Imitation vs Innovation

As the old saying goes, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Learning from others' mistakes and modelling elements of your business on those who you aspire to emulate seems pretty reasonable and logical. Another old saying that springs to mind is “If it ain't broken, don’t fix it” - makes complete sense. 

Tried and tested

These came to the forefront of our minds after a recent meeting with a potential new client (now a valued client!) who came to us as a referral from an existing client. Two non-competing practices at opposite ends of the country, both sharing similar goals. One is slightly ahead of the other in terms of reaching those goals, and it was wonderful to hear how they support one another through knowledge sharing to get there - one thing we love about our industry is that there is a common non-fiscal goal at the heart of what we do - improved animal welfare.

One reason this method is so effective is that it provides reassurance to business owners that there are already tried and tested solutions to achieve the goals that have been set. It is also often why case studies and testimonials are so useful. It builds trust. As veterinary surgeons, you are often weighing up the risk-to-benefit cost, and we all would prefer low-risk high reward!

The difference between imitation and copying

Of course, the key here is to do so in the context of your own business. There is a fine line between imitation and copying - the line is allowing for some variation which is bespoke to your business, which means, being true to your brand and values for authenticity. For example, it is to be expected that there will be a crossover in terms of offerings in one industry. This is why it is so important to differentiate yourself and highlight what makes your practice special. Why should someone choose you rather than the practice around the corner? Which is where we start to approach ‘emulation’. 

We have seen our practices become disheartened when larger and more established competing practices have taken their ideas and “gone one better”, simply because they have the infrastructure to do so, but again, what they cannot imitate is what makes them truly special and why their ideas still work in the context of their own business. Their team, the continuity of care, and their values, to name only a few, infiltrate how they interact with clients and underpin how they operate their business. This is embedded in your brand, values, and culture - things that are unique to you. 

It’s interesting how this is applicable across every industry! Even we, as a small bespoke business, have all too frequently watched our competitors visit our website (in real-time thanks to modern technology - the cat’s out of the bag (we do love a saying!) - we know you’re watching what we do!) and simply copy what we do, be it in replicating the unique services we offer, or reproducing our blog content (word for word in some cases). Whether you find it flattering or frustrating, it can also be hugely beneficial. It not only reinforces the value of what you are doing (your competitors feel threatened, clearly) but also highlights competitor weaknesses. The additional good news is that as we mentioned earlier, we all have something that can’t be copied which is far more important when we look at the bigger picture. It also encourages innovation. 

There are multiple ways to achieve the same goal

There is a reason this blog has called upon many age-old sayings. One which rounds this blog off perfectly is ‘stay in your own lane’. There are a number of ways to achieve the same goal (1+1=2, but so does 3-1). Our uniqueness is our power. Fundamentally, we want you to focus on your primary job, the animals in your care, but doing so with the reassurance that your business aims are also being met efficiently and effectively by a proactive and reliable team you can trust. 

The key takeaways?

1. Use tried and tested methods - word-of-mouth referrals, case studies, and testimonials are very useful resources for knowing where to place your trust. 

2. Emulate, don’t imitate - be true to your brand values.

3. Stay in your lane - know how you like to work and who you want to work with. It will serve you better in the long run…

Remember, in our industry, the beauty is that there is space for everyone. We are all working towards the same goals and there isn’t one road to get there.