Got told to "fake it till you make it" and it backfired hard. Is that advice ever actually good?

So my old boss from 5 years ago used to say "just act like you know what you're doing and people will believe you." I took that to heart when I started my own flooring business. First big job was a 1200 sq ft install in a condo complex near downtown. I acted confident when I had no clue how to handle the subfloor moisture issue. Told the client everything was fine. Ended up having to rip out half the floor 3 months later when the planks started buckling. Cost me $2,800 and my reputation with that whole building. On the other hand, I have a buddy who is a car salesman and he swears by this approach, says it got him through his first year. Is "fake it" just a trap for people in trades, or does it work in certain fields? Anyone here actually had this work out for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

mia70023d ago

Oh man, that sucks. Same thing happened to me when I tried to fake being a good baker for a friend's wedding cake. Ended up with a lopsided mess and a lot of awkward silence.

wadew5122d ago

Ended up in the same boat making a pie for a potluck once, lol. Used salt instead of sugar by accident and everyone just politely chewed and smiled. Never offered to bring dessert again lmao.

wood.faith22d ago

I read about a study that said our brains process sweet and salt signals in similar pathways, so it's easy to mix them up when you're in a hurry. Something like 20% of people admit to making that exact mistake at least once. I've heard the trick is to label your containers clearly, which sounds obvious but nobody does it. Your coworkers probably still remember that pie years later, just not in the way you wanted.