Why we make silly mistakes

Why do smart people keep making the same mistakes?

It’s not because they’re careless. Not because they’re flaky. But because the hardwiring in their brain’s running the show.

Most of the time, you sail through life. You know your craft. Your standards are high. Then one tiny mistake derails your momentum:

• A typo in your report title

• You arrive somewhere to find it’s closed

• You miss a vital detail buried in the instructions

Annoying? Yes. Frustrating? Yes. Fixable? Definitely.

Because every mistake is a clue - a diagnostic breadcrumb showing how your brain processes information.

Here’s the simple version.

Two ways of thinking

Some people (let’s call them A-types) understand the world through facts and details.
Others (we’ll call them Z-types) grasp things through patterns and the big picture.

Give them a jigsaw:

• A-types sort every piece

• Z-types look at the box for the overall picture

Both are valid. Both are useful. And both come with blind spots.

The blind spots

A-type

• Focus: details, data, precision

• Approach: sequential - a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k,

• Blind spot: struggles to form an opinion without every piece of information

Z-type

• Focus: patterns, concepts, possibilities

• Approach: non-linear- a, d, x, k, o....... f, b...... x, b, p...

• Blind spot: details feel draining, so things get missed

The trick isn’t to judge yourself. It’s an opportunity to notice the pattern.

Quick scenarios

When a news story breaks:

• A: You read everything from a trusted source

  • Blind spot: can become one-sided

• Z: You scan the broad headlines

  • Blind spot: reliability is hit-and-miss

When writing a report:

• A: You gather all the data, then shape your point

  • Blind spot: you can drown people in facts

• Z: You start with your conclusion, then fill the gaps

  • Blind spot: those gaps may stay open

So… which are you?

If you’re unsure, look at the moments that upset your day. The pattern is always hiding in the mistake.

That’s the key to self-awareness: understanding your wiring so that you waste less energy, avoid predictable errors and navigate life with a lot more ease.

If you’re tired of blind spots tripping you up, fix the source code. Insider Intel is my 1:1 diagnostic session that shows you exactly how your brain is wired, and how to use that wiring to your advantage.

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The 5 introvert qualities you share with James Bond

You and James Bond are more similar than you think.

He may be an international man of mystery, but his behaviour consistently paints him as an introvert, which set him up perfectly as a spy. How many of the following also describe you?

1 Bond is happy in his own company.

In his time away from work, we catch glimpses of him in secluded locations fishing or hiking, and is more than happy to dine alone.

He seems to shun people when he needs to relax. He visibly resents interruptions to his peace and quiet, and regularly dares to go off-grid, much to the annoyance of M back in London. 

How closely does this resemble you?

2 Bond is a closed book.

He's been around a long time but we know very little about his life away outside MI6, and it's only in the Daniel Craig years that more is revealed about him. Likewise, introverts are slow to share personal details about themselves. They operate on a 'needs to know' basis and strangers need to prove they are worthy of this privilege before an introvert starts to open up to them. This allows Bond to live with both freedom and privacy.

Does this sound like how you lead your life?

3 James Bond works best alone.

Autonomy allows him to execute his mission in the most unconventional way. His uses his high degree of self-knowledge to take risks that truly test the boundaries of what's acceptable in polite society. Bond gets away with as he knows when to turn on the charm and act as if everything's normal - something that anyone can learn.

Occasionally 007 collaborates with a fellow agent eg Pam Bouvier, René Mathis, Felix Leiter), for short periods to achieve a specific goal.

Is this how you prefer to work given a choice?

4 Bond lives without the need for validation from others. This is liberating as all introverts know. It also makes them slightly dangerous as they are self-contained and need little from others. They are immune to charlatans and can spot an imposter on first sight, as frequently demonstrated by 007. Extroverts don't get this and may come to the conclusion that introverts are simply odd. In extrovert world, validation is common currency: everyone's chasing it. But for the reasons listed before, even this doesn't bother introverts!

Have you experienced this before?

5 Whatever's going on inside, Bond comes across as cool, calm and collected.

Bond maintains his composure even in the most challenging situations, whether it be hanging off a train or being tied to a chair slowly flooding with water. He knows that panicking is a waste of precious energy and achieves nothing.

introverts have an automatic advantage here. Unlike extroverts who do their thinking out loud, introverts have control over their thoughts, and release only carefully considered ideas into the open. keep their thoughts in their heaMasking fear and nerves is a clear introvert advantage.

If this is a quality you’re keen on refining, Cool Head Blueprint is now launched and you can view the first lesson for free. Use code CHB-20-251212 for 20% off until midnight on 12 December 2025.

Why you need to procrastinate more

It's time procrastination got a rebrand.

For too long it's been seen as something bad, something to be avoided. But no one talks about its positive qualities.

We’ve been conditioned into being constantly busy. Or being seen as busy. After all, nobody wants to be considered lazy.

But our survival as a human race is due to our ability to procrastinate. Our ancestors learned to conserve their energy as they never knew where their next meal would come from. They delayed springing into action as much as possible.

So much so that humans literally evolved to have ‘lazy bones’.

But in this productivity-obsessed world, people often view procrastination as an empty practice: the lights are on but no-one’s home. In reality, procrastination - delaying action - can be an opportunity for a whole lot of thinking, pondering and contemplation that often gets missed:

• Which is the best strategy to follow?

