Is it acceptable to "fake it till you make it" as an artist seeking new opportunities?

The author endorses the "fake it till you make it" philosophy, especially when new to a field. This involves confidently pursuing opportunities even without prior experience, then diligently learning and over-delivering to exceed expectations. It's about acquiring knowledge on the job, not misrepresenting your background.

What is the distinction between being a "liar" and a "thief" in a professional setting, according to the author?

The author differentiates a "liar" as someone who might feign confidence or knowledge to secure a job, while a "thief" is someone who falsifies their resume or fails to deliver on commitments. The author supports the former approach (faking confidence to learn) but strongly advises against the latter (dishonesty on credentials).

How can artists overcome the fear of lacking experience or formal qualifications?

The page encourages artists to overcome fears related to experience, degrees, or pedigree by taking on challenges anyway. The author's own career path exemplifies learning on the job and consistently exceeding expectations. This suggests that knowledge is attainable through proactive engagement and determination, rather than letting insecurity hinder progress.

Does the article suggest lying on a resume to advance an artistic career?

Absolutely not. The author explicitly states, "I’ve never put an untrue word on my resume and I don’t advise that anyone else does either. Ever." The "fake it till you make it" approach is about confidently embracing new roles and learning as you go, not about fabricating qualifications.

How Artists Overcome Lack of Experience & Build Confidence

To overcome a lack of experience, embrace the 'fake it 'til you make it' philosophy by thoroughly researching, over-preparing, practicing, and then confidently presenting yourself, always ensuring to over-deliver on the goods. The author, for instance, successfully took on a writing job for business websites despite having no prior experience, learning on the job and exceeding expectations. This approach involves pretending to know more than you do, doing the necessary work to gain knowledge, and then consistently over-delivering. As one friend remarked, 'You’re a liar, but not a thief,' emphasizing the importance of confidence in presentation without compromising the quality of work. This strategy is particularly relevant for artists and professionals who often face self-confidence issues due to fears about experience or pedigree. Instead of professional paralysis, the advice is to research, over-prepare, practice, and then 'fake it' with confidence, never being a 'thief' with the quality of your output.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 Is it acceptable to "fake it till you make it" as an artist seeking new opportunities?: The author endorses the "fake it till you make it" philosophy, especially when new to a field. This involves confidently pursuing opportunities even without prior experience, then diligently learning and over-delivering to exceed expectations. It's about acquiring knowledge on the job, not misrepresenting your background.
2 What is the distinction between being a "liar" and a "thief" in a professional setting, according to the author?: The author differentiates a "liar" as someone who might feign confidence or knowledge to secure a job, while a "thief" is someone who falsifies their resume or fails to deliver on commitments. The author supports the former approach (faking confidence to learn) but strongly advises against the latter (dishonesty on credentials).
3 How can artists overcome the fear of lacking experience or formal qualifications?: The page encourages artists to overcome fears related to experience, degrees, or pedigree by taking on challenges anyway. The author's own career path exemplifies learning on the job and consistently exceeding expectations. This suggests that knowledge is attainable through proactive engagement and determination, rather than letting insecurity hinder progress.
4 Does the article suggest lying on a resume to advance an artistic career?: Absolutely not. The author explicitly states, "I’ve never put an untrue word on my resume and I don’t advise that anyone else does either. Ever." The "fake it till you make it" approach is about confidently embracing new roles and learning as you go, not about fabricating qualifications.

How Artists Overcome Lack of Experience & Build Confidence

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Frequently Asked Questions