You're doing amazing, sweetie

“Nobody knows what they’re doing.”

That’s what someone said on a panel discussion. Someone whose opinion I value. And let me tell you, the relief I felt when she said that... wow. It was great to hear someone accomplished, who seems to have her shit together, admit that she, like everyone else, doesn’t actually know what they’re doing.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and a little more understanding and accepting, and have a lot less time for BS, but I’ve found a whole new appreciation and respect for the ‘fake it until you make it’ mantra. Because that’s all we’re really doing.

It’s helped me in rooms where I feel intimidated. Yes, people have experience, and their decisions are based on that experience. But that’s the extent of it. Their experience. You have another one.

The one thing everyone in the room has in common is that we all only know what we know. We cannot know what we don’t, therefore we don’t have all the answers. We might be knowledgeable in our field, but that’s kind of where it ends. No one is a guru. No one is better than anyone else.

And I think we all need to recognise this. And own it.

“Hello, my name is Britt. Happy to be here, but I don’t have all the answers. Tell me more about your challenges and let’s figure this out.”

That’s kind of my approach to all work. I can’t solve all your problems without help. Neither can you.

I find the ‘fake it until you make it’ way of living a lot more freeing as well. Why pretend you’ve got all the answers when you could approach things with more curiosity and an open mind? It allows for more flexibility and less rigid thinking.

And whenever I’m around someone who gives off an air of arrogance, I feel bad for them, because it must be scary thinking you have it all figured out. To be the one with all the answers. I don’t think it’s honest, and it’s certainly not the responsibility I’d want to take on.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that if everyone took themselves a tad less seriously, we’d all probably be a lot better at our jobs.

And I'd argue the world would be a better place. And there would be fewer cults!