maybe as soon as you get the idea and you notice that you're being influenced or inspired by someone in your industry, stop consuming their stuff right there,
be like,
Like be like, okay, I love this idea. Let me riff on it. Let me like put that on a whiteboard and see where it goes. Uhhuh, because it will go somewhere really cool. Yes. If you do that, yes, it will go somewhere different than what they did. Welcome back to the Something Businessy podcast. This is
Frannie. This is Nicole.
And we are coming at you with part two of a little series that we kind of went on a rant about. And it's on the topic of copying. So today we want to talk to you a little bit about how to make sure that you're not being said copier. Last week we talked about
what
to do when you feel like you're being copied by someone.
Yeah, but what if you are the culprits?
What if it's you?
What if the call
I'm the problem. It's me.
Oh, yeah.
There's so many songs about this. So we're not gonna sing for you today. You're very lucky that we're not
we're not singing We already did sing.
We're not gonna continue
taste.
But let's talk about how to make sure that you're not infringing on the copyright
Yeah. of someone else. Yeah.
And and what are the boundaries when it comes to copying and like what's the difference between being inspired by slash You know, copying in a healthy way or in an acceptable way
versus Yes. There
Not being like being that guy and like when it's not cool. When is it not cool?
Yeah. There is a healthy amount, there's a healthy amount of inspiration that is allowed.
Yes, and there are some scenarios when copying is actually the name of the game
Mm hmm.
cool, let's dive in
Yeah.
I'm imagining like some cool sound effects of like a splashing into a pool
Courtney, add that in.
So Alright, where do we want to start this conversation?
Um, well... I don't know, Franny. Where do we want to
okay. Uh,
I didn't know
You like how I tried to ping that to you and you just pinged it right back to me?
I'm like, I am not accepting this.
Send back to sender. So, we recently had a little viral moment on the internet. If you didn't see our Suburban Mom Starter Kit Reel, you didn't know I was going to go there, did you? Um, so we did this reel. There is a sound where it's the Holderness family and the, the husband does all these, like, he does a lot of stuff like this. And so, first, I have like a couple things on this. About this reel that relate to this topic.
So the reel is a sound where he makes a song that's like suburban mom starter kit and it lists off all these things.
And They're like basic mom Outfit when
you're so basic that we all look the same. Yeah. And it's like a Stanley water bottle and like your Lululemon, your Lululemon crossbody. I think we might have single handedly made them discontinue those.
Hopefully.
kidding, they still have them. They have really cute new like, uh, boucle ones now, so I kind of want one. But anyway, so, like, the reel is funny because, it's funny and relatable. And the reason why it went viral is because it's so relatable, because so many women
do it.
Or look like that, like dress like the, in the outfits that we were wearing. They're wearing the, the athletic, the athleisure, and then the,
The dad hat.
the hat and the, the sneakers that you don't even run in, or you have the Amazon dupe leggings. And like, everybody has like the same. Outfit. We're all
you realize you realize that you're one of them. or you see them everywhere. And so it's basically relatable for everyone because it's like, you're like, either you're like, hell yeah, I own it. I'm that, I'm just a Ruby mom, or you're like, oh shit, that's me. Or you're like, I hate that.
Yeah. And do you know how many people every day still, I'm still getting notifications that people are sharing that reel and the, and the text always says, I feel attacked. That's what they're saying about it because they're feeling called out. Like they're one of us and they're, but they don't want to be, they're like, Oh, this is really, am I really that basic? And they're feeling called out that they're like being attacked and it's making people see it.
And then they're like, Oh, and the funniest part is in the caption I wrote, uh, white SUV, not
white ss u v
And the amount of comments are like, Oh man. Even the white SUV. There's two
Frannie has two white SUVs. That's how basic she is. Okay.
one of them is a, one of them is a crossover.
A u v
It's a, it's a small SUV car.
