The Power of Imitation and Embracing the Unknown in Creativity

The Power of Imitation and Embracing the Unknown in Creativity

Imitate, then Innovate - David Perell

Imitate, then Innovate is my motto for improving at any skill. It’s counterintuitive, but the more we imitate others, the faster we can discover our unique style. Reflecting on his own influences, Conan O’Brien said: “It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.”

Imitation and innovation may seem contradictory, but they are actually interconnected. When we imitate others, we gain insights and inspiration that can lead to our own innovative ideas. George Lucas, for example, rewrote his draft of Star Wars to align it with Joseph Campbell's work on classical motifs. This imitative respect enhanced Lucas' artistic originality and allowed him to create a groundbreaking story.

However, there are three common misconceptions about imitation and originality that hinder creativity. The first misconception is misunderstanding inspiration. Some individuals fear being influenced by others and avoid studying anything that came before them. But in reality, imitating and reverse-engineering other people's work can provide valuable inspiration.

The second misconception is fetishizing originality. In academia, there is often a focus on doing something different from those who came before. This mindset can limit creativity by disregarding the value of studying and building upon existing ideas.

The third misconception is self-obsession. Our modern model of human psychology, influenced by Freud's work, may contribute to our obsession with being original. However, true originality often arises when we focus on doing a good job or telling the truth without solely seeking to be unique.

Imitation is not about blindly copying or plagiarism but rather about mirroring the style or values of those we admire. By imitating others, we can discover our creative personalities, develop our taste, and understand which aspects of the creative process come naturally to us. It is through this process that we find our own unique voice.

Imitation can also extend beyond our immediate domain. Far imitations, transferring ideas from one field to another, can be equally valuable. Sigmund Freud's groundbreaking work in psychology drew inspiration from Friedrich Nietzsche. Both skills, psychology and philosophy, require keen observation and the ability to extract insights from existing knowledge.

The fear of plagiarism has led to an excessive aversion towards imitation, causing us to overlook its benefits. The word "imitate" itself has an interesting etymology, as during Shakespeare's time, it meant both "primate" and "imitate." This suggests that imitation is fundamental to who we are as humans.

In our modern society, the focus on codified knowledge has overshadowed the importance of tacit knowledge and the transmission of technique. Reading extensively and immersing ourselves in good writing, for example, hones our intuition for quality writing even if the principles of effective writing are hard to communicate.

Imitation is not about becoming like everyone else, but about using it as a tool for self-discovery and personal growth. When copying is mistaken for imitation, it leads to a homogeneity of style that suppresses individualism. To truly innovate, we need to combine near imitations with far ones.

Patrick Collison, co-founder of Stripe, emphasizes the value of imitating best practices and learning from existing resources. While innovation is important, blindly pursuing it without a strong foundation can be detrimental. By imitating the proven methods and solutions when appropriate, we can build upon them and innovate when necessary.

The key takeaway is that imitation and innovation are not opposing forces, but rather complementary components of the creative process. Embracing imitation allows us to discover our style, develop our skills, and gain inspiration from others. By understanding the power of imitation and embracing the unknown, we can unlock our creative potential and make meaningful contributions in our chosen fields.

Actionable advice:

1. Embrace imitation: Study the work of those you admire and analyze their techniques and styles. Use this knowledge as a springboard for developing your own unique voice.
2. Seek inspiration from different domains: Look beyond your immediate field and explore ideas and concepts from other disciplines. Transfer and apply these insights to your own work.
3. Combine imitation with innovation: Adopt best practices and proven methods when appropriate, and use them as a foundation for innovation. Balance the familiar with the new to create meaningful and impactful work.

In conclusion, imitation is a powerful tool for personal growth and creativity. By imitating others, we can discover our own unique style and develop our skills. Embracing the unknown and combining imitation with innovation allows us to make meaningful contributions and push the boundaries of what is possible in our chosen fields.