Imitation Isn't Always Flattery
Naomi Simson
B.Comm GAICD Non Exec Director, Entrepreneur, Business Owner, Keynote Speaker, Author
I’m not sure what the definition of stalking is but someone is watching my every [digital] move and it is disconcerting.
I have always been generous in sharing what I have learned – people have supported me and in return I support and mentor others. [Including these Influencer posts]
I give to others because others gave to me - I think this is how the world works - 'What goes around comes around.' So if I choose to be generous why is this bothering me so much?
Having just returned from an offsite working on the future strategy for Heads Over Heels - [I sit on the advisory board and we are passionate about women entrepreneurs maximizing their growth opportunities] and I've recently run a dedicated mentoring weekend to share what I have learned and coach other founders on delivering on their dream - and I thrive on doing these things. Speaking at universities and sharing with young people is my greatest thrill. I never know who I am going to inspire to start their own business.
I chose to do this (and I really love it).... yet I find myself in a circumstance where there has been a subtle shift.
For some years a person has been watching everything I do - and copying it. A woman has started a company, which is named from a derivative of RedBalloon, delivers experience gifts with balloons, calls herself the Chief Experience Officer (which was my title for the first decade), has a dog as head of security - (My dog Dexter has been with me since I started the business at home and he has always been called that), she writes a blog, twitters, and has Facebook which all look so like RedBalloon’s. Anything I do… or my marketing team do she is there, watching, waiting ready to plagiarize.
I cannot see any inspirational thought, innovation, or anything new.
So how should I respond? Do I stop writing, stop my public speaking, leave twitter alone? I have to say it is really disturbing to see such a blatant copy.
We are all inspired by people, I am inspired by all sorts of people: Verne Harnish, Seth Godin, Emma Isaacs and Scott Farquhar to name a few. People who run big businesses and small. But all have original thought, innovate, do things differently.
So I am seeking your input, how should I respond to this. The woman is located in Australia but operates her business in another country. She has never contacted me, or asked to be mentored by me. (I have, and do mentor many people as they grow their businesses). (I don’t mention the name because even bad publicity is publicity.)
Am I just being paranoid – should I just forget it. Why is it so very offensive to me when I am so openly sharing what I’m learning? Am I contradicting myself; being inconsistent and a hypocrite.
Let me know your thoughts.
Photo: The original - RedBalloon Head of Security Dexter - a unique element to the RedBalloon story.
Naomi Simson is the founding director of Australian online tech success story RedBalloon. She has written more than 800 blog posts at NaomiSimson.com, is a professional speaker, author of Live what you Love (pre-order now) and now TV personality on Channel 10’s Shark Tank (airing January 2015). Get to know her further on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
Founder and CIO of Sturgeon Ventures LLP Pioneer of Regulatory Incubation which launched originally as a Family Office in 1998. Founder of Sturgeon Compliance Services, was the Compliance Officer of SV for many years
11 年I am the pioneer of a whole new way for conducting business for start ups in financial services in the UK, for 4 years I was alone, and in the last 2 years there are mountless copy cats even using the term I coined at first it was flattery, but now it feels like they think I am just a little girl and mud on their shoes and their comments to me, feel like its just a bunch of bully men fluffying their feathers, do i simply smooth my ruffled feathers down and keen innovating and sharing or do I retreat (cry) a little have feelings and develop my next strategy in secret and get a male more agressive business partner
I co-create & deliver communication strategies that help customers trust brands
11 年Dear Naomi, thanks for letting us know about this. This sounds like a challenging situation. If you feel that what this person is doing is damaging your business, it would probably be worth looking into developing intellectual property around the more valuable parts of your business and branding (if you have not already done so). It would probably also be good to contact and speak with this person, telling her how you feel about what she is doing and finding out what her motivation(s) are in doing what she is doing, if she is aware of the impact, etc. There is sometimes a fine line between inspiration and plagiarism. At the very least, the woman could show you respect and mention that you and your business are a strong inspiration for her. Best wishes with it! Kind regards, Daniel
Well, Naomi.. She will never be who you are and you can't give up on things you built (leave Twitter alone is not an option) or she will "win", which is almost as you've worked hard to just give her the results. But you can't become the stalker. She watches you and copies you; you watch her copying and..? Contact her, be nice and tell her "your businness aproach are really alike, is it a coincidence?" I'm sure you have the Copyrights for your stuff, let her know you do and that you care about it. There's always a way to protect yourself without hurting somebody else (:
Lifestyle Business Coach & Travel Agent Adviors
11 年Thank you Naomi for sharing this great information... there are so many people doing this to others.
Video Producer and Journalist (citizen) , Videographer.
11 年Unregistered , sham internet companies are open to copying and worse.