I mean, we have white car, two white
really wanted the sage green, but they didn't have it. Okay, anyway, yeah. White cars are the best, okay, whatever. So, so anyway, we are all part of this like, funny joke that We're like, okay, we know we're basic, whatever. And then, do you know how many comments we got from angry trolls that are like, and that's exactly why I don't have a Stanley water bottle.
Do you want, Okay, sorry, really? quick. Still. Okay, so we're so, we're so freaking, basic that we just, Okay, so we are a studio of all women. And we just hired our first boy. Like, our first, like, full time boy.
man. It's He's
he's literally like almost 40 and we're like, he's a boy. And it's funny because we went to college with him, so he's a good friend. Um, perfect, perfect first male addition to the team. And, um,
so excited about it. His girlfriend, we needed some male energy in the room.
His girlfriend bought him a Stanley water bottle
so that he could fit
so we can fit in with us That's, that's how, that's what an inside joke. It is. Like, she did it as a joke. Like it's,
I don't know if she did. I think she was like, you need one of these.
it's, but it's like, it's funny.
your first day of school.
You need one of these so you fit in with the other girls. Yeah. So, so, so many people were like, and
Even one of these didn't fit in with the people were like, and that's why I'll never, or, or my favorite thing too is like, okay, there are legit thousands of comments on this reel and half of them are people going, Oh, tagging their friends, like, they're having fun with it. They're like, oh, I'm not even in suburbia and I look like that too. Or like, we're all, you know, it's like fun and they're like, they're cool.
And then the other half of people are like really triggered by it and they're really angry at us. And they're like, did you know that Lululemon pants have mercury in them? you're putting it in your crotch. You're
well, don't worry about it because I am wearing a crossbody. And my leggings are dupes. So they are actually worse.
are somehow, or like, all these like, guys that are like, and, and. You're all medicated and have all these kids you don't even want and you're, like, seriously, people Yeah,
up, I only have two kids that I don't want. I'm just kidding. I love both of my kids, It's just
people project all of their weird crap on you. Anyway, okay, the point of this is two things. First of all, we completely copied, verbatim, copied a reel from the Holderness family. It was like a viral, like a, uh, influencer. Family. Yeah. They made that sound knowing people were going to copy it. Yes. Knowing people were going to jump on that and use the sound for their own content, which helps spread their content and circles back to them. Mm-hmm. they did that on purpose.
They were inviting people to copy them. Right. So I, that's why I also think it's really funny when people comment, give credit where credit is due. This is the wilderness. Family's real.
Yeah.
like, yeah, oh, cool. Yes. Thank you, Holderness family. Like, they understand. They're not telling me that. They're not, like, reaching out and being like, you copied me. Right. Right, you're like, that's the point of a viral reel, is that the sound, you'll see that,
copied me. Yeah, we're, if you click on the sound you'll see that like,
Thousands of people have copied that reel. Yes. There's a million of us all doing exactly the same thing with the stupid water bottle and the crossbody thing and the Lululemons.
blue
Yes. So like, this is an example of like, copying is actually the etiquette. Copying is the game and that is what you are supposed to do. You are supposed to and TikToks and sounds and that's how trends become trends.
Right. And do you know what I love about this? this is an example of a real trend. and like real, R E E L, reals, trend, And then it's also a, an example of how we all are dressing the same because we're all influenced by the same world. Right. So no one's original.
Yeah. And then even the people who are like, Oh my gosh, like be original. Find your own style. Basic people are just basic because they can't come up with their own style. Do you know how many people said that they are all not all original either, because they're all saying the same thing.
You're like, well, you're the 20th person who said that. Yeah,
I actually responded to one of them and I was like, wow, that's so funny because everybody who's saying that also has a private account with a cat as their profile picture.
