Taking Business ‘Role Models’ Too Far

You can have people that you admire and respect as fellow business owners - a lot of your inspiration and motivation may come from wanting to be like a certain business owner or founder who you think has nailed it.

But there is a problem if you take this too far and you try to mimic or copy them too much.

It is important to look at other successful business owners to get some ideas of what they are focusing on, how they approach the work and their core values etc.

But they are only ever a blueprint for what your business could be – not a template.

What worked for them may not work for you - or at least not in the same way.

Opportunities for their business will be entirely different than the opportunities you will get for yours.

And copying them directly will look just like that - copying.

But it's not about what they are doing at all.

When you look for role models, you are looking for those whose thoughts, values and approaches closely resemble how you think of yourself as a business owner.

Basically - it's not what they do but how and why they do it that is important.

When you see another founder doing something awesome, or you really resonate with their purpose or vision for their company, it can give you more confidence that the way you want to do business can work - because you can see someone else doing it.

But the path to get to where they are will look very different for you. Your starting points and contexts won't be the same.

So it’s important to look at what they are doing and ask yourself:

• What attitudes, values and principles did they start out with?

• Why did they take that particular action that allowed them to grow?

• How did they think of their business growing?

• How much was planned and how much was in the moment?

• How did they spot opportunities?

• How much of their success was based on 'right place, right time' and how could you generate a similar situation?

And the most important question:

• “Now how am I going to do it?”