Faking It
July 26th, 2006
How many jobs have you had? How many jobs or tasks have you taken for which you were completely unqualified?� Back in the day, I was the king of “fake it until you make it”.
Until I started my own company, I made the rounds working for the man. I tried my hand in various industries, mostly white collar, though I was no stranger to menial labor. I always had high aspirations. I knew that there was no way that I was going to be working in the mail room for a living, and without the fancy Ivy League degree, I was looking at a low ceiling in corporate America. So, I learned pretty quickly that in order to get ahead, I’d need to do a little bull-shitting.
Fortunately, I was born with the gift of gab - a talent further developed by my love of reading. I mastered the art of the interview, and was able to quickly identify the qualifications that I needed to possess, and subsequently portray, in order to get the job. You need somebody with software experience? I got it. Team player? That’s me. Sales experience? You betcha. Supervisory talents? Out the wazoo. Got some puzzles or problems? Bring ‘em on.
By listening intently to what the other person says during the interaction, you should be able to identify what they need to hear in order to close the deal. Nine times out of ten, if you listen properly, they will tell you exactly what they need to hear, and feel, in order to give you what you want. By focusing in on those factors, and manipulating them to your advantage, you should be able to snag the prize.
Sometimes, it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. If you are sharp, and learn quickly, you should be able to fake your way through the first steps. Most of the times, you get some slack for taking on the new role. However, you’ll need to get your shit together quickly, and follow through on your promises.
So don’t be afraid to reach for the golden ring. Go for that job or project that is completely above you. Start the journey- maybe you’ll try, fail, and even get fired. Better than wasting away in mediocrity.
July 26th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
I couldn’t agree more Greg! I have just taken on a new client in a new market with a Db driven site with absolutely no text on the homepage (and hardly any on the site - YET), I have till the end of the year to make it sing and a client willing to contribute.
This one will be a little interesting as this will be my first really serious client willing to pay to play. Normally I do SEO by the week or month, but this one’s different as in daily contributions to the site and a decent budget to work with. It’s a refreshing change (we don’t have the largest seo market in Oz).
Back in Feb when I was negotiating for the deal I never though it would come through, and if it did it might be over my head. A few months later and I have everything in place so it won’t be that daunting and I am looking forward to the day rankings shift.
I always encourage biting off more than you can chew, it’s the best way to learn. The only times I have really advanced in SEO was when I bit off more than I could chew (the more the better).
July 26th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
One thing for sure…. MEDIOCRITY sucks! Life is too short to not go for it when you get the chance! It is called reaching one’s full potential and when one is at a disadvantage in one area (whether education or whatever), you have to use your natural gifts! I dare say that the average person who can comprehend what they read can do *just about* anything they put their mind to with full effort. It really boils down to motivation and a willing, industrious spirit.
July 27th, 2006 at 2:43 am
July 27th, 2006 at 9:33 am
All this reminds me of a great passage from the book, My Friend Leonard.
“Be not bold, be f-cking BOLD. Every time you meet someone, make a f-cking impression. Make them think you’re the hottest shit in the world. Make them think they’re gonna lose their job if they don’t give you one. Look ‘em in the eye, and never look away. Be confident and calm, be f-cking bold.”
August 5th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Great advice,
pushing yourself beyond your intial skill level always winds up as a win win sitution, at the very least you learn a lesson.
Always reach further than your immediate grasp.
Ciao
A