Oh! Ooh, burn. Like,
but you can't, you can't argue with trolls. Like they will just never stop. Like I've got, I got in a couple of like fights with the trolls like, this is fun. And then I was like, I don't have time for this. Like just
let her go. Yeah,
go away. So, anyway, copying in some cases is. It's okay, not only okay, but it is expected and it is part of the fun. Yeah. And, and yeah. Um, on that note too, we were talking about how some creators literally like, it's like, Hey, copy my method, copy my outfits, copy my recipes. Like
Swipe my email, my email
Specifically creating content for people to copy so they get the shortcuts so they don't have to go through all the time to do stuff because, Hey, I'm the expert on XYZ. You don't have to go through all this heartache of trying to figure things out yourself. Just copy me. It's fine. Here you go. I'm giving it to you. Totally cool. That's awesome. Copy away. Um, I mean, there's also all these things too that are like, hey, I'll find all the real trends.
You can just follow me and I'll, I'll share them with you and you can just copy them. And
I'll show you the step by step on how to do
you the template, whatever. So, all of that, super healthy, expected, awesome, gold star.
Yes. We love it.
When is it becoming, um, a little awkward and not cool, Nicole?
If you are following, um, accounts that are exactly, especially in the same market, same industry, you're selling, literally selling to the same, you know, net, of network of people, Are you making that Why are you making that face?
Because I don't know if this is recording anymore. Uh
Uh oh.
Oh yes it is, we're good.
Okay. She made a face that looked like a, like a sad jack o lantern, and I was like, why? It's
face look like a, like is just like not showing in my doc. Oh. Like, it looks like it's not open. Okay. But it is. Excuse me, I'm sorry.
It's okay. if
Start over on that thought and we'll cut that out.
we leave it.
Or we leave it.
Okay. So, if you are, if you're following your actual competition. So, if we're calling them competition, meaning same industry. Same people that you're selling to same location And you're like literally doing the same things that they're doing You might be a copier
Yeah,
um, you know if if you haven't listened to our previous episode go back and listen to it because we have a lot of really specific uh, instances of this but you, If you, are actually, like, watching people and doing the same things that they're doing, beyond just like, what is an expected service for your industry, um, you, you might be a little too influenced by the people that are around you.
Um, you, what you definitely don't want to be doing is making, even using, like, the same real sounds that direct, you know, like, your direct neighbor of, Your business are doing, using Maybe just like steer away. Like there's like, there's so much good stuff out there on the internet that you just I wouldn't even want to be like
ex
like suspected. of, of recreating something that's
like, okay, if there's like a viral sound and everybody's using it. Right. That's one thing. And I think if you, if you see. Um, somebody in your industry and in your niche using a sound and you're like, Oh, that's perfect. Like right now there's some specific ones about photographers, right? That would be totally normal for me to jump on and use.
What I see people doing sometimes when it starts to get like become like an ick is when you notice that they're copying like everything from the same creator. Like all of the same sounds from the same creator and the same like style of reels or the same. Um, copy in their captions
Mm hmm. or like,
whatever, it's one thing here and there is fine. But if it starts to become like you're taking all of your inspiration from the same source, that's when you're probably doing something that's like,
eh. yeah, not cool. Yeah. And I mean, in that example, even people who are outside of your industry. So if you are doing the same thing, if you're a real estate agent and you're following a real estate agent, that's like. totally crushing it in San Francisco, and they're like killing it, and making content, and then all of a sudden you start making all the same content as them. Even though you're not selling the same houses, it is gonna feel yucky.
And one of these days somebody's going to catch on and find you. You're going to get outed.
Yeah, yeah. So, uh, what are some good ways to maybe, uh, identify that? you are doing that? And, um, make a different choice.
Okay. So, here's what I, here's my thing. Sometimes I will be, you know, like listening to a podcast, like, let's say I'm listening to a podcast from another brand strategist or somebody like in our industry, and I want to like learn more about, I just want to, want to immerse myself in it and listening to their podcast. And of course, a little part of our brains is like.
Ooh,
I love their business model. I love what they're doing. I want to be like them. And you're inspired to be like them. And that's awesome. They're inspiring you. We have photographers tell us all the time like, I would love to have a studio like yours someday in my, in my area or whatever. And it's like, First of all, I love that. Just come out and tell the person that you are inspired by them and that you would love to do something like what they're doing someday.
