PHOTOCOPY IS NOT EASY!

Oh my gosh!

Too many pirates out there!

This piece, written some years ago is a clarion call to originality.

I remember in those days in secondary school, in the quest to improve on my font (hand writing) I would stare at any beautiful and legible hand-writing I saw. I would sit down and redraw hand-writings letter to letter until it looks like it. If your hand-writing was irresistible, I would make sure I become your best friend and make it a goal to always borrow you notes, not because I want to update my notes but because I want to learn and adopt your writing style.

I did this for a while and it worked. But it wasn’t easy at all. The process was strenuous and frustrating but my focus was intact-to make my handwriting more beautiful and legible. Now I could write more than 6 beautiful “graphics design” hand writing to my credit! What I learnt in the process was that copycat is distinct from copyright. More people that saw my writings then were always quick to relate my handwriting to its original, saying that “This handwriting looks like that of so, so and so person. At best I was announcing the original! I was the fake!

Ok, ok, I’m no more fake now as I have improved on my own to spice up my writing style.

THE WHOLE IDEAS IS BE ORIGINAL, EVENTUALLY!

Pshew…honestly I pity you when you aren’t yourself, when all you do is trying to copy others. Plagiarist, purloiner, copy-cat, imitator, that’s who you are! Sorry, you are a Pirate! You are a COPY-CAT, but you claim to be a COYPRIGHT. Who dash you? Come on, be original! Even if you wanna steal, steal with sence! If you can’t just be creative, use your initiative! Innovation is just a thought away. Improve on what is available; add a tweak to level up. We won’t know. We just want to see that you’ve actually using your head.

There is no future for you when all you do all your life is trying to be like the other person. Living the life in competition with jones and joneses is like living the life of the rat-race. At best, you will be an announcer of the original. There is absolutely nothing like originality. Your number competitor is you and you. Strive to be better than yourself. Your race in life is exclusive to you so stop running other people’s race.

Our originality is not a function of our similarities but a function of our difference. One of Nigerian’s finest transformational speaker, Mr. Olakunle Soriyan, a principal transformation strategist, Olakunle Soriyan Company, puts it better when he said, “Life will not reward us based on our similarities but our difference.” That’s why I beseech you to be yourself. Anywhere you find yourself—be different, be bold, be confidence. That’s what I’m saying.

You are born original. So why die a copy? I mean…why? Hello…..

See, just like our shape, colour, size, thought pattern, looks, background is different, so is our problems. In reality, you have no replica or photocopy. God did not create ANOTHER KIND OF YOU anywhere in the world that does the same things you do, eat the same food you eat, like the same things you like, think the same way you think, walk the same way you walk, get angry the same way you get angry, snore the same way you snore, have the exact shape, hair, eyelid, thumbprint, fingernails, colour and size as you, bear the same first name, surname and initials of yours (well, that may be possible in part but not in totality). No, not even your twin brother or sister. You are unique and so appreciate your “youniqueness”.

I used to hear the Yorubas say that God created us in twos (mejimeji ni Olorun da awa eyan). It’s a myth that God created us in twos and that there is another kind of M.E. existing somewhere in the universe or have existed before. Naa Lie! People, like twins or triplets or quadruplets may look identical but not the same. There is no duplicate of your thumbprint anywhere in the world. You are just you. That’s all.
You have no rival. So why living a lie? Why rivaling others and competing with them as if it’s a do or die affair? Are you a Nigerian politician?

See eh, let me tell you something you don’t know:

Do you know that our destines are different and so is our calling? That some are naturally endowed to do what they do while others will probably have to get trained to attained such feat? That some are called to do one thing and succeed at it while others are called to do try their hands in so many things before they succeed? That some are born poor does not mean they will die a pauper? That some are born rich does not mean they can’t be poor again? The choice is ours.

The truth is, you are unique and original and so stop living your life like a pirated copy. There is no one like you. And even if you are long gone, there will still be no replica of you. Your space—the vacuums you left behind—will forever remain vacant. What may happen, however, is that, people may act like you in some certain ways or engage your type of style or swag but they are not you just like you are not them! For example, Joel and Tuface Idibia, the late Dagrin and Olamide, etc.

Dear, be who God has made you to be, that is how to be happy in life. Your placement in life is traceable to your place of assignment—your niche. When you live your place, you will be displaced. When you stay true to your purpose, live becomes meaning and bearable. Fulfillment comes from purpose (God’s original intention for your life). And the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. In my little life, I’ve learnt my lessons never to be intimidated by anyone whatsoever, or trying to please people in other to get favour from them (Favour is not fare, favour is not free; for every favour you seek you lose a level of comfort. You lose freedom). As a matter of fact, I don’t do high service, and never would I.

Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Tarbernacle Worldwide, Bishop David O. Oyedepo is fond of saying, “What God cannot give me, may it never reach my hand. Wherever God cannot take me to, may I never get there.” I live to please my maker and myself. If I can please God and still can’t please you, then you are a learner. Go and hug transformer!

DON’T LEAVE YOUR PLACE, STAY THERE!

Don’t leave your place—your primary area of assignment or calling. If you do, you will be displaced, it’s just a matter of time. Don’t say I don’t tell you.

Don’t try to sing like her, create your style. Don’t try to speak quince English like him, talk normal before you end up biting your tongue. Don’t try to act or gesticulate like your mentor, you are only tormenting yourself. Don’t invest into a business you know nothing about because people are making money from it, you will just waste your money and in the long run your business will liquidate. Don’t plagiarize all because you want to be a bestselling author or novel laureate, you are not the copyright, you are just a copycat. Sorry to say, your publications won’t sell!

Photocopy is not easy. It’s hard work and the end product is frustration. It does not bring long lasting joy and happiness, because deep within you, you know you are nothing but bullshit.

If you want fulfillment in life, stay in your field and don’t try to play in other people’s wings—you will end up wandering on the pitch. I’m not saying you should not diversify but wisdom, I believe, is profitable to direct. You can imagine if the all-time footballer, Jay Jay Okocha is always trying to play football like Kanu Nwankwo, at best he will only be popularizing Kanu’s style of football, but to himself he will be useless. So, stay true to your calling and be honest with yourself, and most importantly engage the universal principles of honesty, diligence, dedication, discipline, focus, visioning and believe in possibilities…you will succeed with time and God’s grace. Be original!

I hope this piece made sense to you? Hope I’m not too hash? This is just my advice for you. And that is the best way I can communicate it. The truth is always bitter like Alomo bitters but it will sure set you free!
See you at the top!

I remain your friend,
Mr. Exponent
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Writer.Poet.Speaker.Compere.Artist.Printer.Consultant.Entreprenuer.