All I seem to hear is how "inferior" or "unoriginal" people are becoming. Magazines, newspaper articles, online news sites, and other media sources always seem to call out celebrities or athletes who copy other successful people in the same field of endeavor. But do the media really think before saying things like that? No, and I never thought of a time when these social sources actually thought and researched. I believe that imitating is actually a key part of being successful in any field of work. How could athletes excel in the sport they play without some sort of role model? How could actors perform at an exceptional level on the big screen without a certain style or memorization techniques passed down to them from others? After doing research and looking at real-life examples, I understood why it is necessary to imitate to be successful, original and creative. Athletes are a daily example of imitation. Take Miami Heat superstar small forward LeBron James as an example. Growing up, LeBron aspired to one day play at the level that Michael Jordan was at. Michael Jordan was and still is considered the greatest basketball player of all time. LeBron James and Michael Jordan now commonly argue in sports conversations about who is the better player. For what? He has reached the level of play and legacy that Jordan set high about 20 years ago. LeBron reached this 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 young fans due to his creativity and originality which were added to Jordan's style of play from many years ago. ...... middle of paper ...... to help me become a great leader on and off the field as well. In conclusion, imitating anyone does not take away from originality and creativity. It is not because a person aspires to acquire great qualities that he is less original. This person can always be put in an original and creative position, where others can 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 established themselves does not make someone inferior or unoriginal. Imitating a role model is necessary to be original and creative, because imitating allows a person to be able to influence others and build on the qualities of the role model. Everyone is different, and even the best imitation will not take away the originality..