I don't mind saying that I'm unapologetically unprofessional, and everyone I've worked for hates me (except for the owner at my first job, since I was so motivated back then, though he still hates me for leaving).
I don't see it as a possibility that I will ever be promoted, and I think, at some point, as I work a white collar job (software dev), it may eventually get questioned in interviews as to why I have never been made architect, manager, team lead, or something like that. Or even if that's not the case, I may still want to just to get paid more.
Would it work if I just pretended I'm already a manager with the fake references, and tried to get hired as one?