Copycats

There is a phenomenon that is deeply human and an essential part of innovation and development.

In the journey of a creator, one must understand that nothing is ever made in isolation. There is always the work of others that provides the foundation upon which our own creation stands. Our interaction with the world exposes us to the creations of nature and of other artists whose works have captivated us. Therefore, no idea exists in isolation from what is happening now or from what has happened before.

Moreover, as Rick Rubin says — and I agree — an artist is someone who is sensitive to what the universe is transmitting and acts as a medium through which that idea materializes. As creators, our best ideas are those that come from the universe; we are not the conductors of the orchestra but rather one more musician contributing to the harmony of the piece.

In this way, it wouldn’t be strange to say that, since ideas are not completely ours, they don’t really belong to anyone in particular. This explains why there are people who, upon seeing someone’s work, wish to replicate it — because that’s how it is: art, by definition, is copyable.

When someone copies your idea or tries to, the first feeling you experience is the fear of losing that knowledge you worked so hard to build, of giving someone else the possibility of doing the same thing without as much effort. It’s normal to feel attached to one’s creations because we pour so much of ourselves into them; it’s something we produced with effort. And it feels even worse when someone uses it for their own economic benefit.

But the truth is, it makes little sense to say that an idea is “mine” or “yours.” If something resonates and transforms, it’s because it is in harmony with what the universe wanted to happen at that moment. Those who are not sensitive enough to perceive it miss the opportunity — and someone else who does perceive it can take action.

Copycats are people who lack the ability to create something on their own in alignment with the universe, so they look to other creators who can, in order to replicate their work.

It’s important to emphasize that what makes a creation valuable is that it expresses what the creator intended to manifest. Therefore, we must not forget that an idea or product in itself is not what truly matters — what matters most is the creator who can materialize it. This is good news for us, the creators: any work we make is unique simply because we made it.

If the goal is to make money from our creations, what truly matters to the client is that the creation is so aligned with what the world needs that they have no choice but to buy it from you. This ensures that if the creation is aligned with the universe, it will also be aligned with people’s needs — since they are all part of the same orchestra.

Thus, when one puts all of oneself into a creation, and it expresses what the universe wanted to manifest at the right moment, that guarantees the creation’s success — even economically.

Speaking in lean terms, if there is a problem that affects a part of humanity and it hasn’t been solved yet, the time will come when conditions align so that an idea emerges to solve it — when the necessary technology exists (through someone’s development, of course) and the timing is right. This means that as creators, we must stay alert to the creations that are meant to come into existence, because if you don’t make them, someone else will.

The process of getting to know the client and letting them tell you what they need from your product allows you to understand, more deeply, what the universe wants that creation to be. It must take a very particular form to truly materialize that intention.

You must not hold on only to what they consciously say, but rather to what is said between the lines — the hints of their true need. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to follow everything the client asks for, because what they truly want, they only know unconsciously

Don’t look for ideas, shut up an listen.