“There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them.” – Charles Caleb Colton

Are you practicing career fraud?

Continuing the self-examination from the first installment (see it by clicking). 

Second Installment

In the last newsletter, I distinguished a career condition I am discerning to better assist high functioning executives who might be considered the top professionals in what they do.

I proposed that there could be a state in which someone may knowingly or unknowingly present the symptoms of being a “career fraud.”

There were several comments and personal stories that came in after that first installment.

Hopefully, this second installment can bring even more clarity.

Several responded that they suspect certain individuals in their lives as demonstrating that condition. (Again, see the full description here.) And some respondents even boldly self-identified. It’s one thing to take inventory for others, but a major self-gift to take your own.

Many readers saw that, as Walt Kelly’s comic strip character Pogo once declared, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

“But,” you may say, “these folks can’t be declared as frauds! After all, they make a really good living, they’re obviously being of service and making a difference, otherwise they wouldn’t be getting the accolades, promotions and/or rewards.”

OR

“It’s not right or proper to call someone who is simply doing WELL what they need to do to make a living a fraud. We should all be so blessed to be so good at something that we might not necessarily prefer to be doing.”

OR

“It’s a little airy-fairy, isn’t it, to claim that just because someone has the discipline and chops to do what they gotta do – and be good at it, mind you – that they are a sell-out or in some way deceptive.”

Hmmm. Maybe some subconsciousnesses got a bit triggered?

Look, I hear you. And I never proposed that anyone is wrong or bad. As a matter of fact, those who may self-identify in this way are likely very deferential and service-first oriented. And clearly, through the eyes of “success,” they are the winners.

Yet, to question a bit beyond a morality-based interpretation of the word “fraud,” let’s actually look at what it means.

fraud (noun)

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery:
3. any deception, trickery, or humbug:
4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

This definition sounds ethically disdainful, so who would willingly raise their hand in admission to being such a “nasty” person?

To be clear: nobody is wrong or nasty to others, nor even appears that way!

Yet, if we apply some of the words used here such as “deceit,” “trickery” or “breach of confidence” in terms of one’s relationship to oneself, then self-admission, at a minimum, may support coming to terms with oneself.

And remember: this entire self-exploration, if you accepted my invitation in the first installment, is only for your own determination because, for sure, you’re showing up GREAT for everyone else.

The question is: How are you showing up for you?

If you know you’ve grown damn good, damn respected and damn well compensated and/or lauded for what you do but you honestly grew tired of it long ago, yet you stay put for one or more of a slew of reasons (mostly based in fear), then what kind of a relationship is it that you’ve formed with your Self?

Deceiving?

Trickery?

Breach of confidence (of care for your Self)?

If this idea rankles you so much that you feel the need to respond, I invite you to. Again, I appreciate all the empirical research and perspectives I’m able to gain.

And, if it rankles you in a more subtle way that sometimes happens when a mirror is held up to us, I also appreciate your input around your particular identification with these ideas.

We will discuss this and more on the upcoming CareerGuy Purpose & Passion Breakout next week. I invite you to attend as we gain clarity on moving from fear to fulfillment for senior executives willing to explore.

The CareerGuy Passion & Purpose Breakout!

Think differently, play better.

Radically,

Darrell

CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

P.S. Stay tuned for more exploration in the next newsletter.

“The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one’s self.”  – Pearl Bailey

The post Mar 20, 2025 – JOLT – Career Fraud Explored: Part 2 appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

“Our ability to manufacture fraud now exceeds our ability to detect it.” – Al Pacino

Are you practicing career fraud?

An interesting question to ponder. Maybe worth a few minutes of self-examination?

First Installment

Let’s explore what career fraudulence is not, and then consider what it might be.

What it’s not is a strikingly similar concept, but from a different angle and with a different result: the imposter syndrome. Dr. Pauline Ross’ coining of that term in 1985 launched a slew of books, spin-offs and trainings.

Harvard Business Review defines “imposter syndrome” as:

“a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Impostors’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence. They seem unable to internalize their accomplishments, however successful they are in their field. High-achieving, highly successful people often suffer, so impostor syndrome doesn’t equate with low self-esteem or a lack of self-confidence.”

The results of imposter syndrome often express through anxiety, depression and cynicism in the individual which, as it impacts the workplace, can foster less risk-taking, isolation and burnout. Enormously costly to an organization! No wonder many leading companies address this condition outright through internal training and development programs.

Now, let’s explore what career fraudulence might be. Consider the following working definition of career fraud and the results it may portend:

“a self-determined condition of finding oneself succeeding along a particular career path and even demonstrating exceptional talent in a field, often lauded, positioned well and held in high regard, with the associated increases in stature, status and wealth generally accompanying standard concepts of success, yet possessing strongly convicted internal beliefs or even a heartfelt knowing that this work is not in alignment with ‘who you really are.’”

While the results of this particular “syndrome” are of little cost to the organization – because, after all, the individual is a rockstar in the eyes of the company, fellow executives, stockholders, investors, etc. – the cost to the individual can be enormous and result in many lost years of enjoying authentic career and life satisfaction reflective of one’s true self. The correlated costs in terms of mental, emotional, and physical health, well-being and longevity can only be conjectured until deeper research occurs. But one can imagine it to be huge.

How does one assess if they are, in fact, a career fraud?

Let’s agree upfront that it won’t be a simple litmus test. Remember, these folks are so buoyed up in support of their less authentic exterior – and, one might even say, locked into it – that to consider themselves as inauthentic would require their willingness to do an honest double take on themselves and a fearless moral inventory to inquire beneath the shiny objects of proof to the contrary. It’s possible that one can be damn good and still trapped.

Yet, if the idea itself grabs the attention, it may be a sign that there’s gold in them thar hills. If the “true” fits. . .

More to come on this as I begin to design such an assessment.

But in the meantime, if this brought up smoke and you’d like to determine if there’s actual fire, do a little exploration and journaling around:

• What was it you first wanted to do in life, and how did that get expressed, resolved, or rationalized away?
   
• Have you ever considered, no matter how positioned or polished you are in your current career, that there might be something reflecting a truer expression of you?

• If there were an actual shift in career path that would be more in congruence with the real you, what are the very valid reasons why you could never attempt to make that shift? And what are the very valid reasons why you couldn’t afford not to? Compare.

No leading of the witnesses here. And there’s no black and white. As in all things, there are many shades of grey. Yet, even if you come out of this little exercise a tad more clear that you may be missing the road less travelled of full-Self career expression, isn’t it worth the inquiry?

I’d really love to hear what you see for yourself, so please follow up with me personally. Just beginning this research in earnest, I’d highly appreciate your empirical input.

And if this triggered a sliver of questioning of your particular career lot in life, I invite you to join the CareerGuy Executive Passion & Purpose Breakout on March 27, where we will explore a bit deeper.

The CareerGuy Passion & Purpose Breakout!

Think differently, play better.

Radically,

Darrell

CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

P.S. Watch out for the Second Installment of this inquiry in the next newsletter.

“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.”  – Sophocles

The post February 27, 2025 – JOLT – Are you practicing career fraud? appeared first on CareerGuy.com.