Mm hmm.
Like, that's actually an invitation to say like, hey, if you ever see me like doing what you're doing, it's because I'm super inspired by you.
Mm hmm.
And I'm not just going to rip off everything, but I am inspired by something you're doing. And so I think like, that's first of all, just like owning up to it is really cool. But, when I see myself feeling like I, somebody else is further along in the game than I am, and I want to get there and I want to be where they are, your first urge is to go, okay, let me just reverse engineer what they're doing and copy it.
Mm hmm.
And you're like, I could do that. I see what they're doing. I'm going to like funnel hack this or whatever and just like reverse it and try to hack exactly their same process. And a lot of people do that and they find success in totally hacking somebody's business. And it's weird when other people start noticing it though. And it always has this like weird energy behind it and it kind of feels gross. And you're like, just. Always a step behind the other person, though.
Mm hmm.
So, what I like to do is, is be like, Okay, I really want to be where they are. I like what they're doing. I'm inspired by them. Let me take this idea that they're doing, Like, maybe they're doing a specific offer, Or a specific, certain funnel, Or like a course, Or a, a 30 Days Reels Challenge. Like, how many people have 30 Day Reels Challenges? Lots of people have those. So, let me just take the, the big umbrella idea, Like, what is it? Okay, let's say it's a 30 Days Reels Challenge.
I want to do something like that. I'm not going to just go to their sales page, copy it word for word or like section by section and change a few things and like do the same exact format. We're going to have calls every week on this day and we're going to send out these things in these emails and like make it exactly like their program. That's copying. That's not cool. That's like, kind of like
like,
You're gonna get noticed and probably, like, it's just weird. So instead, take the biggest, like, overall overarching idea, like, 30 Days Reel Challenge.
Yeah, sure. Everyone does that. You
I'm gonna write that on the top of a whiteboard,
Mm hmm.
and then I'm gonna call you, or our team, or somebody else to, like, be another brain
We should totally do that, Franny.
And, oh, I have a million ideas about doing a Reels Challenge. I want to do a Reels challenge, but it wouldn't be, it would, I would start with that as the idea, and then I'd start going, Okay, how would we make this, like this is what we did for our Reels court, workshop. Yeah, we just did a Reels workshop.
We're not the first person to do a Reels
No, and tons of people are way better at Reels than us. But we know enough to help our clients in a big way, and we are Familiar enough with the app, with all of the things, we get the trends, we get the, we get it enough to teach our clients how to use it for their businesses. And people were having like mind blowing moments the whole time. Right. And I've seen other Reels workshops. I know how other people are doing them.
And, I didn't, we didn't copy anybody's like framework or, or like modules or anything like that. Because we started with, okay. What do we want to talk about? How, what do we need to teach? And we just started throwing things on a whiteboard and it turned into this huge mess that then we had to like categorize things and chunk them into buckets and move them here. Like, what makes sense? Should we teach this first or that first?
So if I was going to do a real challenge, I would do the same thing and be like.
Okay,
What would be the most fun way for us to execute on this? Like, do we want a Facebook group? Do we want a Slack channel? Do we want a Instagram DM group? Like, how are we going to make this our own thing that fits into our workflows with our team members and how are we going to teach it? Like, take the big idea and break it down into like, how are you going to deliver it?
Take the big idea And and on our strengths and our voice and the thing about us teaching it, we taught ours in person. And I feel like that is also a big difference with us too, is because We are actually speaking to our audience that follows us for a reason. There are a lot of clients that we've worked with one on one, and so we know how to speak to that specifically, that specific audience.
And our content is going to resonate best with them, because they've already decided that they like learning from us. Right.
Yeah. And so, we're not threatened by other people doing Reels courses. Right. Or anything like that. In fact, lots of our friends do them. Yeah. It's like, and our, like, local friends. Uh huh. We're not like, oh my gosh.
Did you hear?
