I Have Arrived
Apparently, I have arrived. I was hoping there would be more fanfare - paparazzi, shaking hands, a loaner dress from a top designer, a headline in Forbes or INC. But this arrival went a little differently than I envisioned.
Last week I opened an email newsletter from someone I have spoken to a few times. We have been in networking groups together. I was enjoying their newsletter and thinking it sounded familiar. A little too familiar, in fact. I realized I was reading my own sales copy in this newsletter. Kind of like finding Goldilocks has eaten your porridge but one thousand times worse.
The sender had taken a full sales post and copied it word for word.
Copy that I had honed and crafted over time, with the assistance of others in my business support circle that I trust.
Work I was proud of using to market one of my programs.
Content that I was able to repurpose successfully a number of times.
They used my authentic brand voice as their own to promote their services to their email list, which I am on.
I went over the email several times looking for some sort of attribution to me, to give the content thief the benefit of the doubt -
I looked for quotation marks. None.
A reference to me. Nowhere.
A shout out. Zilch.
I wanted to know why someone chooses to steal someone else’s content. Were they overwhelmed? Under the pressure of a deadline? Repeating “just this one time” as a mantra? Did they have writer’s block?
I struggled to process the truth - that this person just swiped my content and posted it as hers. And then I realized that no matter the rationalization for the choice to steal my copy, no reason was warranted. Plagiarism is never okay. It’s unacceptable to steal and use someone else’s content.
Like many, I’ve been building my business for several years now. I put so much of myself into every piece of it - from how I serve my clients, to the content I put out to help as many business owners as possible who want the guidance and inspiration. So when this person stole my content, it felt very personal and I was angry.
Yup, things were about to get awkward.
Minutes after I opened this email, I went to an online co-working session with one of my networking groups. I shared the details of the incident with them. The support I received was amazing. They provided a wealth of opinions from factual resolution to protective/defensive ideas that may have required her address. I had chosen to tell a group of business besties and mama bears, after all.
I decided to email the thief, to call them out on it. Factually pointing out the issue. Calmly.
I was hoping for an apology, which were high hopes, apparently.
Instead they said they thought they were complimenting me by using my content. They did not give a stinking inch. No acknowledgement or regrets over their actions.
I wasn’t ready to let it go, so I sent a second email. I let them know, in so many words, the proper online etiquette for “sharing”, not stealing, someone else’s content. Then I made it clear that their behavior was the opposite of a compliment.
I’m in the middle of reading The Death of Demographics by David Allison, which talks a lot about values. What kind of values does someone have who thinks they can just claim someone else’s intellectual property? Someone who takes shortcuts at someone else’s expense? Someone who takes the easy way and lets someone else do the hard part?
I do know that I invested time and money to create my unique brand, so my words to my audience about my services are not going to have the same effect on someone else’s audience. You need to work through the brand messaging process to develop the strategy and the voice of your personal brand.
As I continue to process what happened, here are my thoughts:
This is something you can’t really prevent
Unfortunately, there’s probably numerous times this happens and the person doesn’t get caught. The internet is a huge existence where there’s plenty of content for the taking. Depending on the situation, you can always consult with an attorney. Here’s a helpful blog post written by Sam Vander Wielen about the laws and the etiquette for sharing content.
Find a tribe that will support you and have your back
As small business owners, most of us work from home by ourselves. Having community and support is crucial in so many situations - for feedback on ideas, identifying resources, accountability, and encouragement on frustrating days. People you can turn to when something totally unexpected happens, like finding out someone stole and used your content.
I teach my clients the skills to run their businesses successfully with integrity, by providing guidance, resources, and support. If you’d like to hear more about how I help small business owners plan for and achieve their goals schedule a call with me.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
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