Vanessa Van Edwards warns against "fake it till you make it" at networking events. Telling yourself to be fake primes you for inauthentic interactions and wastes chances at meaningful relationships. If you're not feeling it, skip the event instead of forcing yourself into a fake mode.
If you're trying to psych yourself up for a vet by saying fake it till you make it, you're telling yourself to be fake. And you and I both know that when you come across someone who's like, hi, it's so good to meet you. Oh my God, love your earring, you can just smell it, sense it, taste it, and you don't want to be around that person. So if you're setting yourself up to be fake, it's almost impossible for you to get into authentic, real, deep connecting discussions and relationships because you've primed yourself for it. So I would say, before you walk into event, if you're not feeling it, can you say no? Saying no is always an option. It is not worth going to a networking event or a party if you are having a bad day. Because every time you interact with someone, that could be an opportunity, could be an opportunity to meet the love of your life. And if you go into that thinking that you're going to fake it, you're not only wasting the opportunity, but you're lying to yourself about the realness that you could bring to that situation.
