The Unsexy Side of Innovation: When Sharing Becomes a Liability

Realizing You Made Something Big

You ever create something, share it just to be helpful, and then realize—wait a minute—people are reacting like you just dropped the next iPhone?

That was me. 

I didn’t even realize how innovative my AI Bots were until I started sharing them and the feedback made me pause. 

Not in a “oh how nice” kind of way. More like, “oh shoot, this is actually a big deal” kind of way.

The Surprise of Being an Innovator

I’ve spent most of my business life teaching and implementing other people’s frameworks in a way that made sense for my audience and clients. 

That’s always been my superpower: translating and applying. 

But for the first time, I’m realizing what I have been building isn’t just helpful, it’s something people haven’t seen before, and I hadn’t fully realized how original it actually was until others started pointing it out.

And I didn’t see that coming…at ALL.

It started with a few custom GPTs I built. At first, I shared them freely because I was excited, because they were cool, and because, honestly, I didn’t think too much about it. 

But then the feedback rolled in. People telling me, “This is brilliant,” or “I’ve never seen anything like this.” 

And suddenly it hit me: “Oh. This isn’t just useful. It’s valuable. And if I’m not careful, I’m going to give away the very thing that could sustain my business long-term.”

Cue the oh-crap moment.

When Creating Means Protecting

There’s this weird shift that happens when you move from teacher to creator. It’s not just about putting out content anymore. 

It’s about protecting what you’ve built because not everyone will respect it. 

And if you don’t put guardrails around your work, you can’t be surprised when someone else tries to claim it as their own.

So I’ve been in the trenches lately, experimenting with tech to gate my bots, messing with email verification systems, talking to my AI mentor about software and a whole lot of unsexy backend stuff. 

It’s been messy. Frustrating. And honestly, a little discouraging at times. 

Because I just want to build. I want to create. But now I also have to protect.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far about protecting your IP:

• Gate your access points. Add email verification or use platforms that allow user authentication before access is granted.Why this helps: It puts a barrier between your IP and the outside world, making sure you know who’s accessing it and keeping it out of the wrong hands.
• Use watermarking and branding. Even with digital tools, subtle branding elements or even embedded prompts can signal ownership. Consider getting a trademark.Why this helps: It makes your content unmistakably yours, deterring theft and helping people trace it back to the original creator (you).
• Set up clear terms of use. Whether it’s a bot, a guide, or a process, make sure people know what they can and can’t do with it.Why this helps: It legally reinforces boundaries and lets people know upfront what’s allowed, before you have to chase them down.
• Don’t be afraid to hold back. Not everything needs to be shared freely. It’s okay to reserve some of your most innovative work for your paying clients or protected spaces.Why this helps: Your creativity is a business asset and protecting parts of it ensures you’re not devaluing what makes your work powerful (and profitable).

To be perfectly frank, this is kind of hard for me personally because I’m so used to helping people solve problems on the spot. 

It feels awkward to not hand over the exact AI bot that I know could help them instantly. 

But this is what thinking like a CEO looks like. I don’t have to be stingy, but I do need to be smart.

That’s the unexpected part of growth. Knowing when to stop giving everything away, and start treating your work like it matters.

Because it does.

Weekly Challenge

Your Turn to Protect Your Genius

What are you putting out into the world that deserves more protection? 

What IP (intellectual property) have you created that’s at risk of being shared, swiped, or sold by someone else? 

Do a mini audit this week. Use ChatGPT to do a quick SWOT analysis and let it help you brainstorm some ways to put better fences around your work.

And here is a FREE “Think Like a CEO” AI Bot to help you do it! 

(I know, I know, but I can’t help it! This one comes with a limit of 5 uses, though, so I am making progress, right?! 😂)