If you’re one of those people who see creativity everywhere – in music, art, business, life – and want to be a part of it but feel paralyzed by the pressure to be original, this video is for you and it’s going to change how you think about creativity forever.
Think of a master chef’s kitchen. What’s the most original thing you’ll find there? In most cases, nothing. Absolutely nothing. Every ingredient, every technique has existed for centuries. Yet somehow, these chefs create experiences that we call “original” and “creative.”
Think about your favourite songs and the artists, in some way the songs are just a remix of all the words and instruments that already exists.
I believe everything good and worthwhile is a remix – including this video but we live in a society that worships originality while completely misunderstanding it. We praise Steve Jobs for “inventing” the smartphone, forgetting that he openly admitted to “stealing great ideas.”
In fact, every major innovation in human history has been built on what came before.
My point: Originality is overrated.
This misunderstanding that you always have to be original isn’t just wrong – it’s destroying potential creators like you or someone you might know every single day.
Now, I know what some of you are already thinking: “Things need to be Original, otherwise they are not worth it. What about innovation? What about unique perspectives?”.
I believe we use these questions about innovation and originality as shields to protect ourselves from the hard work of actual creation.
We can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Creation is an iterative process, and it starts with being willing to put something out there, original or not.
Let me be honest: If you’re waiting to have an original idea before you start creating, you’ll die without ever making anything worthwhile. That’s not an exaggeration – that’s a promise. I’ve watched talented people waste decades of their lives waiting for that “original idea” that never comes.
When I first started writing blogs, I almost quit. I thought my insights were unique until I found out they’d been written decades ago. I felt like a fraud. A copycat. Those first 50 articles that I wrote were pure garbage. Derivative, shallow, embarrassing. But absolutely necessary.
That moment of hopelessness taught me something crucial about creativity – what we’re dealing with isn’t just imposter syndrome or a creative block. We’re looking at the “Originality Trap” – where we believe that unless something is completely new, it’s not valuable.
Unfortunately, we’re raising a generation of creators paralyzed by the pressure to be original. They look at masters in their field and think, “Oh, that’s already been done.” So they never start.
Let me be clear about something: Your creative paralysis is not about lack of talent or originality – it’s about fear. Fear disguised as perfectionism. Fear disguised as high standards. And until you confront this fear, you’ll remain trapped in the cycle of endless consumption without creation.
So now that we understand our problem about creativity and originality trap, how do we actually develop our creative voice?
1. Embrace Imitation
Start by deconstructing works you admire. Break them down to their core elements – structure, style, theme. Then, rebuild them with your own twist. Imitation is not about copying surface-level details, it’s about understanding the deep mechanics of what makes something work.
2. Focus on Volume
Treat your first 100 works as practice. They’ll be bad. That’s the point. Those first attempts are necessary. Set a daily creation goal. Whether it’s creating one video per week, or coding for an hour, pitching one business idea, creating one blog a week – commit to the practice. Consistency is key. Remember, you’re not trying to create masterpieces, you’re trying to master the process of creation.
3. Trust the Combination Process
Your unique voice emerges from the combination of everything you have absorbed. It’s not about being original – it’s about being authentic.
Now, if you’re thinking “But what if, what I want to do, already exists” – good. That means there’s a market for it.
That means it’s worth doing. If everyone waited for absolutely original ideas, we’d only have a few musicians, artists, writers, and businesspeople. Instead, we have countless variations, each speaking to different people in different ways.
Here’s your challenge
For the next month, completely abandon the pursuit of originality. Instead, become a conscious collector. Study what works. Analyze why it works. Copy it thoughtfully.
Truth about Creativity
It’s not always about being a genius or having original ideas. It’s about having the courage to start, the humility to copy, and the persistence to keep going until your voice emerges. It’s not always glamorous. It’s humbling work.
But it’s the only path to make something that eventually matters.
