This happens to EVERYONE, so first of all—don’t panic! Here are some helpful mindset tricks to help you feel empowered and excited to move forward with your idea.

1. If it already exists (and is successful)—you have instant validation!

Have you heard of the “fixed” mindset versus the “growth” mindset? If not—I encourage you to go out and purchase Mindset, by Carol Dweck. 

Boiled down, people with a fixed mindset approach view life in absolutes. They think they are born with all the talents, abilities, and intelligence they can expect. Fixed mindsetters give up easily, don’t tend to challenge given rules, and rarely succeed in the face of adversity—they don’t believe they CAN.

Growth mindsetters are curious, avid learners, and toilers who know that just because something is hard, doesn’t make it impossible or unattainable. They believe they can ACQUIRE the necessary information, skills, or talent to achieve their goals. 

In this scenario, you need to practice a growth mindset. The difference between success and failure is rarely “being last” to create an idea, but a lack of confidence beginning.

2. Consider the success of other “twins”

No, I don’t mean actual twins—I mean products, services, or businesses that are offering the same solution. 

Here are some examples:

• Apple + PC

• Sephora + Ulta

• Popeyes + KFC

• The Office (UK) + The Office (US)

SERIOUSLY—The Office is one of the best examples I can give you. Greg Daniels literally took a show that already existed and re-made it to MASSIVE SUCCESS.

Don’t tell me you can’t create a valuable, successful course, painting, mentorship group, yoga studio, etc because someone else already made it. Keep reading, cuz I’m gunna share some tips on how to bring a fresh perspective to the table!

3. Embrace the phenomenon of Multiple Discovery

I stumbled on this concept while reading Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert, and it immediately struck me as GOLD. Again—go get this book! Liz shares this crazy story about a book she had intended to write, and here’s her synopsis:

“it’s about a middle-aged spinster from Minnesota who’s been quietly in love with her married boss for many years. He gets involved in a harebrained business scheme down in the Amazon jungle. A bunch of money and a person go missing, and my character gets sent down there to solve things, at which point her quiet life is completely turned into chaos. Also, it’s a love story.”

Long story short–Liz never had a chance to write this book, and lets the idea go as often happens when too much time passes. Over lunch, she discovers her friend Ann Patchett has come up with a book with literally an almost identical plot summary. It’s bananas! 

This phenomenon of multiple discovery happens in every field of interest: mathematics, science, art…it shows up all over the place and throughout history. 

Bottom line? You may be brilliant, creative, and wonderful—someone else having your exact idea doesn’t detract from that! It’s also sort of a beautiful coincidence, isn’t it?

4. Remember your unique experience

Let’s clarify: uniqueness here means different from, not magical-unicorn-unseen-by-any-living-being-before. I bet you think you have nothing “unique” to add to the thing you already see out there, your offering that already exists. I’m here to tell you that: 1. I love you, 2. You’re dead wrong.

When you let your pride go and get analytical, it’s easy to think back on why you are the perfect creator for your idea. You have personal, specific: training, professional history, talent, personality, life experience, etc to make your approach to this idea insanely valuable.

Here’s a great exercise to help you pinpoint ways to differentiate yourself:

• Make a list of every detail the existing product/service has

• Make a list of every detail you planned to include in your version

• Look for areas where the offers differ—can you expand here?

• Look at areas where they are the same—how can you brainstorm ways to offer the same solution while sprinkling in your unique personality, background etc into the mix?

Here’s a simplistic example:

Cara wants to open a coffee shop. She’s worried, because her town is small and there is already a Starbucks downtown. She’s worried no one will come to her coffee shop.

Shop similarities:

• located in same area

• serve coffee/espresso + baked goods

• place for locals to work + connect

Shop differences:

• Cara’s shop will have gallery space for local artists to display their work

• Her shop will sell baked goods made with local ingredients

• The shop will have an open environment with space for tables + a botanical garden

• Shop proceeds will benefit local businesses + charities

Cara has brought her own unique vision and goals to her coffee shop concept—how can you take this approach in your own offering?

5. Recognize + release ideas that no longer feel right

It’s ok to let an idea go. You haven’t failed. Don’t let the inner critic inside you berate you for releasing a preconceived idea that now doesn’t feel right. Listen to your intuition—it’s probably helping you make space for the next brilliant idea!