At a loss for their own solutions, people ape others'. Given the relentless pursuit of efficiencies and profits, this anything-goes mindset shows up in the never-ending news of corporate scandal, the role of money in professional sports, and more. It has even become part of publishing.
  
Publishing has been suffering a multiyear slump, and my contacts tell me that everyone in the editorial department is expected to sell 400,000 copies a year. The easiest way to do this, obviously, is with blatant rip-offs of books that are already selling well. Even some of my books have been victimized.
  
One is Making the Most of the 90 Minutes Before You Go to Work, published by PHP. This book talked about getting up early and using that first hour and a half productively. So not long ago, somebody came out with a book titled 90 Minutes in the Morning. I also had a bit of success with How to Change Your Life in 5 Minutes, published by KK guest Books. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I was flattered to see someone else publish 5 Minutes to Change Your Life  
  
Desperate companies are prone to follow-the-leader thinking. Aping the winners is fast, simple, and almost-guaranteed profitable. It is smart business. Or is it?

  
Nomura Masaki
Author