I'm not suggesting anything like copying or plagiarizing someone's profitable business model and products to push them out of their own chosen niche.
Although this very practice happens all the time on the Internet with cloned or stolen and copied products and services, you should never consider such a blatant attempt to shortcut your way to success.
What I am suggesting is that you put on your thinking cap, get creative, and look at the solutions that successful businesses in other niches come up with to solve the problems they find in that niche.
Then think of ways to adapt or duplicate their solutions to satisfy the customer needs and wants in your own niche. You may have a slightly different view of "stealing" than I do, but I don't consider "knocking off" an idea for use in a non-competing niche as "stealing."
I wouldn't copy another company's products or services per say. I would just attempt to come up with ways to look at their solutions in light of the unique issues and problems that are critical to your own customers.
Often, all you need is a little eye opening to the possibilities of what might be, in order to adapt someone else's solution to your own situation.
Here's another thought that may help you come up with some ideas for products in your own niche: look at the products that are currently available to your customers from other vendors and ask yourself, "How can I improve or make this product better, easier to use, last longer, provide more benefits, cheaper for the consumer, etc, etc.
Again, my feeling is that you are not stealing another entrepreneur's business or product. You are simply taking his idea another step further and making it a better solution for your customers.
It is done in business everyday - and in fact, this type of building upon other people's products is what leads to innovation, increased product quality and utility, and greater choice for the consumer. Don't copy what your competitor has done, but develop your own unique idea or concept that gives greater benefit.
Put yourself in the shoes of your customer. Would you pay for the product of, or change allegiance to a company, that gave you more value and benefit for the money?
If you look at your business from the customer's viewpoint, you will also be in a position to be critical about other companies providing products that are better than yours.
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