When I look back at the early years of building my business, I remember many late nights, endless research and google searches, the not-so-quiet panic of wondering whether I was doing it right. Trying to find that one thing that would make all of this finally work. And in that search for certainty, like so many others, I fell into a trap:
I started copying other people’s blueprints.
He did the product launch model? I tried the same offer structure.
He was killing it with funnel hacking? I forced myself to get excited about clicks and open rates.
They swore by the perfect sales page, webinar, website? I built them all—only to figure out that none of this worked for me.
I spent years trying to replicate what worked for others—because I thought if I could just do what they were doing, I’d get what they had.
But here’s what I’ve learned over decades of building, growing, and ultimately selling my business to Bill Gates:
Copying someone else’s blueprint doesn’t work—not sustainably.
It may bring temporary wins. But in the long run? It’s a sure path to burnout, frustration, and disconnection.
Because someone else’s strategy was never meant to fit your life. It is what works for them. It doesn’t mean it will work for you.
Why We’re So Tempted to Copy
Let’s be honest—success stories are seductive. We’re bombarded with them every day. Six-figure launches. Eight-figure exits. The “overnight” success that looks effortless and clean. 30 days Instagram and boom you run a multi-million dollar business.
But what you don’t see is what’s underneath the surface.
That success? It came from their story. Their experience. Their voice. Their values. Their audience. Their alignment.
When you copy their blueprint without deeply understanding what matters to you and our audience, what you’re building is a hollow version of someone else’s life. And eventually, it starts to feel like you’re playing a role in a business that’s not really yours.
You Can’t Build Alignment by Faking It
Let me tell you something I say to every business owner I work with:
If it’s not aligned with who you are, it won’t grow. It can’t get past a certain level.
You can post all the right things, show up on all the right platforms, follow every “proven” step… and still feel stuck because you are not seeing the financial results, or on the other side feel like you are faking it, because it’s not really you.
That’s because growth doesn’t come from surface-level tactics. It comes from clarity. Authenticity. And a deep connection to your why.
When you’re pretending to be someone you’re not—or building something that doesn’t feel true—your audience can feel it. And worse, you can feel it.
That disconnection? That’s what leads to procrastination, self-doubt, and spinning in circles. That’s what keeps your business from growing past a certain point.
What Actually Works
What works—what always works—is getting clear on your own foundation:
- What are you really here to do?
- What transformation do you offer?
- Who are you serving—and why do you care about them?
- What’s the message only you can share?
- What systems work for your strengths, not someone else’s?
Once you know these things, you can stop chasing and start building. That’s when you step into leadership. That’s when your business becomes a reflection of your voice, your values, and your brilliance.
And when you do that? You become undeniable.
You Don’t Need Another Guru. You Need Your Own Strategy.
If you’re reading this and feeling that familiar nudge—that sense that maybe it’s time to stop following and start leading—trust it.
You don’t need another trendy tactic. You don’t need to mimic someone else’s mission.
You need a plan that’s rooted in who you are, what you care about, and how you’re here to serve.
Because of your success? It’s not hiding in someone else’s course. It’s not trapped in another 90-day plan. It’s not out there.
It’s in you.
📩 Want help building a business that’s yours?
DM me or follow strategies that start with who you are — and build from there.
Let’s grow!
Beate