They are doing a Reels course.
What I invented Reels.
So anyway, I just think that really taking, like maybe as soon as you get the idea and you notice that you're being influenced or inspired by someone in your industry, stop consuming their stuff right there,
be like,
Like be like, okay, I love this idea. Let me riff on it. Let me like put that on a whiteboard and see where it goes. Uhhuh, because it will go somewhere really cool. Yes. If you do that, yes, it will go somewhere different than what they did. Mm-hmm. Unless you go down the rabbit hole of trying to hack their thing.
Right.
And, and then you're going to just, you're just going to end up being a carbon copy. It's going to be a little bit fainter, you know, carbon paper, carbon copy paper, where there's like the, the white sheet and then the pink sheet and then the yellow sheet or whatever order it
goes Do I ever, Franny?
Yeah,
We used to own a paper store.
You know that there's canary yellow. And then what was the pink called?
Um, shoot. I don't remember.
yellow and I can't remember either, but it's like, she's going to look it up. Anyway, when you write on that top sheet, the ink is really clear. It's very legible. It's the original piece of paper that the ink pigment is laying on. The person who originally came up with the idea is that top sheet white paper.
The next layer below the impression goes through and you can still read it and it's, but it's still like a little bit more faint and not, not quite as crisp and not quite as bright and not as, as legible as the first one. And that bottom sheet, like why is it even there?
Yeah, it's like the faintest Crappiest. Yeah.
Like, don't give me that crap. I like, I, I, that's something I'm going to buy that and I'm going to ask for a refund
Yeah, no
because it's not what I expected. It's not what was sold to me and it's not coming from the right place. So just be top sheet, white paper,
Yes.
take the inspiration, riff on it, go another direction, follow the rabbit hole, like follow the rabbit down the hole in your own, like from your own brain.
You have
You have the answers. I
You can read it.
can't find it. No. Canary yellow. I know. I don't know. I'm waiting for it to just come to me. I don't know. It's not, no. It's just this light pink. I'm searching for in my head. It's just this pink. Oh, maybe it's just pink.
Yeah.
Okay.
Um, yeah,
life coming through.
I know, seriously.
used to have all the Astrobrites memorized.
Yeah, we had, uh, in a past life, we had a paper store that was like, legit, like, Dunder Mifflin, like, reams of paper on shelves. And, yeah.
sold it by the pound.
And we sold carbon paper.
We did sell carbon paper. Yeah. Yeah.
Um, so, yeah, definitely. And, also, if you need ideas, and you're just like, Okay, I have an idea for a Reels course. And you're just like, okay, I know the way that I like to consume reels, I know the way that I learned reels, And maybe sometimes you do need to do a little research of like how other people like to learn. Go see what other people are doing. If you're really inspired by maybe one creator, then go see what like five other creators are doing.
And just kind of like, you know, like, okay, I'll, I'll take a little sample of this, and a little sample of this, and a little sample of that, and then how do I make it for my people in my voice with my brand?
Yeah, it's okay to have like, kind of a jumping off point, um, too. It's just not, we just don't want to like, I just, I hate the, the reverse hacking thing.
to like, I mean there's a difference between research and like, literally. Funnel hacking. right. Yeah.
Um, okay, I, we're gonna, I mean this is definitely like, you can have your own opinion on this of course, and like, there's a lot of people who really, You know, that's their tried and true way of doing things, and that's just not, that's just for us if it doesn't, like, feel good, and if it doesn't feel aligned, like, we're not gonna go down that route.
I think that there's just, there's a difference between re, like, reverse engineering a function versus reverse engineering, like, a proprietary idea brand. Like, like a brand, like something specifically from someone else's voice. You know?
Right.
