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Faizan
Do you ever worry that someone's going to catch on and call you out as a fraud? Me too. Being a creative freelancer or entrepreneur means that we often say "yes" to things that we're not 100% sure we can do (yet). I once dated an actor who claimed he could horseback ride in an audition and then had to rush out and get lessons when he got the part. He knew that sometimes, if you want the part badly enough, you have to fake it 'til you make it.
In a world of authentic marketing (of which I am a huge proponent), I understand that 'faking it' can feel disingenuous. Here's the distinction that will ease those feelings. Faking it is not about tricking others into believing you can do something. It's about tricking ourselves into believing we can do something, so that we can push through the fear. Humans are hard-wired to avoid risk and faking it allows us to push the fear aside and seize opportunities that come our way. The good news is, the more we push through that fear (by faking it) and take on new challenges, the better we become at our job and the more valuable our services become to others.
Not sure how to 'fake it 'til you make it'? Here are 5 strategies:
1) Don't Be Afraid To Ask Questions.
In my early days as an agent for freelance creative professionals, I learned how to write a detailed creative proposal. In order to develop an accurate document that defined the deliverables, budget, timeline, fees and terms, I had to learn how to ask the right questions. Feeling very conscious of my youth and inexperience, I worried that too many questions would make me appear stupid to my clients, so I tended to hold back. The result was unnecessary revisions, stress (on my part!) and lots of back and forth with the client. The more I did it, the better I got and the more efficient I became. It's a process that we all go through, so ask questions, learn and don't worry what other people think.
2) Reach Out To Your Network.
In 2010 I transitioned my business from creative agent to business coach for creative professionals. It was an entirely new business model and there was a lot I didn't know. Rather than feel badly about it, I acknowledged that I didn't know what I didn't know and reached out to people in my network that did have the answers. People are more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise, so ask for help. How do you re-pay them? Pay it forward and share your knowledge with anyone that asks for help.
3) Know Your Limits.
While I will say "yes" to something that I know is within the realm of my expertise and just requires me to stretch myself, I won't say "yes" to something that isn't in my wheelhouse. Know what makes you unique and how your client will benefit from working with you, then stretch yourself within those boundaries.
In a world of authentic marketing (of which I am a huge proponent), I understand that 'faking it' can feel disingenuous. Here's the distinction that will ease those feelings. Faking it is not about tricking others into believing you can do something. It's about tricking ourselves into believing we can do something, so that we can push through the fear. Humans are hard-wired to avoid risk and faking it allows us to push the fear aside and seize opportunities that come our way. The good news is, the more we push through that fear (by faking it) and take on new challenges, the better we become at our job and the more valuable our services become to others.
Not sure how to 'fake it 'til you make it'? Here are 5 strategies:
1) Don't Be Afraid To Ask Questions.
In my early days as an agent for freelance creative professionals, I learned how to write a detailed creative proposal. In order to develop an accurate document that defined the deliverables, budget, timeline, fees and terms, I had to learn how to ask the right questions. Feeling very conscious of my youth and inexperience, I worried that too many questions would make me appear stupid to my clients, so I tended to hold back. The result was unnecessary revisions, stress (on my part!) and lots of back and forth with the client. The more I did it, the better I got and the more efficient I became. It's a process that we all go through, so ask questions, learn and don't worry what other people think.
2) Reach Out To Your Network.
In 2010 I transitioned my business from creative agent to business coach for creative professionals. It was an entirely new business model and there was a lot I didn't know. Rather than feel badly about it, I acknowledged that I didn't know what I didn't know and reached out to people in my network that did have the answers. People are more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise, so ask for help. How do you re-pay them? Pay it forward and share your knowledge with anyone that asks for help.
3) Know Your Limits.
While I will say "yes" to something that I know is within the realm of my expertise and just requires me to stretch myself, I won't say "yes" to something that isn't in my wheelhouse. Know what makes you unique and how your client will benefit from working with you, then stretch yourself within those boundaries.
Posted in: business
