When to Stop Copying
#problem-solving #innovation #craftsmanship
Paul Buchheit's (the guy who built Gmail) favorite question was: "Does that apply to us?" Before joining Google he knew nothing about building large systems. Every technique used to build and scale was reused that could be. There were already successful models available that could be copied. The challenging part was knowing when to innovate. Copying only creates systemized success. Innovation drives undiscovered value. When the problem they were solving became fundamentally different that's when it became time for them to do something new.
In school we are taught that copying is unacceptable. It's a behavior that is looked down upon. To learn a craft, people often take on the role of an apprentice copying their elders. When you're just starting any skill to make something as good as it can be you must copy (at least until you have a better idea). David Ogilvy copied Bob Gage for 5 years, down to the spacing between his lines. Bob started out by copying Paul Rand, and Paul copied Jan Tschichold. Copying from the greats that came before you is a rite of passage to establishing your foothold on the craft you're engaged in. Eventually you'll have enough of the foundations to begin adding in your own taste that developed over that time.