And so there there is a way of getting ideas and then changing them a little bit. Freddie and I were trying to, we're trying to think of the, where we got this. So we both went to art school and there was, there is, oh you ended up looking it up. There is like a certain amount of
legal appropriation, legal appropriation
appropriation of changing art. To basically reappropriate it for your own. art. And then I Googled it, and then it's like, the first thing that pops up is from a lawyer There's like, There is no 30 percent
Right, because the rule was like, if you change something 30 percent or more, that now it's your own new artwork. Right. And so, like, the example that the Googs, you know, gave back to us was, like, Andy Warhol. He used, like, the Campbell Soup labels. In his art. And Campbell's Soup owns a copyright to that design, but he changed it enough and changed the colors and changed the da da da to be able to use it in his own art. And we see that around all over the place.
But like, when you're doing it for commercial purposes and for a way that you're going to actually be making money for your business, you're putting yourself at the risk of actually being, having legal action taken against you.
Mm hmm.
So, let's not do that.
Yeah. Like,
Let's not end up in court. Or having any kind of like public slandering happening. Or people noticing it and calling us out publicly and all that stuff. Like, ew. It's just heavy and gross and like not fun.
Ew, lawsuits? Ew. No. So if you realize that you're copying somebody, because so much of this can be subconscious, If you're consciously copying someone, just stop. Stop doing it. Like it's, it's yucky. It's, good. someone's going to notice. It, it will not work out for you. Try to get your own ideas. Um, try to find a healthy amount of inspiration and just, honestly, just stop and try to figure out what your why is.
drop, and
Stop, drop, and roll.
Stop it, drop it, and then roll on.
So most of the time, what Franny and I figured out when we were having a conversation about this is most of the time this is a brand issue. This is, you are unsure of where you stand as a brand, as a business, and who you're serving. And so when you're, you're kind of up in the air, and you're not really sure what the answers to those questions are, it's gonna be a lot easier to adopt different personas.
Yeah, you're just, you're, you don't know who you are as a brand, or where you stand, or like what,
The reason you exist. And so, Um, So if you're really in that, in that kind of like, oh crap, I like, keep, I don't have any original ideas, I mean it's honestly this like, almost like an imposter syndrome. And at that point you kind of are being an imposter. like, You know, if you really feel like you have no original ideas and you just have to leech on to other people's ideas to even... create content at all or to do anything at all, then this is a deeper issue. This is a branding issue.
And we really recommend doing that deep brand work, figure out, first of all, the reason that you exist in the first place. Why do you want to do what you do? Why do you do it better than anyone else? why
you the go to? Why are you the brony for everybody? For the, for the specific people that you serve. And I think, um, well, I just keep like starting thoughts and then they just disappear. They just like leap out of the brain.
They just appear. They just appear.
They just disappear. I'm just getting too excited and heated on this topic. Um, before you went on on that, I just wanted to throw in like, what I think you're talking about now is when we're like, grasping on to a lot of different... People's things and we're not, maybe not necessarily like finding one person and copying their whole business. Mm-hmm. we're not like being like the copier mm-hmm.
but we're just being so unoriginal and grasping onto like trending things or like cool templates or mm-hmm. some Canva template thing or a creative market brand. Mm-hmm. Or going on Pinterest and finding like a new brand colors thing or a new logo and like our brand just starts to look like a hot mess of a whole bunch of things that are cool and trendy. Mm-hmm.
and
And nobody's going to ever recognize it, it's not going to be memorable, it's not going to build trust with people because it's just this, like, discombobulation of trends and copying. But, not necessarily copying, like, one specific brand. Yeah. Or it could be. I mean, it's just, it's really, it's the void of original ideas. When you're in that void of original ideas, and
Trends, and copying like one specific brand. Which is easy to do, because you like
Which is easy to
of
Because you like a lot of
an entrepreneur, you're
if you're an entrepreneur. You're probably a little ADHD. You probably like a lot of stuff.
You like a lot of stuff, and honestly, when you're just trying to find the easy button of what works. And you're just, you know, like, I'm just like imagining these, we work with a lot of small businesses, and a lot of the times when you're getting started, and you're just kind of floundering, and you're just like trying to, fit like, stick stick it to the wall? We need to Stick the baloney to the wall?
