Think about any product or service category. There will generally be a number of distinguishable offerings - with varying characteristics, strengths and weaknesses - and then a raft of “me too” products or services.

Those “me too” products or services won’t be designed to offer anything unique or better than the market leading products. The only reason they exist is because their makers are driven by the quick buck. In other words, such products are designed to steal sales from the leading products.

Now, I actually don’t have a problem with the existence of me too products. Not in the sense that I believe in free enterprise and that, if someone hasn’t got the vision, ambition or originality to come up with something different and better, then let them create a “me too”.

But I do ask: what’s the point?

Okay, I get it: the point is to make money. But has anyone really built a substantial business by producing “me too” products? And, on a personal level, can you really look back in pride at what you’ve created… if it really hasn’t added any value to the world?

And when I see marketing departments busting their behinds and spending millions on advertising campaigns to sell “me too” products… only to struggle against the market leaders… wouldn’t that money be better invested in developing something that truly gives people something of value? Something that enables the company to lead the market?

In a free market economy there’s a place for “me too” products. But nothing beats creating something different and unique that truly enhances people’s lives.