The idea of looking successful before getting there is something that has become a norm in our society these days, and it is no longer frowned upon the way people usually did many years ago.
The idea of faking it till you make it is not so bad as long as one does not overdo it by going to the extreme with a fake lifestyle, such as borrowing money just for mere show-off and not necessarily targeting something beneficial with the lifestyle. This type is seen on social media these days, and with this, it is easy to know who is faking it without specific targets. Emphasis on the specific targets, please.
On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with someone primarily adding a little "steeze" to their lifestyle to catch up and look presentable. This is because these days, to attain certain heights, one needs to measure up, and that is what we call packaging. Countless times, people have come to my workplace to suggest a lot of things that need to be put in place in order for my space to look more attractive, thereby attracting more customers.
"Do you know how much these things will cost? The money I'm making currently is not enough to establish all these things you're suggesting, and also, I think I might run at a loss if I go ahead to implement these suggestions." I would also smile and say these to them, but they would go ahead to lecture me on the importance of packaging, which I already knew, but found it hard to adapt to that level that was being recommended at that particular moment. I have come across many small business ventures that are purely existing in a fake business life. They've "packaged" the business so loudly, and deep down, they don't make any profit from it. Although they may get to reap the fruits of "faking it" later on, it may take a long time, and who knows, they may fall out before they start reaping the rewards of the efforts put in.
In summary, faking it or "packaging" one's life when someone's life is not yet there is not a bad approach. The problem is when one does it excessively and also goes beyond their available resources. Let the "faking" be minimal.
Thanks for reading.