Playing One On TV

You could get “playing one on TV confused with “fake it till you make it.”

They are similar, but not the same. 

For example, I’m an introvert, but I can play the role of extrovert for a bounded period of time. I can do the networking meeting. I can stand in front of the room. I can make small talk at the cocktail party. 

I’m not faking anything. I’m playing the role. 

The extroverted part of myself is down in there. He just doesn’t run most of my day. So I tap into him when I need to.

There’s a difference between pretending to be something you’re not and stepping into a version of yourself that already exists, even if it’s not your default mode.

It’s not deceit. Its range. It’s not inauthentic. Its intention. 

Knowing you can step into a role, deliver, and then step out again is a skill. And like any real skill, it gets better with time, repetition, and reflection. The more you do it, the easier it becomes to access that part of yourself when it matters most. 

It’s not about faking. It’s about stretching. 

It’s about accessing the full range of who you already are.