On Tea and the Art of Doing Nothing: Imitate, then Innovate

On Tea and the Art of Doing Nothing: Imitate, then Innovate

In today's fast-paced world, the concept of doing nothing seems almost impossible. Even meditation, which is often seen as the practice of doing nothing, has become timebound and purpose-driven. We now feel the need for some sort of prop to handle while doing nothing. This explains the enduring appeal of the cigarette break and its more wholesome cousin, the lovely cup of tea.

Tea, unlike coffee, is not a work aid. It is not there to help us increase our output or work harder. Coffee is for the busy, the serious, the striving. But if you have masses of work and a tight deadline, tea will not give you a Limitless-style ability to get it done despite the odds. Tea is for those moments when you simply want to sit back, relax, and do nothing.

Interestingly, the idea of imitating before innovating applies not just to tea, but to various aspects of life and creativity. It is often believed that being original and unique is the highest virtue, even when it comes at the expense of quality. However, many successful creators and innovators have embraced imitation as a starting point for their work.

Take Quentin Tarantino, for example. His originality begins with imitation. He is famous for replicating and building upon scenes from other movies. Directors, like Tarantino, watch movies not just to be entertained, but also to see how they are made. They develop their own mental Pinterest board of ideas to borrow and build upon in their own work.

Even George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, drew inspiration from the works of Joseph Campbell. Lucas felt that the classical motifs found in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales had disappeared in the West. In an effort to revive these motifs, he rewrote his draft of Star Wars to align it with Campbell's work.

The obsession with originality and the disregard for imitation may stem from academia, where the focus is often on doing something different from those who came before. However, originality and usefulness are not the same thing. Sometimes, in the pursuit of being unique, academics forget to make useful contributions to human knowledge.

Before the 20th century, the purpose of creating art was simply to make something beautiful. Artists imitated the styles and techniques of those who came before them, adding their own unique touch. Einstein's paradigm-shifting invention of general relativity was enabled by his study of classical physicists. Hunter S. Thompson hand-wrote every word of The Great Gatsby to experience what it's like to write a great novel. Robert Louis Stevenson meticulously copied paragraphs he enjoyed, then rewrote them from memory.

Plagiarism is obviously wrong, but our fear of it has caused us to lose touch with the benefits of imitation. Apprenticeships, once the primary mode of imitative learning, have been replaced by professional art schools and other forms of formal education. But shallow, low-leverage points of instruction, like "get rid of the passive voice," pale in comparison to the real benefits of creating your own vocabulary or becoming a more observant person, which are better learned through imitation.

Following a recipe can make you a great dinner host, but it won't turn you into a Gordon Ramsay. The true value of imitation lies in the presence of the other, in how they reflect you back to yourself. Through imitation, you can create your own apprenticeship. Your authentic voice shines in the delta between your own style and the style of the person you want to emulate.

While most people think of imitation as near imitation, where you imitate people doing similar work to you, far imitations, which involve transferring ideas from one domain to another, can be just as useful. Companies shouldn't strive to be innovative for the sake of innovation. Instead, they should look for inspiration in other industries and domains, borrowing ideas and adapting them to their own context.

In conclusion, the art of doing nothing and the concept of imitation before innovation are two seemingly unrelated ideas that share common ground. Both challenge the prevailing notion that originality is the ultimate virtue. Instead, they highlight the value of learning from and building upon the work of others. To incorporate these ideas into your own life and work, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the power of doing nothing: Take breaks, enjoy a cup of tea, and give yourself permission to simply be in the present moment without the pressure of productivity.

2. Immerse yourself in imitation: Study the work of those who came before you, whether it's through reading, observing, or even copying. Look for opportunities to borrow and build upon existing ideas in your own creative endeavors.

3. Seek inspiration beyond your field: Don't limit yourself to your own industry or domain. Look for ideas and insights in unrelated fields and consider how they can be adapted and applied to your own work.

By incorporating these practices into your life and work, you can tap into the power of doing nothing and the transformative potential of imitation before innovation.