It is absolutely magical to experience the mastery of a skill or ability you admired in another person. The act of learning and mastery is something that requires intelligence, humility, and ultimately, the building of internal power to perform.
The foundation of this is the art of strategic observation. It is recognizing that you don’t have to invent the wheel to learn how to make it roll smoother, faster, and further. In every arena of life, someone has already faced a challenge similar to yours. Their solutions are a goldmine of tested experience, waiting for you to learn from them.
True innovation is rarely about a lightning bolt of eureka moments. It is often about connecting existing dots in a new way. By learning to “steal” the ease, proven methods, processes and satisfying experiences that others have crafted, you gain access to advantages that you can add to your own unique value.
Before you can absorb effectively, you must become a dedicated student. Don’t make the mistake of being a customer or a competitor when you are supposed to be a student. Know the difference.
Let’s take examples; When you experience fantastic service at a hotel, don’t just enjoy it, observe the process. What was the exact wording of the warm welcome? How was the process of check-in? What small, unexpected convenience delighted you? When you encounter someone who performs excellently at a skill you seek to build, pay keen attention to what they do. How do they structure their work? How do they prepare for meetings? Your observation to these details grants you access to not only the content of their work, but also to the framework for their effectiveness.
This makes you gain a library of proven solutions and advantages without the trial and error of business process. It leaves you with the opportunity to implement systems that are already known to create satisfaction and convenience.
The havoc you can make is to blindly copy from another person or organisation. This is a recipe for failure. A strategy that works for a massive corporation might bankrupt a startup. A sermon that resonates in one community might fall flat in another.
Instead of copying a flashy outcome, seek the principle and copy that. If you see a local restaurant with successful loyal customers. Instead of copying their setup, steal the principle of “making regular customers feel satisfied and seen.” Now, apply that principle to your tailored solutions and service for your specific audience.
The most powerful innovations are always a mixture of ideas. You can take a brilliant concept from one industry and apply it to another where it is completely novel. You become a true innovator, creating unprecedented benefits and advantages by being the first to connect the dots. This is where and how you move to the fore in your industry.
Always remember to give credit for relevant information to the appropriate source. This step transforms “stealing” into “honoring.” When you adopt someone’s great idea, tell them. This validates your source and often opens the door to a deeper connection.
When I wanted to use information from Uju Onyechere’s book, How to Fire Your Boss, I sent him an email to seek for his permission and also appreciated him in the book. In ministry, collaborating with and crediting other leaders builds a network of shared growth. You build authenticity and trust. People are flattered by imitation when it is done respectfully. This builds a network of allies, creating long-term advantages and usefulness far beyond a single stolen idea.
The final and most crucial step to it all is that every stolen idea is just clay. Your unique perspective, passion, and skills are what shape it into valuable art. So ask yourself, “What can you add that no one else can?”
This is how you achieve ultimate success. You are not just as good as your inspiration; you prove you are better. You offer something familiar but enhanced, proven but personalized. This is the culmination of all the benefits, something unique that is truly your own.
Forget about being a lone genius. Every great thinker, leader, and innovator stood on the shoulders of giants. They were master thieves of wisdom. Give yourself permission to stop struggling from scratch. Look around with intentional, curious eyes. Deconstruct what works. Find the core principles. Adapt them to your world. Combine them in new ways. Honor your sources. And most importantly, infuse them with everything that makes it uniquely yours.
In our latest book, The Rule of Repetition, you can learn a clear path to achieve your own success from what you admire in another successful individual or organisation. You can purchase your copy from the link below:
https://muchmore.ng/shop/
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