Time to Read: 3 mins
There’s a piece of advice that tends to make people roll their eyes:
“Fake it till you make it.”
I hear people dismiss it all the time.
They say it encourages inauthenticity... or that it’s about pretending to be something you’re not.
And to be fair, if “faking it” meant exaggerating your abilities or misleading people about what you know, that criticism would be totally valid.
But I think the phrase gets misunderstood.
Because the version of “faking it” that actually changes people’s lives has nothing to do with pretending, and everything to do with practice.
Think about almost any skill you’ve ever developed.
The first few times you tried it, you probably felt awkward.
Whether that was leading a meeting, facilitating a tough conversation, stepping into a bigger leadership role, or speaking on a stage.
The reality is... new things are uncomfortable.
You often have to think about every step, and it's not uncommon to second-guess yourself along the way.
And because you don't yet have your rhythm down, it can feel like you're faking it.
But what you're really doing is putting in the reps.
And repetition has a quiet but powerful effect.
It turns the thing that was once unnatural into something familiar.
And eventually, you realize you’re no longer trying to act like that person.
You ARE that person.
Your repeated actions caught up with your identity. And that which was uncomfortable is now familiar.
But the only way that integration happens is through experience.
Through putting in the reps. And, all of a sudden, you realize...
You faked it until you made it!
And that’s self-leadership in action.
💡 Practionable Takeaway
If “faking it” is really about putting in the reps, then the question becomes:
What reps will help you get better at the thing you’re trying to grow into?
To get to the answer, ask yourself:
What are three specific actions I can take this week that would count as reps toward getting better at this?
Then choose one behavior from that list and intentionally repeat it three times over the next few days.
Just remember... the goal isn’t perfection.
It's simply repetition.
You're faking it until you make it!
Because every rep gives your brain a new piece of evidence about who you are becoming. And over time, that evidence builds your confidence and moves you forward.
🎥 Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re curious why this works psychologically, I unpack the science behind it in this week’s video.
Join me below to explore why confidence doesn’t come before action — it grows from it.
I'll even walk you through the four psychological triggers that help build real confidence over time.
You can watch it here.👇
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To Your Success,
Laura 💜🧡
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