Over the weekend, a good friend reached out disapprovingly. I’d given her the recipe for Lasagne, which she meticulously followed to the T, but was highly disappointed with the final output.
“It tasted alright but something was just…off! It’s different when you do it” she sighed in a frenzy.
This got me thinking…
This isn’t limited to just the kitchen and recipes.
Even in the world of corporate training and development—
One can duplicate the session plan, the content, the session design – how does one duplicate the unique flair each Trainer / Facilitator brings along with them? This has got little to do with the ‘recipe’ and more to do with the flair and talent of the ‘Chef’ curating the ‘dish’.
I’ve heard about so many unfortunate (and scary) cases where clients take the session design/plan from one trainer, and bring someone else (cheaper) on board to execute that plan.
Think it’s gonna work the same?
Another thing-
Under the guise of “inspiration”, programs get rip offs. Without crediting or taking permission of the original creator/artist, there’s a makeshift version of the same concept with a different name that runs.
Sure, “all is fair in business and war”, you’ll say. But is it really a business or a gimmick?
Sure, there’s a taker at every price point. But please know, and understand the difference when you’re paying for an ‘Adidas’ versus an ‘Adibas’.
I’ve seen first-hand a rip off that had to shut shop, because the customers did not want to settle for ‘Adibas’. (The OGs are OGs for a reason. )
Another unfortunately rampant practice has been getting chummy with someone else’s client. There have been startling cases where a trainer has been selected as Co-facilitator and accompanied the lead facilitator for their project; only to later find out that the said cofac has been exchanging pally messages with the client, giving training recommendations and feedback behind the lead facilitator’s back.
Sigh. The list is incessant. But here’s the thing-
You may immitate the recipe. You may replicate the dish. But you can never, never duplicate the Chef!
Happy ‘cooking’!
“I copied your recipe but it doesn’t taste the same”.
