The problem with 'fake it until you make it’:
Let me tell you a story about someone many of us may have seen before; I knew this person way back in seventh grade. There was this guy who loved studying. I don’t know how he was before because he entered our school in the 7th grade, and I remember he was a dedicated guy who studied all the time. He always answered all the questions the teacher asked. I recall thinking to myself, ‘This guy is probably going to come first.’ Everybody asked him questions, but I don’t remember if he answered them well. People were asking him questions, and he was also very skilled at presentations. Everyone thought he was the smartest one in the class.
One month later, the kid stopped paying attention in school. He used to go to the library every day, but after one month, he totally stopped doing any of it. Even when the teacher asked him a question, he couldn’t answer any of it. After 5 months in my school, they always show the top 10 students, and he wasn’t even in it. I thought to myself, 'Damn, this might be hard for him because he was telling us he was the best student in his previous school.' And then one time when I was talking to his sister about how good he was when he first came to our school, she said he actually showed some improvements compared to his previous school, and he was honest when she told me this. Then he said that he was joking when he said he was the best in his previous school, and the year finished without him showing any improvements. I remember when we were taking our certificates; he said, ‘I thought I was going to do well in school this year, but I failed.’ I could see the disappointment on his face when he said that, and I remember saying, ‘You’ve got next year; don’t worry about it.’ He was trying to fake it until he makes it.
He is a good example of 'fake it until you make it.' Why someone can’t make it if they’re faking as someone who made it well are some reasons that might hinder success if you fake it.
1. Constantly talking about your goal: When you have a goal and you are trying to achieve it, there are some struggles you have to face before experiencing the satisfaction upon its attainment. Talking about it tricks your mind into thinking you have achieved it, and then you are less motivated to do the work. This phenomenon is known as social reality, where verbalizing your goals prematurely can create a false sense of accomplishment, diminishing the drive to put in the necessary effort. In a notable study often associated with the ‘mere talk, no action’ phenomenon, researchers, including Peter Gollwitzer, found that individuals who openly shared their intentions or goals with others were less likely to achieve them compared to those who kept their aspirations private. This highlights the psychological impact of discussing one’s goals, potentially leading to a premature sense of accomplishment and reduced motivation to follow through with necessary action. This actually has the same effect as someone who tries to fake it until he makes it. You waste the excitement by talking about it; you think you did a good job without doing it, and then you’re going to think you did something, but you didn’t actually, and it destroys your motivation. While there are some good things about telling your goals, it’s crucial to balance goal discussions with meaningful actions to avoid a premature sense of accomplishment and maintain motivation for true success.
2. Constant fantasizing about goals without acknowledging the associated challenges might create a skewed perception of the effort required. This idea is related to the potential impact of positive visualization without considering the practical steps needed for goal attainment. Research in positive psychology often emphasizes the importance of setting realistic goals, understanding potential obstacles, and planning for solutions. Constantly fantasizing about success without recognizing the hurdles may lead to a diminished perception of the actual challenges involved. It’s essential to balance positive visualization with a realistic assessment of the effort required for goal achievement."
