Do you recognize the two people in this picture?

The man on the right is Steve Jobs.

The woman on the left is Elizabeth Holmes.

in 1976, the man on the right co-founded Apple Computer in his garage with his high school buddy Stephen Wozinack. They ignited a technological revolution by being the first company to design a computer exclusively for personal use. It was the first of many firsts. From the iMac, to iTunes, to the iPod, to the Apple watch, Jobs legacy of innovation is unrivaled. Apple Computer is now the biggest publicly traded company in the world, with an estimated value of 3 trillion dollars.

In 2003, the woman on the left started Theranos. The company claimed to have created an innovative technology that would revolutionize how blood is tested. It attracted over $700 million in investment, and at one point was valued at $10 billion. However, the technology was eventually proven to be fraudulent. On September 18, 2018, the company was dissolved.  On January 4, 2022, Ms. Holmes was convicted on four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy and may spend 80 years in prison.

What is interesting is that the woman on the left says that she imitated the man on the right. She claimed him both as a mentor and as an inspiration. In fact, when she first launched her company, many people started calling her the next Steve Jobs, a comparison that Ms. Holmes vigorously encouraged.  But that comparison was premature at best and misguided at worst. Moreover, it seems to have been made largely because Ms. Holmes always wore Black turtlenecks—just like Mr. Jobs did.

However, as Ms. Holmes’ conviction has painfully shown, wearing black turtlenecks is about the only thing that they had in common.

It seems that Ms. Holmes imitated Mr. Jobs style, but not his substance; his fashion, but not his focus; and his image but not his integrity. She looked the part of a techno-mogul. But she didn’t play the part.

All of us imitate somebody. It’s an innate human trait.  Dr. Andrew Meltzoff conducted a famous experiment where he demonstrated how deeply wired imitation is in the human psyche.  He stuck his tongue out at babies as young as 42 minutes old, and they repeated the behavior!   Imitation is how we learn and grow. Someone once asked Michael Jordan if he thought there was anyone who could beat him in a game of basketball. He paused for a moment, and then replied with a mischievous grin, “Yes there is somebody. Kobe Bryant—because he stole all my moves!”

We all steal our moves from someone.  Even Michael Jordan stole some of his moves from Julius Erving, (otherwise known as Dr. J.) One of my mentors used to say that there is nothing wrong with being a copycat, it just depends on which cat you copy. However, I would like to amend his maximum: there is nothing wrong with being a copycat. It not only depends on which cat you copy but what you copy from the cat. Success depends on more than mimicking superficial characteristics.

This is the mistake that Absalom made. Absalom was one of King David’s sons and was blessed with good looks.  The Bible tells us that

…Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!   (2 Samuel 14:25)

Increasingly, Absalom grew so frustrated by his father’s leadership and personal shortcomings that he decided to launch a rebellion to usurp his throne. He engaged in a series of superficial actions that all suggested that he was kingly. The scripture goes on to tells us that Absalom

….bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!” When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.(2 Samuel 16:1-5)

Absalom had the best transportation available, was surrounded by an entourage, made glorious promises of how he would behave differently if he were in charge, and even kissed the hands of everyone he met. The scripture says that he stole their hearts and imagined that he could also steal a kingdom.

Unfortunately, Absalom failed to realize that kingdoms are won on battlefields, and he had never been in a fight. In his first and only battle, he died. And how he died is quite instructive: he was riding on a horse and his hair got stuck in a tree. Apparently, no one told Absalom that he should have had on a helmet LOL.

He looked like King. But he didn’t act like one. He looked the part—but he didn’t and couldn’t play the part. Being a King requires much more than riding around in chariots and kissing hand—just like being a innovative businessman requires more than wearing black turtlenecks. Success in any realm requires hard work. fighting battles and making tough choices.

Question: are you more interested in looking the part or playing the part?

It’s easier to wear a wedding dress than be a wife.

It’s easier to carry a briefcase than it is to be the boss

It’s easier to wear a Lululemon outfit and cute sneakers than it is to work out

It’s easier to have a bible on your desk than to actually read it.

Playing the part requires sacrifice

Playing the part requires making hard and unpopular decisions.

Playing the part requires long-term thinking and decisive action.

 Are you ready to play the part?