Ever so often a phrase or cliché is brought into circulation that people love to chirp as if they live by it as their raison d’etre. The phrases either originate from a public speaker, a guru of some sort or a song (Jay-Z is good for creating nice one-liners). Phrases such as “30 is the new 20”, or “Work smart not hard” number the many that pop up to result in me rolling my eyes, but none bugs the hell out of me more than “fake it till you make it”. This phrase, while true of hardcore, ambitious people who act and dress the part of the wealthy, is not a reality for most who utter it.

People like this live large the days after payday, they stay up on the latest and greatest and they scoff at those who don’t keep pace with their destructive lifestyle. It works really well too as those on the outside will tend to believe that they are doing something right in order to have what it is they have. The house is huge, the car is German luxury, the gear is rapper caliber and the attitude is trust-fund baby. The problem however is when you get into their circle and you begin to learn what it is they do have, you almost feel sorry for them because the façade is so heavy that it has become like a lifelong chain they have to wear.

When the economy collapsed with the Real Estate gold rush, a lot of people lost their shirts overnight. I saw people who were once splurging on steaks and wine at the local Ruth’s Chris now checking the taxes on a ham sandwich. Fakers who had it all figured out were now bemoaning the plight of being without and people who suckered others into homes now unable to keep up with the lifestyles they had quickly adopted. Why is it so painful to make it when you make it, or fake it if you’re damn near making it? I’ll tell you why, most people who do “make it” do so because there time is spent on the task at hand while you fakers are out showing off borrowed assets.

The Millionaire Next Door is a good book to check out for a decent perspective on reality versus illusion. Reading it answered my question as to why the most affluent of my clientele looked like regular roofers and drove older model trucks. It explained why the people running and hiding when it came time to pay their invoices were the ones who pulled up to our meeting in German luxury, talking big game and sporting the finest vines. Fakers waste everyone’s time including their own. They are dirty peacocks strutting and spreading themselves in order to earn the accolades of those who put iron to fire and forged something useful. They are loud, they scream out clichés whilst laughing at your modest sports car. They Fake it till they make it, but the sad thing is they never do.

Know any fakers destined for nowhere-ville? I sure as hell do, please stay classy people.

Written by Greg Dragon on Monday, April 19, 2010 

Filed under Money and Business, People are Strange
Tagged with jay z, losers, millionaire next door, wine