There’s this saying that’s gained an unfortunate amount of traction:
“Fake it ’til you make it.”
And while I understand the spirit of the statement, I disagree fundamentally with the premise.
See, people who are *truly* successful aren’t faking anything. They aren’t pretending to have knowledge they don’t. They aren’t making up skills as they go along, or forging credentials and qualifications, or going into hundreds of situations completely unprepared and unarmed with any knowledge or expertise while tap dancing their way through. Those are the charlatans, and more than enough posts have been written to express our feelings on them.
Instead, what successful people do is consciously collect information and knowledge in motion while they apply what they *do* know. It’s more a matter of deliberately filling in the blanks and rapidly processing and applying the expertise, context, or knowledge that’s collected on the fly, even if it somewhat reshapes their direction as they do.
They’re also spending time – either consciously or unconsciously – relentlessly filtering the information that comes to them to decide what’s useful, and what isn’t. If it’s useful, they immediately apply it before it’s refined or perfect, knowing that practical application will serve as the best way to arrive at the best context and value. If it’s not useful, they file it away or jettison it completely. Without apology.
And? They’re comfortable in a constant state of discomfort. Walking the path even if they can’t see where it curves and leads.
So rather than faking it until you make it, work at continually supplementing your own knowledge, connecting your own dots of expertise and experience, and practicing the application of what you know in real time. Deliberate improvisation and relentless adaptation is what wins. In fact, people who are supremely successful rarely think they’ve “made it”. They’re always striving to do something more, different, better.
Don’t you dare make anything up, put on false airs, or pretend to be something you aren’t. You don’t need it.
Instead, learn to embrace the journey as it unfolds in front of you, harness what works as you find it along the way, and hold on tight.
This is a lovely honest post, it’s good to see that always trying to provide something better and to improve yourself and your knowledge can be so openly acknowledged. Thank you.
I’m agreeing with everything you write this week! I also get the spirit of the saying, but I’ve been told to never admit that I don’t know something, and quite frankly, at the speed social media and digital marketing are moving, I really don’t see how one person could possibly be an expert on everything (although I’ve seen job descriptions assuming people could be).
I’d rather take your route, sharing what I know and looking into what I don’t know, but it seems to me, as I approach a senior level, that this approach is frowned upon at many places. Perhaps I’m just working at the wrong places, though!
Admitting your unafraid to acquire new knowledge is an act worth sharing with anyone and everyone; people may blossom from your insight, your openness may inspire the former to climb the latters ladder and hold vision of what was once out of sight.
Thanks for the great post Amber. I’m sure it will confidence to lots of people who think that because they are uncomfortable, they must be doing something wrong 🙂 And I have absolutely no idea where that particular myth came from!
I couldn’t agree more with working “…at continually
supplementing your own knowledge, connecting your own dots of expertise
and experience, and practicing the application of what you know in real
time.”
The new economy has provided the marketplace with many consultants labeling themselves as “gurus” and “experts,” but no one, really, is an expert no matter what your level of experience. You simply may have a certain level of expertise in an industry, field or tool(s).
Continually supplementing your own knowledge is critical today when technology and business changes so fast. Thanks for this great post!
I agree with you from the perspective which you’re writing. I’ve been coaching a friend of mine who does have the knowledge and is confident in it until they put it out there for the world to see. I’ve used this phrase to say to this person that they should fake the confidence that they’re adding value and sharing good information until they get the proof they need to really believe it. Maybe that won’t ever happen and perhaps that’s a good thing. A constant state of discomfort can be very motivating.
I don’t mind saying that I don’t know something or that I don’t know everything about a topic (very few can make that claim anyway, if any), but I avoid publishing anything that I’m not confident in – even if it’s just opinions.
Couldn’t agree more. When we can honsely disclose what we DO know and what we DON’T know, then accept “deliberate improvisation and relentlyess adaptaion” as standard operating procedure, the world could get much more interesting and our work far more efficient — and fun! Well put, Amber!
Couldn’t agree more. When we can honsely disclose what we DO know and what we DON’T know, then accept “deliberate improvisation and relentlyess adaptaion” as standard operating procedure, the world could get much more interesting and our work far more efficient — and fun! Well put, Amber!
Amber- too many spend thirty minutes on a webinar learning a small portion from someone else & then feel they know enough to be experts. When in reality, they know just enough to be dangerous.
What many don’t realize is that we haven’t learned the skills we have overnight. While some are relaxing watching a TV show, there are others that are honing their skills, digesting more content and growing their skills.
