What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?

Every industry has its myths—stories insiders repeat until they sound like truth. But behind the slogans and the spin are unspoken (and sometimes unnoticed) realities – we asked some of the wisest folks we know to share what lies they’ve noticed in their industries.

Pantea Bionki

That it’s all as rosy and effortless as it looks. People often think you just fluff a few pillows and everything falls into place, but that’s far from reality. Behind every beautifully staged home, there are countless hours of hard work and preparation. Read more>>

Averie Floyd

The fashion industry tells itself that we have to produce more new things all the time, as fast as possible. It’s something I constantly challenge as a company that creates new products in partnership with artisans in Latin America. I believe that fashion is a form of self expression and an art form. I believe strongly that what makes us human is to create. Read more>>

Kris Figueroa

One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that clout equals talent. Too many people think followers, blue checks, or viral moments define success — but that’s surface-level. Real longevity in this game comes from connection, consistency, and character. Another lie is that you have to fit a certain image or play a certain lane to make it. Read more>>

Anita Vita, RN

One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that to care deeply, we must also sacrifice ourselves. Nurses are taught — implicitly and explicitly — that our value is measured by how much we can give, how long we can endure, and how well we can keep going even when we’re exhausted. Read more>>

Zimran Jacob

The greatest lie I was told about the film and TV industry is that it was a pure meritocracy. While that is obviously false in the age of nepo babies (who have a 25% higher chance of success if they are related to someone influential in the industry), I did not realize it was false. Read more>>

Brayden Hade

There are two damaging lies our industry tells itself. The first is that shouting a message is more effective than earning an argument. And the second is that an intense focus on youth is a sustainable future for the arts. On the first lie: The power of theatre, since its inception, has been persuasion, not preaching. Read more>>

Poohnana

That the plus size industry is one big supportive inclusive community. To be honest I love my community but they can be very divided depending on your size of plus size you are. Thats why I created my brand SheIsPlusSizeBeauty because we’re not just the one ideal look that the beauty industry only like to portray all the time. Read more>>