I've never heard the bologna though. Okay, I like
Is it. a noodle? Stick a noodle to the wall?
Stick the wall and see
Spaghetti in the wall or baloney, whatever. Don't copy that. I'll know.
sayings. It's the
will know. We are the best at that. Don't steal baloney at the wall or I'm gonna know.
steal bologna at the wall?
Yeah, don't steal my, my... That is my original thoughts.
Trademarked, copyrighted, stamp on.
Trademarked, copyrighted...
it in the baloney.
Signed, sealed, delivered.
So, yeah.
Yeah. so
Sorry.
So if you have no original, I mean you, it's not that you don't even have original ideas, it's just you're trying to figure out what works. Because you're like, you're trying out business.
Well, it's like what we were saying at the beginning of this, everybody's selling the template or the swipe file or the thing that they're allowing you to copy. And if you're just grasping onto a bunch of those things, it's watering down your brand and you don't have a true like brand voice and visual aesthetic to stand on, which is where a handy dandy brand guide might come in and come into play.
Yeah,
It really is such a lifesaver. It's such a game changer.
a brand guide. So this, this is something you can go back and listen to our episode about. about what you need in your brand guide. And, um, we give a lot of helpful hips, helpful hips?
we need to stop.
crap. What is wrong with us? Um, so I give a lot
pick a profession that doesn't require,
Required speaking to people It's got lots of helpful helpful tips of what you need to have in your brand. guide What all of that deep work that you need to figure out So that way you are creating very intentional contents And you're speaking to someone that you can actually make a difference with. Okay, so, in our previous, air previous episode, we talked about what if you are the recipient of the angry email? Ooh! I know, I didn't, we didn't plan that.
okay, so I get an email from someone that's like, hey... Snatch You're copying everything like they didn't they didn't give it the 24 hours They just sent
I know, I'm like yeah.
they are like mad Raging mad and now they all of their like people are coming after you. They're posting it on their
story.
They're like this person's cop and for Santa's copying everything I'm
mean, that's
I mean, that's what you're risking actually is somebody unhinged being the one that you're copying or who thinks you're copying them.
you have to hope that they listened to our previous episode and took 24 hours.
didn't, but you get this email. Yeah. And you're like, Oh my gosh. I'm found out.
What do you do?
know. That's let's just not be that person.
Okay. Yes. Okay. Don't be that person. But if you are that person, how are we going to help them out, for any, Um, if you literally are, if you're like you're found out, you're like caught red handed. You're like, oh shit, I, this is not subconscious, this is like, I legit have been copying you. Um,
for that person, just like, don't be that person.
Okay, don't be that person, but
for that person? Yeah. Own up to it? Yes.
Apologize. Literally apologize, own up to it, and just say like, I mean, it's kind of what Frannie was saying before, like, if you are, tell the truth. Are you just like really inspired by that person? Maybe they're quite a few steps ahead of you, and you want to be just like them?
Mm hmm.
Just say it. Just say like, you know what? Like, I'm super sorry. I am really sorry. I really look up to you, and I didn't mean to, you know, blatantly rip you off. I just want to be like you. Tell the truth. Come be a person. Show some emotion, and then take down the things that you copied.
Like, Just, you know, if it, if you blatantly ripped them off, just take it down and apologize and hopefully, I mean, if they're, if they're, if they are writing you an email, they're giving you a chance to... respond.
not posting it all over their Instagram yet, at
They're And they're, and they're probably not seeking legal action or, more than likely, it's probably like a content thing. And in which case, apologize, take it down, and hopefully make amends. Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't know. I mean, nobody wants those yucky feelings, so don't be that person, but I don't think any yucky feelings are worth, like, Like feeling that way. So
chances are, which we also addressed in the last episode is that maybe you didn't intentionally like completely rip someone off, but you are just being highly influenced by them. And if that's the case, our recommendation for that is to try to look outside your own industry for inspiration, like for ideas, for reels, for ideas, for copy on your website or whatever, whatever thing it is, or even design. Like sometimes when we're doing brand design for people.
