LESSON THREE: BE AN ORIGINAL
Never Copy Someone Else
NOTE: Throughout the month of July, I will be writing about and sharing a short list of five “lessons learned” from my mother (Mimi) and grandmother (her mother, Nana).
Lessons from Mimi & Nana:
Publishing Wisdom Before I Knew It Was Publishing Wisdom
Mimi and Nana had strong opinions about many things. One of them was fashion. The one message I heard more than once was, “Never wear the same outfit as your best friend.”
At first glance, it sounds like simple style advice, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized it was really a lesson about identity and confidence. About being comfortable in your own skin.
Mimi and Nana weren’t saying you couldn’t admire someone else’s style. They weren’t saying you couldn’t learn from others. They simply believed that every person should bring something uniquely their own to the room.
You weren’t meant to be a copy;
you were meant to be memorable in your own right.
That lesson has never been more important than it is today. We live in a world overflowing with information. Books. Podcasts. Videos. Courses. Social media posts. AI can generate content in seconds, and as a result, many aspiring authors find themselves asking, “Hasn’t everything already been said?”
Maybe. But it hasn’t been said by YOU. That’s the difference.
Every day, I work with authors who worry that . . .
Their story isn’t unique “enough”. . .
Their expertise isn’t different “enough”. . .
Their perspective isn’t original “enough”. . .
They look around and see others writing about leadership, resilience, business growth, personal development, faith, health, relationships, and countless other topics. Then they start to wonder whether they have anything new to contribute.
The answer is YES, because your value isn’t found in the topic alone.
YOUR value is found in the lens through which you see it.
No one else has lived your experiences, faced your challenges, learned your lessons, met the people you’ve met, made the mistakes you’ve made, OR discovered the insights you’ve gained along the way.
Two authors can write about the same subject and create completely different experiences for their readers. Why? Because readers don’t connect with information. They connect with people. They connect with stories. They connect with authenticity.
Your goal isn’t to become the next version of someone else.
YOUR goal is to become the strongest version of YOU.
When you try to sound like everyone else, you disappear into the crowd. When you speak from your own experience, people remember you.
That’s what being BRAVE is all about.
Recognize Your Voice Matters.
Amplify Your Authentic Truth.
Own Your Story. Own Your Truth.
Because the world doesn’t need another copy of the latest trend, bestseller, influencer, or thought leader. It needs people willing to share their own perspectives and wisdom.
Mimi and Nana understood that long before personal branding became a buzzword. They knew there was no reason to show up looking exactly like everyone else. The same is true for your message, your story, your book, your voice.
So, if you’ve been holding back because you think someone else has already written about your topic, remember this:
You were never meant to wear someone else’s outfit.
You were meant to write your own story.
What’s one lesson, experience, or perspective that only you can bring to the conversation?
That’s probably where your best book begins.