your unique voice shine through in your personal brand, and in everything you share with your audience. 

P.S., If you find yourself in a situation where someone has copied your intellectual property, this blog post may be helpful. 

If you are struggling to build a business alone, then I have just the solution for you! I’m here to support you in creating a purposeful, archetypal brand that makes money AND makes a difference. Explore how we can work together here.