No.

The concept of originality is misused, overused, and has become lost in translation, both in work and in life.

But it actually goes beyond misuse – true originality doesn’t exist. Think about it: what is an original thought, idea, or business? The perception of originality is subjective, and is purely based on the frame of reference onto which a thought, idea, or business is bound at that particular moment in time. However, what seems like originality is simply a derivative of an existing concept. In reality, all ideas are constructed by assembling pieces of information from a variety of sources that came before. By creating a world of shared information and social interaction, we have permanently closed the door on true originality.

History is a book filled with many pages that can refute originality. Some of the most well-known entrepreneurs and thought-leaders of the 20th century include Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Sam Walton, Madam CJ Walker, and Steve Jobs. I have tremendous respect for these people, their accomplishments, and their contributions to human progression. Are these individuals trailblazers and visionaries? Yes. Are these individuals and their businesses original? No. Each person built their business, in some way, by leveraging pre-existing ideas, processes, and technologies.

Other examples long pre-date the 20th century. In ~550 BC, King Croesus was credited with minting the world’s first coin currency, bringing liquidity and cash flow into existence. Standardizing value as a means of exchange streamlined the process for trade, but other forms of value had previously been exchanged to promote commerce in early society. King Croesus wasn’t original – he just made an existing process better.

The fallacy of originality extends to the concept of a “self-made” man or woman – another misused term. Self-made individuals don’t exist. The term was first coined in 1832 by Henry Clay, and is generally used to describe an individual who achieved wealth through his/her own efforts, not through an inheritance. But for anyone to claim to be self-made would be both arrogant and inaccurate. Every individual who has experienced success and earned fortunes owes a least a portion of their accomplishments to the countless family members, friends, teachers, mentors, and/or colleagues who provided the resources, motivation, and inspiration for them to reach their potential. Without the positive influencers in a “self-made” individual’s life, would that individual have achieved the same success while having to navigate each challenge completely alone? No.

Popular theories even suggest that every individual is primarily an average of the five closest people in their life. I contend that the number extends well beyond just five people – but agree in principle, and the argument is thought-provoking nonetheless. It’s important to evaluate the influencers in one’s life that can drive the generation of thoughts and actions. Take a look around the room – if you’re the smartest person in the room, it may be time to find a new room.

To come full circle, this blog post even reiterates the exact point I’m making! The very theory that originality doesn’t exist isn’t original. I’m not the first person to present thoughts that combat the use of the term originality. My opinion is unique because of my own words and presentation, but I’ve drawn many conclusions from the thoughts and experiences of others before me that have helped to shape my stance on originality.

There is no such thing as an original idea – only new ways of framing and executing existing ideas. It seems, then, what’s been mistaken as originality can more accurately be described as creativity. Creativity involves the production of novel and useful ideas or products – but creativity is never spawned instantaneously, it’s derived from existing structure. All learning and progress requires some degree of imitation that’s then repurposed. Therefore, creativity can never be completely original. Imitate and iterate, again and again… because a broader scope of imitation is what leads to creativity, and the corresponding perception of originality.

Stop searching for the next “original” idea. Roughly 108 billion people have previously walked the Earth – it’s been done before! Instead, leverage the ideas of others and add a fresh perspective to create new, innovative solutions to existing problems. Future generations will then leverage the contributions produced today, and thus creates a compounding effect of unoriginality, which has – and will continue to – serve society well.

So go ahead, be unoriginal but creative – and the sky’s the limit.