“Fake it till you make it” is one of those phrases that is often misunderstood.

It doesn’t mean lying about your qualifications or pretending to have skills you don’t possess. At its best, it means having the confidence to step outside your comfort zone. Also, it means growing into the person you want to become.

Most successful people have accepted opportunities before feeling completely ready. They took on new responsibilities, trusted themselves to learn quickly, and developed the skills along the way. In that sense, “faking it” is really about backing yourself when self-doubt threatens to hold you back.

However, there is an important line that should never be crossed. Confidence is admirable; deception is not. Claiming expertise you don’t have, exaggerating your experience, or misleading others may create short-term opportunities. However, it almost always leads to damaged trust and credibility. Eventually, people discover whether confidence is supported by genuine ability.

The phrase also has its limits. No amount of self-belief can replace hard work, training and experience. Talent may open a door, but dedication and continuous learning are what keep it open. The most successful professionals are those who combine confidence with humility. They are willing to take on challenges while being honest about what they still need to learn.

Perhaps a better interpretation is this: “Believe in yourself before you have all the answers, but work tirelessly to earn the confidence you project.”

In the end, “fake it till you make it” should never be about fooling others. It should be about overcoming fear, embracing opportunity and having the courage to become the person you know you are capable of being. Confidence may get you started, but character and competence are what ultimately define success.

Stephen Hickmore

Stephen is a hospitality professional from Johannesburg South Africa. His career started with THF hotels in the UK and subsequently with the Southern Sun Hotel group in Johannesburg. Stephen’s first steps into entrepreneurship was Hickmore Recruitment / CareerMap,  a leading supplier of Senior and Exec recruitment services.  Stephen was a founder  of Pple Hospitality (formerly HSC) the largest Hospitality Industry full-service outsourced staffing company in South Africa. In March 2020 Stephen became a director and owner of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa, which is now his full time passion.

SHS – Institute of Hospitality Management

SHS – Institute of Culinary Arts

Stephen writes for a number of publications on food and hospitality industry matters, trends and opinions. He also hosts a Podcast on Spotify “Hospitality Insight with The SilverFox”