Somewhere along the line, the internet convinced people that copying is evil and originality is everything. Now, many smart people are stuck doing nothing, waiting for a “never before seen” business idea that may never come. But copying business ideas is not a bad thing.
Austin Kleon said it plainly in Steal Like an Artist: Nothing is original. Every new idea is a remix.
Business history agrees with him more than motivation threads do. Most successful businesses today did not invent brand new ideas. They studied what already worked, understood why it worked, and then rebuilt it with better execution, better timing, or clearer positioning. The real problem has never been copying business ideas. The problem is copying blindly.
The Lie We Were Sold About Originality
One of the biggest lies modern entrepreneurship sells is the idea that you must create something completely new to succeed.
It sounds inspiring, but it can also waste time. I bet this was one of the reasons you hesitated to start the business you were inspired to create. You read a book, watched a movie, enjoyed a meal, saw an advertisement, or came across a video, and thought, “Oh, I could actually start my own.” Yet, you found yourself overthinking and researching, going back and forth with the idea. Deep down, something made you feel like you were merely copying someone else. Believe me, this is true.
Original ideas do not automatically create demand. Markets respond to solutions, not creativity alone. That is why many highly original startups fail while “unoriginal” businesses quietly make money.
You can confirm this by reviewing the failed startup lists published each year. One of the most common reasons businesses shut down is no market need. Not a lack of creativity.
Austin Kleon explains that creativity is not pulling ideas out of thin air. It is selective borrowing. You observe what already exists, filter it through your experience, values, and audience, then improve it.