Taking Stock

Imitate to start

Finding your style is (most of the time) really hard.

I remember when I gave my first talk in front of a bigger crowd.

The talk went well and anyone who I spoke with afterwards was surprised that this was my first.

I then caught up with a friend who was in the audience, and she looked at me slightly skeptical and said I sounded almost exactly like someone we both knew and whose lectures we had attended.

My pacing was the same, my gestures identical, and even certain words I used were some of his signature phrases.

Over the years, I naturally developed my own style.

But looking back, imitating the style of someone I admired was the best thing I could have done in the early days. It gave me something to hold on to. I knew if I could copy him, I would be able to at least deliver something that resembled a decent performance.

I think the same is true for many creative endeavors – just begin by copying someone you admire. It helps you get going. It gives you direction. And if you stick with it, you'll naturally develop your own style.