When "Fake it 'til you Make It" Goes too Far
Photo Credit: Legally Blonde
By: Zoey Woldman
From a young age, our parents teach us to “fake it ‘til you make it” because somewhere along the road they forgot that they also taught us that lying is bad (I guess faking and lying are different?) Alright, so maybe they are slightly different. Fine, but if that’s the case, what’s the harm in faking it every once in a while? Well, I’ll tell you why. In the age of Anna Delvey scams (if you haven’t read about it, I suggest you block out the rest of your day), we know that faking can land you on Riker’s Island...okay, that’s dramatic, but that is what happened to Ms. Delvey, which is why it is incredibly important to know when faking it has gone too far.
Let’s break down the do’s and don’ts of “faking it”. If your fakery…
1. Breaks the law
2. Puts you or someone else in physical danger
3. Depreciates your self-worth
4. Drains your bank account, or
5. Seriously questions your morale
STOP. DO NOT PASS GO!
Good clean fakes are what we’re going for folks, and chances are, if you can check off anything on the list above, you are NOT participating in a good clean fake. So, let’s take a moment to discuss the do’s. Just because you are scheming does not mean you have to act spontaneously or impulsively (even though it happens sometimes). In fact, if you actually take a second to sit down and think through it, you will be able to better determine whether or not a fake is even worth making. You may even find loopholes in your scheme and find better ways of tackling it head on.
We very often see entrepreneurs and aspiring influencers in the news for going too far with their efforts to build their businesses. Yes, of course, sometimes faking it does ultimately lead to you making it, but if you are wasting away your money just for a pic for the ‘gram or for brand building without any proof of potential profit, it is so NOT worth it. Remember Lissette Calveiro? The 26-year-old that racked up $10,000 of debt while trying to become an Insta-famous? If you do need to dip into your savings, just make sure you take it one little step at a time instead blowing it all in one bang. We see this mistake time and time again, especially in this industry.
We’ve all faked it in more ways than one. Even I am guilty. Yes, I confess, I am not as innocent as I seem. I may or may not dress up in my best looks during NYFW and strategically circle the streets of SoHo in the hopes of being snapped by a street style photographer. Okay, it’s even more embarrassing when I type it out...but hey, my logic is that if the same photographers keep seeing me over and over, one of them is bound to think that I’m important enough to shoot. And of course, my logic has proven correct. During FW18 Milan Fashion week, I made my street style debut in Vogue Espana. My point is, that no criminal acts, personal harm, or self-depreciation was made in my simple scheme of fakery, and I most definitely did NOT end up on Riker’s Island. In this case, it was just a good clean fake.
Sometimes faking it is okay in order to get where you want with your personal goals. Just make sure you think through them clearly. If you keep our do’s and don’ts in mind, you’re sure to steer clear of any Anna Delvey Riker’s Island scandals of your own (seriously, go read this article!).
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