It’s OK to Fake It

Time and time again we, as students in entrepreneurship, hear that creativity takes time, practice, and discipline. If you’ve been trying and still aren’t seeing results, keep reading to see how I was able to do it on my own, solely based off the concepts I learned in ESP 103. Before I reveal my method on how to find the sweet spot of creativity, you need to accept and acknowledge some basic guidelines:

First and foremost, you have to want it. If you’re under the impression that solely doing what is asked for the class without administering changes in your personal life, you’re never going to truly grasp it to receive the benefits.

Secondly, it’s a mindset, and it needs to be acknowledged as one. Meaning you must actively use the skills and concepts from class in every situation, regardless of who’s watching.

And lastly (although I could go on with hundreds more), keep in mind that you likely aren’t going to get praise or acknowledgement for your noble, creative insights. It’s important to accept this from the get-go, along with acknowledging that you will get better in time if you stick to these basic principles.

So, how did I go about this in the past 5 semesters I’ve not had an ESP class on my schedule? I faked confidence until it became my reality. I didn’t know what a VOJ was or how to silence it, so I put on a 24/7 façade of confidence, especially leaning into it in situations I knew could end in crashing and burning (i.e. taking risks). Believe it or not, the hardest part is getting over the “what if ____ happens” hump. From there it’s downhill. Eventually, you’ll stop thinking about it and confidence will become inherent. That’s the sweet spot.

By: Megan Laliberte 

Year: Senior

Major: Finance

Hometown: Canton, OH

Fun Fact: I did musical theatre all throughout high school!