When it comes to personal and professional development, one of the most powerful decisions we can make is to study and implement frameworks created by those who came before us. This isn’t about copying or lacking originality—it’s about standing on the shoulders of others’ experience to accelerate our growth.
Take copywriting, for instance. Rather than struggling to reinvent the wheel, we can learn from proven frameworks like Ray Edwards’ PASTOR method. These established systems provide a solid foundation from which we can build our own expertise. They offer us a starting point, a way to avoid the paralysis that comes with trying to figure everything out from scratch.
The Power of Adaptation Over Creation
The beauty of following existing frameworks lies in their flexibility. We don’t have to apply them rigidly—instead, we can adapt them to our unique situations. Just as a skilled artist learns classical techniques before developing their style, we can use established frameworks as building blocks for our own methodologies.
Learning Without Reinvention
Being open to learning from others’ organized systems doesn’t mean surrendering our creativity or uniqueness. Instead, it means we’re smart enough to recognize valuable shortcuts on our path to mastery. Whether it’s financial management, content creation, or personal development, there’s likely someone who has already mapped out a viable route to success.
The Open-Minded Approach
The key to successfully implementing others’ frameworks lies in maintaining an open mind. We must approach these systems with genuine curiosity and willingness to learn, rather than assuming we already know everything. This openness allows us to truly absorb and benefit from the wisdom others have shared.
From Following to Creating
As we grow more comfortable with established frameworks, we naturally begin to adapt them to our specific needs. This evolution is natural and necessary—it’s how we develop our own unique approaches while building upon proven foundations. The goal isn’t to forever follow others’ systems, but to use them as springboards for our own innovation.
And who knows? The frameworks and systems you develop might be exactly what someone else needs to succeed. By sharing your innovations, you contribute to the cycle of growth and learning that helps our entire community thrive.
Getting Started Today
Don’t let the start stop you. Begin by identifying an area where you want to improve and seek out established frameworks in that field. Remember: every expert started as a beginner, and many likely used someone else’s framework as their starting point. Your willingness to learn from others might just be the key to unlocking your own success story.
Learn From Our Journey
In a recent episode of my podcast, my co-host Fran Attilio and I discussed how learning from established frameworks accelerated our growth. From Rachel Hollis’s motivational insights to Michael Michalowicz’s business strategies, we explored how these resources shaped our paths. Listen to our full conversation in the player below.
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:
- Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals | Rachel Hollis
- Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine | **Michael Michalowicz
- Get Off Your “But”: How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself | **Shawn Stevenson
- The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary | Edwin F. Bryant
- How to Write Copy That Sells: The Step-By-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often | Ray Edwards
- Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen | Donald Miller