In the words of Eminem:
“May I have your attention please?
May I have your attention please?
Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
I repeat will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
We’re going to have a problem here.”
Before you wonder why I’m quoting a hip-hop artist, here’s a quick visual about a topic I have to cover and truly only from the hopes of inspiring authenticity and to preserve my work and voice.
Flashback to the video of Eminem in a factory being mass reproduced and a million guys trying to be him because he influenced pop culture for a hot minute. But the video was made to set him apart from the imitations because after awhile it starts to bother you. We’re all human after all and no one wants someone else to get credit for the work they’ve put into it.
Spin your vision back to today and look at the content being mass copied. Sometimes it starts to look the same and I get the attraction to do it.
When we’re new to the digital scene we can get a little lost. But instead of doing something new we take on things we know to be successful. Because the ease of it, the emphasis goes on people that have accomplished what we want to. From that foggy space we take their personality and the things about them that make them attractive and push it back out as ours in attempts to make ourselves feel and achieve what they already have.
It’s been going on since the dawn of time but it doesn’t get better unless addressed.
However, there’s no way to reach out to someone and tell them to stop taking your ideas as their own or to find their voice without using yours. There’s no kind way to ask someone to stop copying you. That’s only going to create problems by adding insult to injury on their ego. But realize, this is NOT Dynasty.
There’s no need to get into a tizzy. Keep calm and tell your inner Krystle Carrington to have a glass of wine or to simply remain calm. I’m not trying to take you down, I’m trying to show YOU how wonderful YOU are.
I feel silly typing this, but PLEASE don’t be me, be you. I’m me and there’s days I’d trade you lives in a heartbeat. Crohn’s isolation is super fun. Wanna try? I kid but really, I would if I could but I can’t.
Since body swapping isn’t possible I’m sending out the search crew to help you find you.
Finding your own voice requires you to look at yourself and speak of the things that you’re an expert of. Imitation is a reflection of the blank space you’re trying to fulfill and guess what?! It’s already there. You’re in that space. You don’t have to be anyone else to be loved.
Remember this one thing: You are enough!
If you’re lost, let’s help you find your voice:
1) Accept that you’re you. Write out your strengths, not others. Take them and make it a vision you’re actively going to promote. Be careful to not take someone else’s vision and try to make it your own. No matter how great you may think it is, your greatness is better.
2) Spend time in stillness and gut check yourself frequently. Pay attention to your feelings and what motivations you to be you. Instead of taking a someone else’s work and hijacking it to be your own, try creating some super amazing content and pushing it out to see how people respond to who you are.
3) Write yourself a love note and look back at it to check your attractive attributes. Dang, girl! You’re suddenly looking all good, right? Yay, life! That’s all you, sweet girl!! Be you and never look at others for comparison. The real competition is being the better you today than you were yesterday.
4) Be your number one cheerleader. Cheer loudly and often … Cheer for yourself NOT the followers you’re attracting. You’ll eventually show them everything and then they’ll not follow your story because it’s all out there. Keep some stuff just for you and promote what brings you joy. Hopefully that’s not copying others work. If so, we really do have a problem here.
5) Never loose your integrity. It’s the one of the most important things you can’t get back. It’s in the way you put yourself out there. You have to remain you and never participate in click-baiting. It’s all surface if you take that path. Dig deep and then stay there.
6) Never attack others to make yourself feel better. Sure it’s great to have support from others when we’re going through rough patches but don’t lower yourself to the level of those that are mean. If you do, there will be a time where you won’t love yourself for it.
7) Repeat after me and look in the mirror: “I am perfect being me. I don’t need to pretend to be anyone else nor imitate the work of others because I’m choosing to be the most authentic version of myself instead of (XYZ – insert name of hero here).”
Side note: I love helping women find their voice and help them with their work but I can’t help if I’m not asked. Instead of taking my content, please send me a message and we can work it out. I’ll help you and you’ll not be me … You’ll be you and let’s face it, you’re amazing. Your life and voice is much better than being anyone else’s on earth. I promise.
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