Too many people spend too much time trying to emulate the steps to success of others. We look around at those we admire and we say to ourselves, "If I do what they did, I can get to where they are." The logic seems sound, but it is mistaken reasoning.
Because the singular variable you and I cannot replicate is that of that other person's innate uniqueness. For example, you can take two athletes and run them through identical drills and training regimens and you will still end up with divergent performances.
In the children's book Just the Two of Us, written by Will Smith and illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Kadir Nelson, Smith recounts an important lesson he learned in his youth. He says:
"I told my parents I was going to be the next Bill Cosby, funny and rich.
They replied, “Why not just work hard and be the first Will Smith?”
Genius. There is only one of you in the whole world. There is only one of me in the whole world. Don't try and be the next whoever. Be the first and only You.