Of course, we're going to go to Pinterest and look for inspiration and I like, I love to look to like food brands like packaging and like other things or go to, I like to go to Barnes and Noble and just like look through like art books or fashion books or something like that because you can be inspired by something and And take, like, something from that, you don't know what it's going to spark for you and bring it into a completely different industry.
And nobody's going to accuse you of ripping someone off if it's a completely different, you know, area that you're being inspired by. Well, I
The we were doing weddings and it was really tough to pose the bridal party. And we would always, like, look in, like, Vanity Fair and Harper's Harper Bazaar and, like, try to, like, look to, like, more of a high fashion editorial way of arranging bodies. Because you're like, oh my gosh, I'm just, I'm going to be too influenced by everything I'm seeing on Pinterest. And, you know, like, I am tired of the all, all the pretty maids in a row. Like, how do I do it different? You know?
Yeah, I know. And, and it's like, yeah, you are sort of like, maybe you're copying a Vanity Fair pose, but like, how cool is that? You know, like you're not trying to make a fashion magazine to compete with Vanity Fair. You know, you're like posing at bridal party. Like, I actually remember one time you like, Oh, look at this cool group. Group photo of the Kardashians.
Yeah, totally.
so, such a cool way to pose. This photographer did a really cool thing here and like It's not, I'm not setting it up and trying to get the lighting in the background and the outfits and everything exactly the same.
just the way that bodies move. There's only so many ways bodies can
Yeah, you're like, oh this is a cool way that they layered this or whatever.
arranged these bodies. Yeah. I mean, Or, um, with branding, I love to look at home, decor. like, paint colors for colors and, you know, thinking of the way, like, surface patterns and, you know, other ways that maybe people are using textures and patterns that, that could be applied to branding, And so.
Yep. So, and listening to music, too, like, different vibes, like, they just get, you know, get with you. And so, just look for inspiration outside of your own. competitors or, you know, your own circles, especially in, your local community.
Okay, and so if you are actually at that like beginning stages of business, or maybe you've reached a point in your business where you just don't really have the inspiration anymore, Randy and I, something that we've learned over the years is that sometimes you need to just find somebody who you'd look up to who's doing that thing better than you. Go to them and ask them what it would cost for them to mentor you.
Because because there are so many, I think for so many years we've thought that we're like, we've got to like, originate this. And it's like, sometimes you don't need to. You just need to straight up go ask the person who's really freaking good at something if they're willing to mentor you. And let them teach you everything they know. And with their permission and good wishes. then send you off into the sunset.
Yeah, we've done that and we've had people approach us about that and it's usually a yes, and it's usually been less expensive than we expected.
It's so true.
Um, like we'll just say, Hey, you've already got this figured out. You've got the workflows. I'm not in your market. We're marketing to different people. Would you be willing to give me like. Access to your workflows and show me how you do things and give me swipe files and all of that and I'll pay you, you know, what would you charge me for that? And yeah, 100%. Find someone who's already done it and you can get the shortcut.
And You can put your own spin on it and you're gonna like, you're gonna want to change things in some way. But especially just coming up, being forthcoming and like, Yeah. That's like, the cleanest, easiest way, and you will sleep very well at night.
Totally. totally. I mean, it's Integritas, and you're paying for their knowledge. And, um, so yeah.
And then they're actually rooting for you. And they're on your team.
I mean, there's nothing better than that. Awesome. Well, hopefully we've given you guys all of the answers to your questions. And if you have more questions about this topic, please feel free to find us on Instagram at something businessy and hit me up in the DMs. I am personally the one Nicole that is responding, responding to those. And I'd love to chat this out with you. Maybe we have a followup episode. Um, but we would love to hear maybe.
Yeah, this is a hot topic. So, did you agree with us? Or maybe have some different opinions? We would actually really love to know. Alright.
Alright. well that's all we got! Bye bye.