Whatever the opposite of imposter syndrome is, this guy has it.
A clip of Rick Rubin, a legendary nine-time Grammy award-winning producer, recently aired in an episode of 60 Minutes and is becoming a meme for the kind of folks who make confident decisions without having the skills to back them up.
In the clip, Journalist Anderson Cooper asks Rubin a series of questions to help unravel the creative process behind Rubin’s success as a music producer. But as it turns out, he doesn’t really have one.
“Do you play instruments?” Cooper asks. “Barely,” Rubin says.
“Do you know how work a soundboard?” Cooper probes again. “No. I have no technical ability,” Rubin adds. “And I know nothing about music.”
So what does this man know? Well, apparently it’s as simple as “I know what I like and what I don’t like, and I’m decisive about what I like and what I don’t like.”
Finally, Cooper asks what we’re all thinking. “So, what are you being paid for?”
And there it was. “The confidence that I have in my taste and my ability to express what I feel has proven helpful for artists.”
I am torn. On the one hand, Rubin is undoubtedly one of the most successful and renowned music producers of all time. His production discography is an endless list of musical legends, including the Beastie Boys, Metallica, Johnny Cash, and Adele.
On the other hand, what the hell? The man just ‘likes what he likes’, and that’s it?
Granted, Rubin could low-key be trolling, here. He started producing music back in high school and founded the multinational record label Def Jam in his college dorm. He’s got decades of music history and culture stashed away in his brain to inform what he likes and doesn’t like about the music he produces.
The guy clearly knows what he’s doing. And downplaying his own knowledge and experience just makes his unwavering confidence seem even more impressive — like doing an introductory language course when you’re already fluent. Be for real, Rick!
But still: the ability to go forth in life thinking you have no real skills, yet be utterly confident in your decisions? Where are all the white men learning this, and isn’t it time you shared with the rest of the class?
Watch the interview snippet below.
Women: this is your reminder to have zero imposter syndrome. Not saying what Rick is saying is wrong, just saying you’re right. pic.twitter.com/AwFyGLPFI8
— Arlan
(@ArlanWasHere) January 17, 2023
The post Rick Rubin Has The Opposite Of Imposter Syndrome In This Newly Memed Interview appeared first on Junkee.
