Silicone Valley takes the phrase “fake it till you make it” to a new level. When I first came here, I felt wrought with anxiety every time I spoke to someone; the people were so put together, and used jargon that made their conversations seem like they were beyond my understanding.
Along the way, though, a funny thing happened: I became one of those douchebags. I didn’t even realize it until a friend called me out (thank God for friends like that). Once you speak the language, though, you start to realize everyone is full of it. When you think about the substance of what someone is saying, and can only really find recycled ideas masked in fancy language, that’s bad. What’s scarier is that we all listen to these people. We use them as our compass when choosing a significant other, investing, making career decisions. But most of these people don’t know what they’re talking about.
I get a few calls from reporters asking about how it feels to be an “up and coming female entrepreneur”. Well, silly reporter, I feel like a soy hot dog. I may look alright, but if you know a real hot dog, you know this is not the real deal. Second reporter calls, and wants to know how women can better balance their personal and professional lives. After the fourth reporter called, I realized I stumbled into this territory where I am somehow an expert on women starting businesses. In what backwards universe am I allowed to preach about balance?
But the fascinating part is that this is how it happens – this is how people get to be “experts”. Once a few people call you that word, you start to believe it. Well, before my head swells up too much, I want to try to remember that anything I say in these interviews makes me a soy hot dog. I’ll say all the right things, make my hair and clothes so that I look presentable, but for the record, I’m soy, and ain’t nobody got time for that.
wrapmeinbacon 