There's this triumphant feeling we often experience after having built something from scratch, like creating a new recipe with a distinct taste and feel or assembling a mind-boggling Ikea contraption.
Oftentimes, it's a testament of what can be achieved with focused dedication and perseverance. We poured a lot of effort into meticulously following a particular set of instructions, and the finished product brings a surge of satisfaction.
Other times however, in our zeal to craft the perfect dish or furniture, we do end up spending hours reinventing the wheel.
This is a dilemma many achievers tend to face. Do we forge our own path, brick by agonizing brick, or do we learn from the masterful builders who came before us?
First, we need to understand that it depends. Because there are certain things that need to be built from scratch. But these a far and in between, especially during the early stages of the achiever's journey.
This post explores the valuable lessons hidden within emulated success, discussing how we can achieve our goals faster and smarter by leveraging the wisdom of those who have already paved the way.
Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
The phrase "standing on the shoulders of giants" perfectly encapsulates the idea of learning from those who have come before us. History has shown us that countless breakthroughs stemmed from building upon existing knowledge.
For instance, Isaac Newton famously acknowledged this when he said, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." His revolutionary work on gravity wasn't born in a vacuum; it was influenced by the astronomical observations of those that came before him such as Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo.
I think this tends to be the case with much of the scientific and technological fields. But this concept extends far beyond scientific breakthroughs. In a way, every industry and field rests upon a cumulative understanding built by previous generations.
The advantage of this approach is clear: it saves time and avoids unnecessary pitfalls. We also inherit a vast body of knowledge that serves as a springboard for further innovation.
That said, this concept isn't about blind imitation per se, but more about harnessing the wisdom of the past to propel us towards an even brighter future.
Reinventing The Wheel
Another saying, which is "not having to reinvent the wheel" gets a bad rap sometimes. Since, it conjures images of uninspired copycats, churning out pale imitations.
This mainly influences us to go at lengths just to be "different". But I think true emulation is basically about strategic adaptation, not mindless replication.
A fitting example is of a seasoned entrepreneur launching a new business. They wouldn't waste time developing a payment processing system from scratch when there are already secure and established options available.
Instead, they'd focus their energy on differentiating their product or service, and leverage existing infrastructure to streamline operations.
Another way to think of it is like being on a quest to perfecting my grandma's famous pie recipe. I wouldn't substitute core ingredients like flour and sugar, but I might add a twist by incorporating seasonal fruit or a unique spice blend.
Emulation in this context is about strategically adapting proven techniques to one's specific goals and circumstances, not blindly copying them.
In Conclusion
Why go through the burden of building from scratch when there's a vast body of knowledge to tap from and built upon? Does not starting from scratch make us less of an achiever or a unique individual? Or does it simply allow us to personalize and build upon a strong foundation?
These are the questions I often ask myself when I endeavor to start a new adventure and in many cases, the answer isn't necessarily affirmative. Building upon what already exists is a better option, especially if the building is right.
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