18 Comments

Faking one's way is a two-sided coin. Sometimes we think we aren't good enough to do X but once we get there we figure out nobody else has a clue either and they are THRILLED that somebody stepped up to take care of the task. I've had this happen a number of times and I did fine. Other times I really didn't have a clue but knew truly faking it wasn't an option so I found somebody who really did know and got their help and advice. This also worked well. The trick is know when you can truly fake it and when to get help.

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Yes, very true. Faking your way thru a life or death situation is a far cry from examining a painting or interviewing someone famous!! Mostly, my point is that a person can learn as she goes, and that’s okay, as long as she is, in fact, learning.

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Jul 27Liked by Laura Leffler

I love this post. Super inspiring, bold, and true. Sometimes life requires overriding imposter syndrome and being brave. How are we supposed to learn otherwise? And how about that moment when we look around and realize that a lot of other people are "faking it" too! Thanks for sharing this.

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Yes! Learn as you go and keep going….

🤓

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Jul 26Liked by Laura Leffler

I think when you’re the one actually in it and experiencing the emotional journey it likely doesn’t feel much like bravery but believe me getting fired would genuinely be a consideration for some people. I know people who refused going to the hospital even when they were on the brink of death unfortunately, because of fear. But I definitely agree that remembering that most of the times the worst thing that can happen is nothing or something you CAN recover from is key.

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Jul 26Liked by Laura Leffler

You’re the type of person I’m frequently jealous of tbh. That bravery and trust in yourself to figure it out is so important, otherwise so many good opportunities will slip right past you, as I unfortunately know all too well.

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That's really interesting, bc I certainly don't think of myself as brave. In many of these cases there was not really an option. It was "condition report this painting or be fired" (like half the staff had already been), or "interview Salman Rushdie because no one else has read the book." Same with preparing for my son's transplant. I didn't have a choice about WHETHER to do it--only HOW to do it. (try hard, do the work, or phone it in and trust that someone else will pick up the slack?) Going to nyc and writing novels, that's different--there wasn't a person alive who cared if I did those things except me. Those were internal. Maybe brave? Or maybe knowing that I have fallen flat on my face 1000 times and still lived to tell the tale helped me understand that the worst that can happen if I give this thing I've always wanted to do a real shot is.... nothing.

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Really good reminder that sometimes the willingness to figure it out is the key to success -- and that maybe everyone is just faking it, too.

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Love this. Although I don't think of what you've done (and what I've done in pretty much every job I've ever taken on) isn't faking it so much as learning by doing.

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author

I snuck that part in 😁😁😁

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Well snuck!

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Jul 25Liked by Laura Leffler

I am obsessed with this post

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author

:)

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Art drama, Salman Rushdie, AND a Scheana Shay reference?! This has it all! (And I will continue to remind myself this is how the best shit gets done.)

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lol scheana and salman are my two personalities 😂😂😂

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Love this

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That kicker!!!

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🤓

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