Influences are a strange thing, Zawinul, just as an example, I would be plain mad to even try and play like him, firstly, why would I want to imitate him? and secondly, even if I did have the skill required, it would be pointless, he’s already been to that place, we don’t have his ability, or, his imagination, and in a way, to think "anyone could do it" is a bit of an insult.
We can be nudged into a direction by someone, they can have an overal effect on our "approach" to things, our lifestyle, they can point us to other people that they have mentioned, but as for taking their style, and riffs, it’s just not desirable, in any way.
We have to think big, just because we may not be highly revered by as many people doesn’t mean to say that we don’t have the potential to achieve great things in our own field, we have to be very self critical, without that you’re in danger of being disillusioned, self-criticism is your best friend.
To be just "average" at anything is too depressing for words, average people are all over the place, to stand a chance at being great means not caring about anything apart from your art, and that takes incredible talent, dedication, and selfishness, in that order.
We have to find a place in that metaphorical field where no one else has been, and make it ours, be confident being there, and defend it to the hilt. Because that’s what they did, the Zawinuls, the Eno's, the Beatles, whoever, unless you can stand up and confidently hold your head up alongside these people you are immediately in trouble.
We all the potential to achieve great things, it just depends on your attitude and your general outlook on life as to whether we will be talked about in fifty years time in the same way as we talk about the people mentioned in this thread.
I’ve said this before, we have been here many times, in this dimension, and when we see, or hear, a great work of art, it maybe because the person that has made that work has had to endure many journeys to get to that point in their skill and creativity, genius could be the result of many lives, preparing, and gaining experience, before we finally achieve our aims.