You remember Vanilla Ice, right? Of course you do. If you’re over 35 and have ever ridden in a convertible, Ice Ice Baby is likely burned into your memory.
Now, here’s the thing: Ice Ice Baby wasn’t built from scratch. Vanilla Ice sampled the baseline of Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure. But it was enough to launch the song to superstardom, land him on MTV, and make him a household name.
Here’s the twist: sampling works. Not just in music, but in business. And this week, that’s what I want to talk to you about.
You can sample without stealing
I’m not encouraging you to plagiarize or rip off other businesses. That’s lazy, unethical, and it just won’t work. Your customers are too smart. The market’s too transparent. And you deserve better.
But sampling? Sampling is strategic. It’s creative. It’s taking a proven idea and remixing it into something fresh and unmistakably you.
Vanilla Ice didn’t just hit copy/paste. He added his lyrics, his beat, his vibe, and, apparently, his 5.0 Mustang. It was familiar and different. And that’s why it exploded.
Your competitors have hits
If you’re in business, you’ve got competitors. Some of them are doing amazing work. Instead of pretending you don’t see it, or letting it psych you out, I want you to study it.
- What are they doing remarkably well?
- Where are they getting the most engagement?
- What are their customers raving about?
That thing, the offer, the service, the delivery style, the voice, the customer experience; that’s their “hit.” That’s their Under Pressure.
You’re going to sample it. Respectfully. Strategically. Creatively.
Here’s how you do it in your industry
We have all seen the crossover in our industry. For instance, in mine, Sally Hogshead talks about being different and that being different is better. She inspired me so much. I wrote a book about marketing called Get Different. I was careful not to copy her completely, and to make sure that I gave her many shout-outs and credit for the idea.
For you? Let’s say you run a bookkeeping business. You notice that one of your competitors is crushing it with monthly check-in calls for every client. They’ve built loyalty, reduced churn, and even upsold new services. That’s their hit.
So what do you do?
You don’t start doing the exact same thing, reading from the same script, and charging the same price.
You ask:
- “What’s the root of this success?”
- “Is it the connection? The education? The accountability?”
- “How can I provide the same benefit in a way that fits my brand, my team, and my clients?”
Maybe you turn it into a quarterly review video customized for each client, using Loom. Maybe you build it into a dashboard they can access anytime. Maybe you host a live Q&A every month for all clients. The point is: you’re taking the spirit of their win and remixing it into something uniquely yours.
That’s sampling.
I did this with Profit First
Another example from my own journey is that when I wrote Profit First, the concept wasn’t 100% new. The idea of managing money through separate envelopes or sinking funds had been around forever.
I learned the Profit First method from the OG – my mom. I didn’t invent it, I sampled it in a new way that resonated in my industry.
I adapted it specifically for entrepreneurs. I used the same core idea which is to allocate funds to specific purposes before spending. Only this time, I wrapped it in systems that work inside business bank accounts. I added rhythm. I added psychology and behavior design. I added real-world language and application.
And that remix has helped over a million businesses become permanently profitable.
You can do the same in your business.
Why this works
Sampling works for three reasons:
- It saves time.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. A competitor’s success gives you a shortcut. You get a live case study in what works. - It brings familiarity.
When your customers experience something they kind of recognize, but with your unique spin, it feels fresh and comfortable at the same time. - It builds innovation faster.
Instead of guessing, you’re starting from a proven foundation and evolving it forward. That’s what innovation really is – iteration on what already works.
The “Don’t Do This” section
Let me just say it one more time: do not copy.
Copying word-for-word emails. Cloning someone else’s offer. Slapping your logo on their method? That’s not sampling. That’s stealing.
And beyond being unethical, it puts you in a race to the bottom. Because you’ll always be second-best at being someone else, and your customers will feel it.
Your competitive edge is you.
The reason sampling works is that you are the secret ingredient. You’re the difference.
So when you sample, do it through the filter of:
- Your unique voice
- Your business values
- Your audience’s needs
- Your market niche
That’s how a hit becomes your hit.
Action steps for this week
Try this out in your business right now:
- Pick one competitor you admire.
Doesn’t have to be a direct one, just someone doing something cool in your space. - Identify one thing they do well.
A process, service feature, content style, pricing structure—anything that stands out. - Break it down.
Ask: Why is this working for them? What problem does it solve? What desire does it meet? - Brainstorm 3 ways to remix it.
Put your own spin on it. Make it louder, simpler, faster, friendlier, and more aligned with your values. Think creatively. - Test it.
Try your new version with a client, on your website, or in your marketing. Get feedback. Iterate.
Want to dive deeper?
Check out these resources for more on this idea:
- The Pumpkin Plan (Chapter 5, pp. 65–72): Learn how to find your business “Sweet Spot” by identifying what your market already loves.
- Get Different (Chapter 4, pp. 55–62): Study how to stand out by observing what’s already out there and zagging where others zig.
- Fix This Next (Chapter 6, pp. 90–95): Diagnose sales deficiencies and plug the gaps with a customer-focused strategy.
Final thought
There’s a quote I love by Otto von Bismarck:
“The wise man learns from the mistakes of others, the fool from his own.”
I’ll tweak it:
“The wise entrepreneur samples what works, remixes it into gold, and gives it their own groove.”
You’ve got the tools. The hits are out there. Go sample wisely and make your own anthem.
You’ve got this.
-Mike
PS – My new book, The Money Habit, is up for pre-order! You know what to do! Especially if you want financial freedom for good.