Imitate, then Innovate: Building Products for Success

Imitate, then Innovate: Building Products for Success

In the world of creativity and innovation, the motto "Imitate, then Innovate" holds great value. It may seem counterintuitive, but imitating others actually helps us discover our unique style and creative potential. Conan O'Brien once said, "It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique." By imitating those who have come before us, we can learn from their successes and failures, and ultimately find our own path to originality.

One example of this is seen in the work of George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars. To align his story with the classical motifs that have resonated throughout human cultures, Lucas rewrote his draft of Star Wars to align it with the work of Joseph Campbell. By imitating Campbell's themes and ideas, Lucas was able to enhance his own artistic originality.

However, there are common misconceptions about inspiration and originality that hinder our creative growth. Many people fear being influenced by others, believing that it will taint their own ideas. This fear of influence prevents them from standing on the shoulders of those who have come before them and discovering breakthrough ideas. In reality, some of the most valuable inspiration comes from studying and admiring the work of others.

Another misconception is the fetishization of originality. In academia, there is often a pressure to do something different from those who came before us. This mentality can hinder innovation, as it discourages the study and imitation of previous works that could provide valuable insights and inspiration.

The third misconception is self-obsession. Our society values individualism and uniqueness, often leading us to focus solely on ourselves and our own ideas. However, it is when we are focused on doing a good job or telling the truth that we become truly original, without even realizing it.

To overcome these misconceptions and nurture our creativity, it is important to embrace imitation as a valuable tool. The fear of plagiarism should not deter us from mirroring the style and values of writers and artists we admire. There is a distinction between stealing someone's work without giving credit and imitating their style or principles, which should be praised and promoted.

The word "imitate" itself has an interesting etymology. In Shakespeare's time, "ape" meant both "primate" and "imitate." This suggests that imitation is deeply rooted in our nature as human beings. It is through imitating others that we discover our own creative personalities and develop our unique voice.

In the realm of product building, successful teams are distinguished by their ability to consistently execute. It is not whether they encounter failures that sets them apart, but how well they learn from those failures and adapt their approach. Understanding the problem you want to solve and for whom is the first step in building a successful product.

Research and data should inform your product decision-making, especially if your target audience is not narrowly defined. Relying on intuition alone may not lead to the best outcomes. A product succeeds because it solves a problem for people, so it is important to identify the problem worth solving.

Good execution involves reaching believable conclusions in the shortest amount of time possible. Failure should provide valuable lessons that can be applied to future projects. Exploring a wide range of solutions before going deep is essential in finding the best ideas. Empirical evidence can help narrow down the most promising solutions.

Rather than rushing to launch a product after positive signals on a hypothesis, deliberate decisions should be made regarding polish and additional functionality. Breaking up big projects into smaller, independently testable milestones can help manage complexity and ensure progress.

Post-mortems should be conducted after every project, regardless of success or failure. Reflecting on the lessons learned is crucial for continuous improvement. Defining success metrics before launching a product is essential for measuring progress and rallying the team around a common goal. Counter metrics should also be considered to avoid simply replacing one problem with another.

The Crystal Ball technique can help determine the right ways to measure success by imagining what information would be most valuable to evaluate product performance. If there is disagreement within the team regarding how success is measured, it should be addressed and resolved early on.

Product-market fit is better assessed through retention metrics, as they reflect how many people use and love the product enough to come back. Falling in love with a problem rather than a specific solution is a key mindset for successful outcomes. Diversity of opinions should be embraced, as it leads to better results.

In conclusion, imitating others and learning from their successes and failures is a crucial step in finding our own creative style. Building successful products requires a focus on execution, understanding the problem worth solving, and constantly learning from failures. Embracing imitation, setting clear success metrics, and fostering a diverse and collaborative environment are actionable advice for achieving success in both creative endeavors and product building.