Fraud
Last week I found myself in a board room, observing small talk before a meeting. Two men—both important figures in their respective fields—were talking about what it feels like to participate in and lead important meetings. “I just feel like a fraud sometimes,” the one guy said, “I feel like I’m just making things up as I go along. Do you ever feel like that? Or does it get better with time?” The other guy responded, “Over time, I’ve become more and more confident that I’m making it up. But I think everyone feels that way. You just do your best. It’s not going to change, but the way you feel about it will.”
Every time I come up with an idea, think about posting something I’ve made, or consider sharing my perspective—I feel a bit like a fraud. I tell myself that somewhere, someone is more educated, more experienced, or more talented than I am. I love the internet, but knowing about all of the amazing and talented people out there can be a hindrance to pursuing what I want for myself.
When we feel like we are frauds. We just have to do our best, and work to become more comfortable with that feeling. It may never go away, but we can control the way we feel about it. Talent is important, but courage is mandatory.
