Fake It ‘Til You Make It—and Other Surprisingly Simple Tech Hacks
I still remember my first time merging onto 501 as a brand-new driver. I was terrified — and sitting next to me, my instructor seemed far too calm about what I was about to do.He told me two things I’ve never forgotten. The first was simple: “If you’re going to merge, just do it. Don’t hesitate.” But the second was the line that really changed my perspective: “No one knows you’re a new driver. They assume you know what you’re doing.”
It was a simple truth, but it felt profound. Once I was out of driving school, there would be nothing to signal to other drivers that I was still figuring it out. So, I had to act like I belonged.
That’s when I adopted my own version of the “fake it ’til you make it” mindset. I practiced, encouraged myself, and little by little gained confidence. Eventually, I merged onto 501 alone, tackled “Malfunction Junction” in Columbia and even passed the driving course at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
Like Rome, confidence wasn’t built in a day. Celebrating small wins is what makes the big milestones possible. The same is true when we face new technology. What feels intimidating or anxiety-inducing today can become the very thing that launches us into greater confidence and growth tomorrow.
From my own experiences with technology — from podcasting to content design to writing on different platforms — I’ve developed a few guiding principles that help me approach new tools with less fear and more curiosity.
- Forge Your Own Path: Let’s get this straight: your experience won’t look exactly like mine — or anyone else’s. We each bring our own background, habits and comfort levels to the table — technology table included. Your past experiences shape how you approach new tools, whether it’s streaming on HTC TV MAX or navigating Google Maps in a new city. That’s why it’s so important not to compare your learning curve to someone else’s. Forge your own path, experiment and find the steps that work for you.
- Ask The Questions: I get it. Asking questions can feel like admitting you don’t know what you’re doing. But here’s the truth: as both a fitness trainer and a corporate trainer at HTC, I love when people ask questions. Why? Because it shows engagement, effort and a desire to grow. Most trainers would agree; we want you to be curious, to ask, to seek feedback and to keep learning. Asking questions is never a sign of weakness, it’s a sign you care.
- Keep Going: In running, we call the moment we think we can’t go any further in a distance run “the wall”. When we’re learning something new, it’s easy to hit a “wall” — that point where it feels like we’ve maxed out our capacity and can’t absorb another thing. Frustration creeps in and we’re tempted to throw in the towel. But here’s the good news: walls can be climbed, detours can be rerouted, focus can be regained. So even when the process feels slow or discouraging, keep trying. Keep going. There is always a finish line, even if you can’t see it yet.
- Evolve Your Expectations: The mountain you’re facing today could be the steppingstone you stand on tomorrow. As you develop your skills, let your expectations evolve with you. When you’re just starting out, keep things simple and attainable — like learning to merge onto 501 as a new driver or figuring out how to make a remote bank deposit. But once you get some experience under your belt, you can push yourself further, try new features, and take on bigger challenges. That’s how growth happens. One step at a time.
