Effective Living | Relationships
“Living authentically is living effectively.” ~ Greg Johnson
There’s a philosophy today that’s become the mantra of many people.
That philosophy is “Fake it ’till you make it.”
The general premise behind the “Fake it ’till you make it” belief system is that if you present yourself and your organization or business as big and successful, you will attract successful associates and be more likely to gain customers, and everyone’s respect. Once that happens, then you will soon attain real success and won’t need to fake it anymore.
The problem with the “Fake it ’till you make it” way of life is that it simply isn’t genuine, honest, or authentic. Some people “make it” but somewhere along the way they forget how to be real and genuine. So, they continue to be fake even after they make it.
There’s also a chance that you might not “make it” with the level of success you’d hoped for (e.g. having a multi-million dollar home on the beach). If you never “make it” or become satisfied with your level of success, then you’ll end up spending your entire life faking it. Your entire life will have been just a façade.
“Faking it” takes time, money, attention, and focus away from who you really are and what you really need to be doing to succeed. Faking it doesn’t add substance to your life. Instead of spending money on fancy clothes and a nice car that you can’t afford, invest time and money in yourself and your business. Then you’ll build up the foundation for real success rather than the image of success.
Steve Jobs was one of the first very visible CEOs to wear blue jeans at world-wide press conferences and keynote presentations. His attire reflected a departure from the traditional business expectation of wearing a suit and a tie to impress others. Yet, because of the “content of his character” and the innovation of his products, he gained followers and customers.
“When you live authentically, you already have made it.” ~ Greg Johnson