Comments on: Ariel Gross Guest Post: ‘I Feel Like a Fraud and So Can You!’

By: The Dude

The Dude — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:06:56 +0000

Actually you are a fraud. Because someone named Mike Taylor wrote this article.

By: Ariel

Ariel — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:23:34 +0000

Heh! Aaron. I love it.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Glad you guys liked the article.

By: Clif

Clif — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:53:48 +0000

Great insight and advice, Ariel!

By: Aaron C. Hanson

Aaron C. Hanson — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:44:31 +0000

That’s it Ariel, after reading this article I am naming my new garage band “The Finger Pulls” so that in the future some fan can tell me that my music really stinks…

By: Tom Todia

Tom Todia — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:47:02 +0000

Great approach to an important topic Ariel! I often tell my students that nothing is ever really done, and we are rarely ever completely satisfied with anything that we create. Its fuel for our fire, and when you mix that with determination and a curious desire to always learn new things, well thats when our art form is at its best. Thanks for sharing, your article will be required reading.

By: Nathan Moody

Nathan Moody — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:42:49 +0000

Extremely well written article about an uncomfortable topic. This article is powerful because it is applicable to anyone of a creative temperament in any industry, even beyond sound.

Finding that balance between acknowledging one’s skill and the humility of realizing what one doesn’t know is incredibly hard. Staying humble without falling into a victim mentality is a challenge. I think most employers and collaborators, however, will take self-effacement over ego any day.

As other commenters have said: Embrace your strengths, acknowledge your weaknesses, and look at what you don’t know as a call to action for continuous learning. Embrace badassery but stay humble! :-)

By: Luca Fusi

Luca Fusi — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:59:53 +0000

Ariel, great article. This hit close to home. Very cool to see this perspective can make a home even within the fully employed, GDC-speaking ranks of the industry.

And I agree with Lee — the things you find relatively straightforward to do (or feel like you intuitively grasp) are not always so for everyone else, so it’s good to acknowledge that and give yourself a little pat on the back once in a while. Everyone has their talents!

Cheers and thanks for the article.

By: Lee Banyard

Lee Banyard — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:49:31 +0000

I think a lot of that ‘fraudulent’ feeling – and I’ve had it myself, undoubtedly – is borne from taking for granted what you know. When you do that it, it so easily feels like you know very little, and for my part it feels like I may just bore others with what I know. It’s not self-hatred, more just near-painful self-familiarity! :)