Hola gorgeous hearts!

Got a great question today from Academy member Prerna to answer… one that I think affects a lot of creatives and business women.

How does one deal with copycats? People who don’t just steal your ideas but stalk you a lot and do exactly what you do online?

I’ve had a lot of experience in this, so totally happy to share my thoughts.

First of all, I know it doesn’t feel good. When you see someone overtly copying your work, it can bring up lots of feelings: anger, sadness, fear, a big sinking feeling in the belly. I want to really acknowledge that these feelings do happen.

I remember the first time 9 years ago when someone started copying a very specific painting series I’d developed. It threw me into a tailspin for days, to be honest. I really had to work through those feelings to get to the other side.

Since then I’ve seen every kind of copying of my work under the sun – from copying names of my programs, how I title myself, my handwriting, the way I write, to one person actually using my name and attempting to impersonate me on Facebook. I’ve also seen less direct but still obvious ways of copying me including people trying to replicate my Academy and yearly workbook.

Here’s my thoughts on copying:

You will never, ever get to the same level of success by copying someone

I know when someone is trying to imitate me, they are doing it because they see it works for me and they want that kind of success too. So they think

“If I just do something like that, I’ll be successful too!”

What they don’t understand is that it takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make that success happen. It’s taken me years of work, hard won experience and study to create my programs. They are popular for a reason – because they work.

It’s not just that – I’ve spent a lot of time finding and growing my tribe. I turn up every single day on social media and every week on my blog to create free, useful articles that resonate with people. My tribe can trust in me because they know what I’m talking about.

You can’t copy that.

Plus, it takes stamina and determination to create a successful business and thriving movement.

Copycats just don’t have that – they’re looking for the easy way out.

There isn’t an easy way out to success. Creating a knock off isn’t going to get you there.

So my mindset is this: I ignore copycats. I don’t enjoy looking at their work. By copying me, they also are blocking any chance that I’ll connect with them and share about their work. I feel sorry for them because I know that what they are doing isn’t the right thing and isn’t going to get them anywhere.

And I stay 100% focussed on my work and what I’m creating and what I need to do to move forward.

Note: of course, if they are infringing on your copyright, trademarks or intellectual property, send a cease and desist letter from your lawyer. In the case of someone impersonating me, my team also worked with Facebook to remove the profile.

You need to find your own message

It’s really easy to get too caught up in what other people are doing and what business is supposed to look like and how you are supposed to write.

Honestly, you have to get totally away from that mindset, and stay completely on your own yoga mat.

You’ve got to keep connecting with yourself and YOUR gifts and what YOU want to bring into the world. You need to stay connected to your source and your spirit and your voice. That’s the thing that will make you stand out. That’s what will make your right tribe resonate with you.

And what’s more, that’s the thing that will fulfill you and make every cell in your body light up. Because that’s when you’re fulfilling your soul’s purpose.

It’s not something that can be copied. It’s something to be nurtured and called for and dedicated to.

And it’s worth it.

Because that feeling of being totally on resonance, totally in spirit with yourself, of doing each day what you were born to do is worth all the gold in the world.

Recommended resource for discovering your own message: Creative Goddess program.

Ignore & stay centered

Stay centered on your truth, your light, your message, your voice.

Stay true to your vision, of what you want to create.

Of course learn from others. But keep your eyes on your own mat.

Keep doing the thing you were born to do. Keep moving forward. Keep being a monk to your dreams.

Stay the course of determination, spirit, integrity, commitment and drive.

That’s where true success lies.

“Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.”

– Judy Garland

All my love,