All I seem to hear is how "inferior" or "unoriginal" people become. Magazines, newspaper articles, online news sites and other media sources always seem to call out celebrities or athletes copying others who have found success in the same line of work. But does the media really think before saying things like that? No, and I have never thought of a time when these social sources actually think and research. I believe that imitation is actually a key component to being successful in any line of work. How could athletes be good at the sport they play without some sort of role model? How could actors perform at an exceptional level on the big screen without a style or memorization techniques that have been passed down to them from others? After doing research and observing real-life examples, it became very clear to me why imitation is necessary to be successful, original and creative. Athletes are a daily example of imitation. Let's take Miami Heat superstar small forward LeBron James as an example. While growing up, LeBron aspired to one day perform at Michael Jordan's level. Michael Jordan was, and still is, considered the greatest basketball player of all time. LeBron James and Michael Jordan are now usually the subject of discussion in sports conversations about who is the better player. Why? He has risen to the level of play, and legacy, that Jordan set very high nearly 20 years ago. LeBron reached that level by imitating Jordan and then adding his own originality to his style of play. LeBron James is considered a role model for current NBA players and younger fans due to his creativity and originality which was added to Jordan's playing style many years ago. ......middle of paper......to help me be a great leader both on and off the pitch. In conclusion, imitating anyone does not take away originality and creativity. Just because a person aspires to learn great qualities does not make them any less original. This person can still be put in a position of being original and creative, where others might admire them. Most people will only want certain qualities in a model. These people can mix and match different characteristics and be a completely original person. Imitating people who have succeeded does not make one inferior or unoriginal. Imitating a role model is necessary to be original and creative, because imitation allows a person to be put in a position to influence others and develop the model's qualities. Everyone is different and not even the best imitation detracts from originality.