By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Introduction: Welcome to the Jungle
Congratulations! You’ve decided to become an entrepreneur. But not just any entrepreneur—you’ve chosen the surest path to success: copying someone else’s brilliant idea. Why bother with all that pesky creativity or innovation when you can simply mimic what someone else has already done? After all, if they can do it, why can’t you? So, here’s your satirical guide to becoming a wildly successful (and possibly miserable) copycat entrepreneur.
Step 1: The Divine Revelation (or How to Covet Like a Pro)
It all starts with a single moment of inspiration—no, not a stroke of genius, but rather the sight of someone else’s success. Your friend just opened a trendy café, and suddenly it’s all over Instagram. People are flocking there like bees to honey. That’s when it hits you: Why not me? Why should they bask in the glory (and profits) while you’re stuck in your 9-to-5? The 10th commandment may say “Thou shall not covet,” but let’s be real—coveting is practically a prerequisite for entrepreneurship these days.
So, you decide to jump into the café business, because surely the secret to success lies in serving overpriced avocado toast, right? You’ve never brewed a cup of coffee in your life, but how hard could it be? If they can do it, you can too—only better, faster, and with extra flair!
Step 2: The Grand Opening (or How to Start Digging Your Own Grave)
After months of meticulous planning (by which we mean copying your friend’s business model down to the last detail), it’s finally time for the grand opening of your very own café, “Café Deja Vu.” You’ve spent a small fortune on décor that looks suspiciously similar to your friend’s place, and your menu is an uncanny clone. You even hired the same barista they fired last month because, hey, it’s all about recreating the magic, right?
Opening day arrives, and you’re thrilled to see a line out the door. Sure, half the people are just there to see if your café is a shameless rip-off, but that’s beside the point. You’re in business, baby! You stand behind the counter, beaming with pride, as customers order their lattes and pastries. Success is surely just around the corner.
Step 3: The Grind (or How to Become a Glorious Slave to Your Own Business)
A few weeks in, you start to notice that running a café isn’t as glamorous as you thought. The endless hours, the constant stress, the late-night inventory checks, the early morning openings—it’s all starting to wear on you. But you can’t back out now; you’ve sunk too much into this venture. Besides, you’re an entrepreneur now! You can’t let the world see you fail.
So, you double down. You work longer hours, micromanage your staff, and obsess over every detail. You thought you were copying someone else’s success, but instead, you’ve become a slave to your own business. Your social life is non-existent, your family barely sees you, and you can’t remember the last time you slept through the night without worrying about the next day’s receipts. But hey, this is the price of success, right?
Step 4: The Inevitable Burnout (or How to Watch Your Dreams Go Up in Smoke)
Fast forward a few months, and things aren’t looking so rosy. Your friend’s café is still thriving, but yours…not so much. Turns out, customers can spot a knockoff from a mile away. They’re not coming back like they used to, and your once-bustling café is starting to look like a ghost town. You try everything—special promotions, loyalty cards, even a live band on Friday nights—but nothing seems to work.
You’re exhausted, frustrated, and broke. The dream you once had of being a successful entrepreneur has turned into a nightmare. You’ve become a cautionary tale—a living example of what happens when you try to ride on someone else’s coattails without bringing anything new to the table. You start to wonder if maybe, just maybe, entrepreneurship isn’t as easy as it looks.
Step 5: The Epiphany (or How to Finally Get a Clue)
One day, as you’re cleaning up after yet another slow day, it hits you. The reason your friend’s café is successful isn’t just because they had a great idea—it’s because they poured their heart and soul into it. They put in the work, the creativity, the passion that you’ve been trying to shortcut. They didn’t just open a café—they created something that reflected who they were, something that couldn’t be copied.
And that’s when you realize: you’ve been going about this all wrong. Entrepreneurship isn’t about copying someone else’s success—it’s about finding your own path, your own voice, and your own way to make a mark on the world. You were so busy coveting what someone else had that you forgot to ask yourself what you truly wanted to create.
Step 6: The Rebirth (or How to Rise from the Ashes)
Armed with this newfound wisdom, you decide to make a change. You close “Café Deja Vu” for a few weeks, much to the relief of your overworked staff. You take some time to reflect on what you’re truly passionate about, what unique value you can bring to the world. And then, you start fresh.
This time, you don’t copy anyone. You don’t try to replicate someone else’s success. Instead, you focus on what makes you different, on what you can offer that no one else can. You create a new business that reflects your personality, your values, your creativity. And guess what? People start to notice.
Your new venture might not be as flashy as your friend’s café, and it might take a little longer to gain traction, but it’s yours. It’s authentic. And because of that, it has staying power.
Conclusion: The Moral of the Story (or How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Copycat Entrepreneurship)
In the end, the lesson is simple: entrepreneurship isn’t about coveting what someone else has. It’s about finding your own path, your own voice, and your own way to make an impact. Yes, it’s tempting to copy someone else’s success, but that’s a sure way to end up miserable, overworked, and ultimately unsuccessful.
So, if you’re thinking of starting a business, do yourself a favor: don’t just jump on the bandwagon because someone else did it first. Take the time to discover what you’re truly passionate about, what unique value you can bring to the table, and build something that’s authentically yours. It might not be easy, and it might not happen overnight, but in the end, it will be worth it.
And remember: the 10th commandment exists for a reason. Thou shall not covet—especially in the world of entrepreneurship.
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.