Weekend Reads 21.3.2025
Faking it 'Til You Make it. (Everyone else is.)
I solemnly promise every weekend reads will not start with some story related to my new job. No, next week will be full of details about something entirely different and will be accompanied by photographs. (Must keep things under wraps until then, but I am excited to share something I’ve been working on for a very long time with you!)
But that fun non-work story will come next week, and we are still in this week. A week that barreled past me and yet somehow found the time to bring up so many memories from experiences I had from the early years of my career.
I don’t know about you, but when I was just starting out in the world of Office Jobs, I just assumed older people knew what they were doing. As in, “That guy has been working for 20 years, so he has this figured out.”
How wrong I was.
Today, more than 20 years into my career, I look around to see very few people actually know what they are doing. I’m not talking about someone going through the motions of running documents past such-and-such department or reciting all the buzz words assigned to a particular industry. I’m talking about confidence and discernment.
Some may say the adage “Fake it ‘til you make it” is bad advice. I say, bah humbug.
What I mean by “faking it” is boldly showing up, asking questions, demonstrating kindness to yourself and others, and not being afraid to ask for help. If you feel your insecurity showing, take a break to examine what’s at the core of your fear. Because, let’s face it, insecurity is deeply rooted in fear. Nine times out of ten, you’ll get over yourself by looking outward and focusing on those around you. Encouraging someone else is often a magic elixir for when you’re feeling a bit down.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve jumped to conclusions because I was afraid of not being good enough or not being liked. Once I became comfortable with my own company, my instincts, and the fact that I will fail from time to time, I did a remarkably better job at navigating difficult situations.
There is one more key component of faking it ‘til you make it, and that is to know when to fold. Change can be terrifying but looking back over 30 years or so and realizing you lived a half-life is more terrifying than making an adjustment midstream. When you feel stagnant or when one thing overshadows the rest your life, it may be time to gather your courage and move on.
Maybe you’re in a place today where your confidence is shot, and you struggle to put one foot in front of the other. To that I say, you’re more capable than you realize. Or maybe you find yourself in unchartered territory with a broken compass. To that I say, you’re tougher than you realize.
In the end, developing confidence and humility means you have the strength to not center every experience around yourself. Truly “making it” has nothing to do with corner offices or perfectly juggling the needs of your children. No, to truly make it involves playing a supporting role in someone else’s success and accepting the truth that in doing so you may be building a bridge you will never cross. Truly making it means knowing the work you do today can shape and better the lives of others for years to come.
The mission to fix the horrendous celeb photos on Wikipedia is both ridiculous and overdue.
Will be preordering Paul Kingsnorth upcoming book, Against the Machine. (!!)
Really wish these lightweight gold bangles weren’t so much. They are made of wood!
I have no clue why this is, but I have been fascinated with psychological disorders since I sat in Mr. Friedman’s Psychology 101 class as a high school senior. Specifically, I’m interested in the difference between narcissism and psychopathy. Perhaps this is because these labels are thrown about constantly to describe horrible exes, unlikeable parents, large-than-life celebrities, and obnoxious politicians.
“Because narcissism is centered on admiration, its more toxic qualities are often hidden from public view. This is particularly clear in research on relationships. I might see what appears to be a happy couple, but later, at a party, the wife might pull me aside and say, My life is a disaster. My partner is a monster. But most people won’t see it, and many will think that they’re a perfect couple.
If narcissism is about attention, fame, and social status, psychopathy is more about pure selfishness or pleasure-seeking. A psychopath doesn’t necessarily crave admiration; they simply want to get their needs met. They might seek money, sex, or a place to stay, rather than status or attention. Psychopaths are more likely to be exploitative, and one hallmark of psychopathy is what’s known as a parasitic lifestyle—living off someone else’s work. A psychopath might live off their spouse’s labor while spending their time partying, golfing, or, if those options aren’t available, turning to crime, surviving by swindling or stealing from others.” (Source)
Guess I’ll have to start saving a lot more pennies to be able to buy my dream cottage in Scotland.
Usually Farrow and Ball can do no wrong, so it might take me a minute to trust them on these new paint colors.
Have you ever heard of “Lemonading”?
Here’s what you can learn from the 8-year-old who climbs way harder than most adults.
Warmer weather means New York City’s stoops are about to come alive again.
Hope the view from your window is beautiful this weekend!