Another week, another marketing plan landed on my desk.
If not for the different logos, it would be indistinguishable from the last nine.
This is the reality across marketing, hiring, sales, and nearly every business function—copy what others are doing because, well, if they’re doing it, it must work, right?
Wrong.
It’s easier to copy than to create, but copying is not a strategy—it’s a shortcut to irrelevance.
When you mirror your competitors instead of standing out, you send a loud and clear message:
🚫 You’re not leading—you’re following.
🚫 You’re playing catch-up, not setting the pace.
🚫 Your customers see you as just another option, not the go-to brand.
Does this mean you shouldn’t pay attention to what works? No. It means you need to show up as different—bring your personality, your voice, and your unique value to the forefront.
The easiest way? Go live. Share insights. Build connections.
The hardest way? Copy others and wonder why no one’s paying attention.
And the most ironic part? The marketing company that sent me this copycat proposal should know this better than anyone.
RIP to marketing strategies that blend in. The only way forward is to stand out.