Maybe the reason you are yet to make headway is that you trying to be like someone else in every conceivable way. Look at the world today, people who stood out looked like their mentors but added their unique flavour.
Everyone including you has their contribution to offer to the world, don't bury yours by trying to be someone else. Learn from all, and only use what you learn to enhance you. The world has tasted of the other people, it waits to experience you.
Some people find it hard to believe they have a message, that is unique to them and that will make a difference in the world. It will indeed be boring if we were all alike in every way.
God truly is a master at making life full of varieties. Variety is indeed the spice of life. You have a unique message, a unique angle you can apply to existing procedures to make a difference and be outstanding.
Everyone wanted Jackie Chan to be Bruce Lee's replacement. They wanted him to be a replica of Bruce Lee but his success came when he took what he learnt from Bruce Lee and added comedy to it. That was his unique twist.
Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
I find that the very things that I get criticized for, which is usually being different and just doing my own thing and just being original, is the very thing that’s making me successful.
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.