What do Tommy Hilfiger, Warby Parker, and a viral TikTok account have in common? In this episode of Vox & Coin, Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek and Dave Valentine tackle the age-old business question: Can you fake it till you make it?

From puffing up early client rosters to pulling all-nighters for projects they had no idea how to complete, Jake and Dave share raw stories of when they stretched the truth—and how it shaped their businesses. They also break down:

The Tommy Hilfiger billboard stunt that launched a fashion empire overnight
How Warby Parker scaled demand before solving logistics
The Kickstarter campaign that raised $1.8 million with no plan in place
Why “calling the future into the present” can be a growth strategy
Jake’s accidental TikTok growth hack that turned into real clients
The fine line between projecting confidence and flat-out lying
When it’s smarter to lean on authenticity instead of pretending

Plus: Lessons from Elon Musk, Gary Vee, and even taco trucks on when to project bigger than you are—and when to just own your size.

🎯 Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or side-hustler with big dreams, this episode unpacks the psychology, strategy, and pitfalls of “faking it” on your way to the top.

🔔 Subscribe for more marketing hot takes, business breakdowns, and legendary brand stories.

📣 Connect with us:
Jake “The Wizard” Tlapek on TikTok: @jakethewizard
Dave Valentine: @realdeval on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and more.

📡 Also check out our other shows:
Unicorn Campaigns – Real success stories from real brands
The Last Drop – Creative business strategy meets barstool banter