7 ways to be better at creating success and not faking it.

Attempting to fake success is an effort in futility, but a technique many people employ to expedite the “perception” of success.

Many people have embraced the power of social media to gain popularity and then attempt profit from the attention.? The problem is that we expend too much time “looking the part” without “becoming” a person of excellence.

Far be it from me to criticize anyone ambitious enough to work hard on building a dream.

However, when we take short cuts we forfeit valuable skills, experience, and wisdom that help us become shrewd, confident, competent, and reputable. ?In addition, we fail to create solid streams of revenue that aren’t contingent upon platforms we don’t own.

Here’s the good news.? In our effort to create a successful life, it’s ok to rehearse and prepare ourselves for success.

Research has shown that acting in a certain way can train our brain to create a new reality consistent with success. ? ?

"Wearing a mask wears you out. Faking it is fatiguing. The most exhausting activity is pretending to be what you know you aren't." Rick Warren

So, as we work toward building a more successful future, here are 7 simple things we can do to feel more successful and become more confident:

Smile

The power of a smile is intoxicating.? Studies have shown by forcing a smile, we create a cascade of positive emotions that have enormous health benefits.? Smiling lowers our heart rate and increases performance.? Learning to smile frequently will attract positive energy and make you a force to reckon with.??

Posture

Researchers at the Harvard Business School have discovered that our posture changes our body chemistry.? Chest and head lifted high decreases stress hormones and increases testosterone, the chemical related to dominance and confidence.?? How we carry ourselves sends a signal and makes us feel more confident in the process.??

Pretend

A 2012 Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology study showed that pretending to know the answer may improve test scores.? Scientists believe this is a primitive skill that helps prepare us for confrontation.? Regardless, it can be used to build confidence and help us prepare for stressful encounters.? For instance, preparing for that elevator pitch to investors.? Feeling prepared and believing we have the answers creates a physiological change that enhances positive responses.???

"The worst crime is faking it." Kurt Cobain

Attire

When people look good, they feel good, and studies confirm that.? At Northwest University Kellogg School of Management researchers found certain clothes improve performance.? Participants that wore clothes that had symbolic meaning and created a positive physical experience performed better on test experiments.? Looking the part has some benefits and can help us build confidence.?

Patience

Learning to embrace the process of becoming successful is imperative.? Too many people try to rush success and get burned.? They make bad decisions aimed at immediate results and fail to recognize the dangers of being impatient.? We all need to start someplace.? Never be ashamed of a humble beginning, it will serve you well in the long run.? We can’t rush success.

Emulate

In the beginning it’s ok to emulate someone who is successful.? My mentor in television at age 21 was the best television weather anchor in America.? I watched and emulated his every move.?? Research from Harvard Business Review confirms that by viewing ourselves as a work in progress we multiply our capacity to learn.? Modeling the behavior of successful people is a great way to start creating a style of our own.?

Confidence

Building genuine confidence takes time and it starts with learning to be assertive.? A 2013 study by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that when participants wrote about their ambitions, they created stronger perceptions of confidence within social groups.? By shifting our thoughts to align with our goals we project more competence.???

"Being who you are is a lot easier than faking it." Adam Lambert

Sum it up.

Any other suggestions for building a successful self-image without faking it? ?Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.?? Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming.? Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success.? Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn.? Learn more about my work and grab the free Weatherology mobile app by clicking any picture in this article!