Think of it like this. The whole concept of dream control is expectation: I expect I can fly, or be rich, or put my finger through my hand or breathe with my nose shut. Therefore, a RC can make is seem like you are awake, in your dream just like when you are awake if you have that kind of attitude. As a rule of thumb, when you do a RC awake, you should always expect, without a shadow of a doubt, expect to fail a RC as if you were actually in a dream, even if you are awake. That expectation will follow into your dreams, where it is more crucial to your own needs, to fail.