A man had a Chinese plate he valued very much. One day it fell and cracked down the middle. He ordered six more made and to ensure the exact pattern, he sent his broken plate to copy. When he received the finished product from China months later, he was astonished to find the Chinese crafter had so faithfully followed his copy that each new plate had a crack right down the middle.

If we imitate even the best of people, we are bound to follow some of their imperfections.

“We are creatures of imitation,” said Napoleon Hill, one of my favorite authors. 
“We find it hard to resist the temptation to do that which we see others doing.”

Imitating behaviors and styles can be a double-edged sword. On the positive side,

imitation can be a powerful way to learn. By observing successful behaviors, you can adopt effective habits and strategies that might benefit your personal and professional life. It shows admiration for what works and a desire to improve.

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery – it’s the sincerest form of learning.”

Imitation inspires us to innovate and build on ideas. This involves taking an existing idea and improving or adapting it to suit your unique context. For example, many tech companies build upon existing technologies to create new applications or services. 

In a tech startup, software developer Lisa admired her colleague, Tom, for his knack for solving complex coding problems. Tom had a unique way of working: he always wore noise-canceling headphones and hummed classical music while coding. 

Inspired by Tom’s success, Lisa borrowed a pair of noise-canceling headphones and started humming Beethoven as she tackled a particularly tricky bug in her code. But she soon realized that was more of a distraction than a help. Her humming was off-key and loud enough to draw stares from her co-workers. 

One day, as Lisa was deep in her off-key symphony, Tom tapped her on the shoulder and said with a grin, “Lisa, I think Beethoven just rolled over in his grave. Maybe try Mozart next time?”

The business world is full of companies that cloned others and made millions, such as Instagram and Snapchat, Google Home and Amazon Echo, Sega and Nintendo, and FedEx and UPS.

Imitating experts in a field can also help you develop new skills. For instance, musicians often learn by playing pieces from great composers, and artists might study the techniques of masters. It is crucial to give credit where it’s due and ensure that imitation does not cross into plagiarism or intellectual property infringement. 

“We learn by observation, imitation and repetition,” said Denis Waitley, motivational speaker and writer. 

On the cautionary side, imitation can result in a loss of authenticity. Over-reliance on imitation can lead to a loss of your unique identity. It’s important to balance learning from others with maintaining your personal brand. 

Mimicking others too closely might lead to relationships that are not genuine, as people might sense that you are not being true to yourself. 

Imitation can be a compliment, but true flattery lies in taking inspiration and transforming it into something uniquely your own. It’s crucial to recognize your own strengths and values. Don’t bypass the creative process. 

In a bustling office, there was a young intern named Tim who admired his boss, Mr. Jenkins, for his impeccable style and leadership. Tim was eager to make a good impression and thought that imitating Mr. Jenkins might be the key to success. 

One day, Tim decided to dress exactly like Mr. Jenkins, down to the same color tie and pocket square. He even mimicked Mr. Jenkins’ habit of twirling a pen while thinking. Feeling confident, Tim strutted into the office, ready to take on the world. 

As the day progressed, Tim noticed that people were giving him amused looks, and some even chuckled as he passed by. Confused but undeterred, he continued his imitation routine, convinced he was nailing it. 

Later that afternoon, during a team meeting, Mr. Jenkins couldn’t help but notice Tim’s uncanny resemblance to himself. With a twinkle in his eye, Mr. Jenkins said, “Tim, I see you’ve got the look down. Now, if only you could imitate my coffee order, we’d be in business!” 

Tim realized that while imitation might be flattering, authenticity and a good sense of humor are what truly stand out.

Mackay’s Moral: Imitation can open doors, but being true to yourself is what keeps them open.