Hey Reader

Ever find yourself scrolling through social media and thinking, Wow, that creative entrepreneur is absolutely crushing it! Why can’t I be more like them?

You’re not alone—it’s all too easy to fall into the comparison trap. But here’s the thing: you might be looking at someone else’s polished public image and missing the messy, unseen realities of their journey.

Maybe they have a partner who pays the bills, an inheritance, or some secret industry connections that they conveniently forget to mention. And here you are, trying to model your creative business after someone who may not even need to make money from theirs. Oof! No wonder it’s frustrating.

The Hidden Truths Behind the Curtain

Think of it like this: You’re backstage watching someone’s perfect performance on stage. But what you don’t see are the safety nets holding them up, the teleprompter feeding them lines, and the backup dancers covering their mistakes. When you compare yourself without all the context, you’re setting yourself up for frustration (and possibly a financial nosedive).

Here’s what to consider before you hit that “copy-paste” button on someone else’s process:

- Do they have the same financial pressures as you? Maybe they don’t have to hustle as hard because they have another income stream.

- What kind of resources and networks do they have access to? A golden Rolodex (look it up, kids) of contacts can make all the difference—do you have the same?

- What are they not showing you? That shiny exterior could be hiding some serious struggles with burnout or imposter syndrome.

Contextualize, Don’t Copy

Sure, it’s great to draw inspiration from others, but blindly copying someone else’s playbook is like trying to fit into a one-size-fits-all shirt—spoiler alert: it rarely fits anyone perfectly. Instead of emulating someone else’s business step for step, learn how to contextualize their strategies for your own situation.

Here’s your action plan:

1. Research your role models: Before you start imitating their every move, do some digging. What advantages do they have that you don’t? What struggles have they shared?

2. Identify what works for YOU: Look at your own unique circumstances—finances, time, mental health—and tailor your process accordingly. What pieces of their strategy make sense for your life and business? What do you need to tweak?

3. Write your own blueprint: Don’t follow someone else’s script. Instead, create a process that’s all your own, built on lessons learned from various sources, not just one.

Let’s Avoid the Comparison Trap

At the end of the day, your journey is YOURS. There’s no perfect formula or one-size-fits-all roadmap, so stop trying to follow someone else’s footsteps and start carving your own path. It’ll take some trial and error, but hey—that’s where the magic happens!

So this week, I challenge you to pick just one thing from someone you admire and adapt it to fit your life or business. Embrace the parts that work, leave the rest, and go create something that’s uniquely yours.

Remember: Be inspired, but don’t be a carbon copy.

Keep creating,

~ Mike Brennan

P.S. Still trying to figure out your next steps? Let’s chat. I offer creative coaching sessions to help you navigate your unique journey (and I'm honest about my own). Hit replay and looks book a 10 minute call.

DAILY CHECK-IN

Begin to ask yourself these questions every day as a part of your daily creating rhythms:

1. What did I create today?

2. What did I learn?

3. What can I celebrate?

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DAILY PROMPTS

MONDAY: Imagine you are stranded on a deserted island. Write a journal entry about your first day there.

TUESDAY: Go to your closet and pick 2 pairs of shoes to draw.

WEDNESDAY: Create a character who can communicate with ghosts. How do they use this ability?

THURSDAY: Write a poem about starting a business.

WEEKEND PROMPT:

Create a still life using objects that have special meaning to you.
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