Michael Jordan didn’t become the best basketball player of all time by just sleeping with a basketball. He did it by spending countless hours shooting jump shots and hard work while all his friends were out having fun.
Great post!
Sound and pragmatic advice, but not always practical, especially for the youngsters. We all get thrown into our first jobs or new jobs without a clue what to expect, curious as to whether we’re cut out for the task, etc. If I didn’t fake it until I made it right out of college, I would have been destined for remedial jobs. I’ve faked knowing what I was doing as a journalist, broadcaster, PR person, strategist, author, father and more. If you aspire to anything, you’re going to have to fake it until you make it sometimes. Never say never. 😉
I still say that what you did wasn’t faking it, but learning on the fly. There’s a difference to me, maybe a super subtle one, but a difference nonetheless.
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Amber Naslund
847.302.3471
I always took this saying to mean that you should fake confidence, not fake knowledge or expertise. Still, the concept of “faking” does seem undesirable. Really, what you do is locate the part of you that does believe in what you’re doing and have confidence in your abilities and magnify it, rather than what people seem to do more automatically, which is to magnify the insecurity and fear.
Sue, I think you’re absolutely right that confidence is really the thing we mean when we say it. I’m obviously poking at the literal interpretation to make a different point, but I think that’s probably what Jason is getting at too. We all – at varying points – need to demonstrate more confidence than we feel until we “grow into it” for real. Which can be an awesome growth experience, yeah?
Amber, I get what everyone is saying about confidence but I whole heartedly disagree with them. Your original premise is spot on. We need to focus on “being”, not “faking”. Whether it’s confidence, skill or whatever. If we don’t have it, then we need to get it, not fake it. I may not have the perfect solution to a technology based problem, but I know I have the tools (intellectual and otherwise) to work out a solution or find someone who does. I just absolutely believe that. The problem is that many of us are afraid to say “I don’t know”, so we “fake it”. I have actually told potential customers, “Sorry but I can’t help you with that” and walked away. The customer appreciates the honesty and often calls us back to work in areas we are more suited for. No need to fake anything.
Thank you Amber, for yet another post that will help “the market” pick the charlatans from the professionals. I’m happy to see that albeit slowly, the market is getting more educated. It’s not so easy for the charlatans these days to fool unsuspecting clients. 🙂
I do agree with not making up qualifications or skills.
What I think of when I hear “fake it ’til you make it” has a lot to do with confidence. While you should never lie about what you do and don’t know how to do, too many people don’t know they have those skills. People should know when to ask for help, but should also try it themselves to see if they already know how to do something.
I think the phrase comes down to the intangible, rather than truths. No one should ever lie about what they have done, ever. But being willing to accept a project you haven’t done before, with confidence you may not naturally have, can propel you forward in ways you never imagined.
Amen. I hate poseurs and particularly in our industry. *shakes head*
Excellent post, I totally agree
what you have said. It is better to improvise on regular basis rather than
faking it up.
This distinction between “fake it til you make it” and “Deliberate improvisation and relentless adaptation is what wins.” is fantastic. The former implies operating in a state of hope and pretense while the latter empowers us to stand powerfully in the unknown while keeping our integrity in tact. Brilliant!
Thanks for posting this Article. Was very instructive for me, and I will use it as an inspiration to improve my work. Thanks again, I will always come back for more.
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Great post. I think it would be worthwhile for all people to get used to being a bit uncomfortable, even if they can’t handle the “constant state of discomfort.” This goes well with Seth’s bog today! http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/11/after-youve-done-your-best.html The feelings we have around failure and feeling like having to change or do something again is failure. As an learner and educator, very important feelings to deal with before you head into a classroom of any kind, in any role.
A lot of social media people could heed this advice. Most gurus have no clue how to do anything. I consider myself knowledgeable, but I’m no genius at this. But this points out to a bigger problem in life: We seem to advocate a “You have to know everything” mentality that pushes people beyond what they could possibly do. Granted we all need that kind of kick once in a while, but doing it on a regular basis will fry you. Instead, we should admit when we don’t know something but strive to learn it.
Fantastic Amber. I’ve been pushing this same idea for awhile myself. Every time I hear someone say “fake it til you make it” I just roll my eyes and want to puke. When you are already it, there is no need fake to it. For everyone who disagrees and says it is just fine to “fake it til”, I hope they never get a plumber or handy man to do work in their home who subscribes to the same philosophy.
That’s right, don’t you dare fake it!