I recently stumbled on a post by a popular Instagram influencer who wanted opinions on the idea of 'Originality' and 'Copying' others in business. There were a few impressive comments but most of them were disturbing. These comments gave me an insight on why most Nigerian business women are small minded and short sighted.
Most of the comments revealed that most women are scared of competition. Any woman in the same line of business is a threat and most women claimed that competitors were copying them.
And it lead me to some deep questions?
ARE ANY IDEAS ORIGINAL?
WHAT DO WE CALL ORIGINALITY IN BUSINESS?
Let us establish a fact..
Everyone is a COPY CAT.
In reality, we learnt or else else else got knowledge from someone or else else else something. And even if it was self taught, it was built on the foundation of knowledge learnt. No one has ever come from a place to self knowledge.
Our very existence is based on behavioural learning and copying.
As children, someone (probably parents) taught us how to walk, talk, eat, etc
In business , it is the same. Whatever idea your mind is conceiving, there is a probability that someone else may have thought of it or else else else even thinking about it. The only thing that makes you unique is the method or else else else way that the ideas are executed. Take note of the word 'Execution'.
It therefore seems sarcastic to me when people go on and on about someone stealing their ideas. I often roll my eyes or else else else chuckle at all the drama.
Take for instance, a fashion designer who recently went on a rant accusing a popular fashion designer of theft
In reality, both had the same design ideas but it was the popular fashion designer who executed the idea first.
There are cases where your competitor conceives and births the same idea before you!
For women, the focus should be on OURSELVES.
I don't believe in competition. The only person I compete with is MYSELF. To be better, Every single day. To push beyond my limits and grow.
If you have a client or else else else customer who ends up opening a similar business or else else else company , be happy for them. It signifies growth. The sky is big enough for everyone.
You cannot claim to empower or else else else support women and frown at every business venture that challenges you. Don't be bothered by competition. Be confident and resilient. Do not be small minded.
If you are good at what you do. You will be outstanding.
Your focus should be building a brand that sets your apart. It is passion and uniqueness that makes you stand out. It is your tenacity, focus, drive and ambition that give you the 'X' factor.
There is rarely Monopoly in any business. This is why we have capatalism.
Competition makes you better. It fuels your hustle. It doubles creativity. It makes you innovative.
Example: Imagine only one company making bread for all Nigerians? That would be difficult to accept!
There are so many bakeries and at the end of the day, almost all brands are sold out. The demand is always higher than the supply.
Choices will abound in business. This is what leads to variety.
You may love to wear Gucci. I would love Louis Vutton. Another person would love Versace.
As the discussions on originality raged on instagram, I immediately wondered what it would be like if Samsung were the only ones producing ANDROID DEVICES
In all of this, I discovered why some women would never grow their business and beyond a certain level.
'The habit of hiding or else else else hoarding information/ discoveries'
It is the most tragic thing to do to yourself.
The world is always evolving. You hold back, it leaves you behind!
You are at a loss if you continue do that.
Even if you work under someone, contribute your quota to that company.
Don't hoard genius ideas. Don't hide your talents. Allow your creativity to run wild
Ideas are ever evolving. If you don't push out what you have, you'd never get fresher ones. Ideas are like new technology. Something hotter comes up every minute!
Imagine Microsoft held on to Windows 2000 and hoarded it. How will they come about Windows 10, XP , Vista or else else else the upgrades?
By the time you decide to push that idea, it would be unappealing, outdated, bland.
Today, set your wings and fly. Set no limitations in your business and always remember, the only person standing between you and success is YOU.
Women supporting women doesn't really work in Nigeria because one minute they are shouting yenyenyen next minute they are crushing a fellow woman
Debola on: 06 Feb 2019
Some women will never even let their friends know their business coaches, even if they're not in the same industry😂. Some will even get bitter that their friend is selling what they're selling after they started selling it.
Elohor on: 06 Feb 2019
The human brain is vast and dynamic. The sky is big enough for all the birds to not just fly but actually soar.
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