It helps that it doesn't involve making anything up - it's just a matter of framing the truth in a way that emphasises short term economic benefits rather than appealing to high minded ideals. While I do call myself an idealist, I qualify that with the word "cynical" advisedly. I know how ignorant and foolish I am, and the kinds of decisions I have to make based on manifestly inadequate data, yet the feedback I have received over the years has clearly indicated that I'm actually pretty good at what I do. It seems this kind of "Why are people listening to me?" experience is far from being an isolated one.