• What are the possible pros and cons of each one?

• What resources are needed? 

• What are we taking for granted?

• What don’t we know?

There’s much to be said for doing the ‘heavy thinking’ beforehand rather rushing into action.

In the 21st century, we’ve become addicted to busy-ness and productivity. An industry of planners, alerts and morning routines has emerged to coax into believing we can squeeze 27 hours into a 24-hour day.

Yet despite modern technology, we have less free time than ever before. Our quality of life suffers as a result.

Procrastination could be the solution. 

For many it already is. Look how it adds quality to a project:

• Spending time assessing different strategies means being able to tweak your approach should the commercial environment changes.  

• Perusing the different products available leads to an awareness of available alternatives should you need to change suppliers

• Challenging yourself to identify assumptions can help you identify potential pitfalls down the road.

And all achieved when the brain is calm and open-minded, rather than clouded with panic. 

But it also depends on your personality and how your relate to time. Some people like to be organised, develop a list and get on with the job straight away. Others will instinctively consider their options (after an initial flurry of activity) and only commit to action once the deadline is looming over the horizon.

Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Knowing which style you favour helps you to recognise blindspots and how to overcome them:

• If you prefer an organised approach, you’ll enjoy setting out a plan of action, ticking steps off as you go. You may come unstuck if something major happens and you suddenly need to change tack overnight.

• If you’re more spontaneous, you know that you’ll always get the job done, even if it means burning the midnight oil towards the end. This is fine if you’re working solo. In a team setting, you need to proactively communicate to maintain morale and momentum.

In an ideal world, you’d have both types on a team. One to push to get the job done, and the other to constantly contribute original alternatives to improve it.

Living in a constant frenzy is unsustainable. Understanding your personality type and how you prefer to approach life helps you identify your blindspots and work more effectively.

If you’re interested in finding out more about your strengths and blindspots, consider booking yourself onto Insider Intel, our 1:1 personality diagnostic. research shows that people with increased self-awareness live more fulfilling lives and earn more than their peers. Until 7 December, you can get $200 off with the code BFINTEL200.

Why you’re blind to your natural talents

Conversations about talent tend to be pretty one-sided.

When asked to describe the talents of a close colleague, you’ll happily reel off 2 or 3 of their natural qualities. But when the question is turned on you, you’re less likely to respond so readily.

That’s because we are blind to our unique talents.

Let’s agree that a talent is something that comes naturally and easily. We are quick to spot them in others, but in ourselves, we assume that because we find them easy, everyone else must be the same. A kind of talent blindness.

But then we get frustrated when others underperform that skill, even though we don’t value it ourselves. Schrödinger's talent if you will. or more likely it’s a superpower?

But it’s important to identify these elusive qualities as they set us apart. 

When we exercise said talents, it requires minimum effort. When we build a life where we spend more time doing what comes naturally, life is more fulfilling life. Research shows that we even live longer.

Win-win all around.

So let’s take a moment to pinpoint these superpowers so you wield them to your advantage.

FIND YOUR S-U-P-E-R POWER

[S] SATISFYING

What activities or tasks do you find rewarding? What's most satisfying to you?

[U] URGE

What tasks do you find hard to resist?

[P] PARTICULAR

What tasks should be done a particular way? Which tasks grate on you when they’re not done properly?

[E] EASY

What do you find easy? What jobs requite little effort?

[R] RELISH

What do you relish doing? What do you look forward to doing?

How does your s-u-p-e-r power impact other areas?

EXAMPLE #1 - You read quickly.

• This means you consume information rapidly, which means…

• You can research information quickly, which means…

• You can present a position on a new topic in little time…

• Or you are always the most prepared person in the meeting, which makes you knowledgeable and authoritative

• Or you can produce a comprehensive business proposal

EXAMPLE #2 – You love the buzz of working to a deadline.

• You spring into action when the deadline is on the horizon

• This means you excel at shorter-term assignments when deadlines come around more frequently

• You work well in crises when you have to think on your feet & time is of the essence

• You enjoy working independently

• You enjoy the autonomy of making decisions on the hoof

EXAMPLE #3 - You spot mistakes at 20 paces

• You guarantee a level of quality that others cannot

• An underrated skill, you can ensure that all external documentation is fault-free 

• This cements your company’s reputation & helps build trust

• Others depend on you to shield them from potential humiliation

• When attention is poor, people trust yours

And finally, as an introvert, how can you consciously promote your superpowers to others?

• Who should know about your superpower?

• How could you communicate it to them?

• What phrases could you use to highlight these qualities?

• How can you weave it into online bios i.e. social media, LinkedIn?

• What good marketing practices could you steal from others?

Food for thought! Remember to look out instances when you are frustrated with others. Their incompetence highlights something you naturally find easy. Explore what’s prompting this irritation to unlock a potential superpower.

If you want to discover more about your natural talents & strengths, consider booking an Insider Intel session. Use code BFINTEL200 to secure $200.

How eye rolls lead to greater self-knowledge

If you've never paid attention to your eye rolls, this is your invitation to start.... for you're likely to gain insights into your personality you won't learn elsewhere.

An eye roll is like a sneeze. It lives under the skin and surfaces only when an irritant - pepper, dust or someone annoying - is close by.

It's beyond your control.

It's dormant most of the time. But when something touches a nerve, your eyes will lurch upwards before you realise.

So what does that teach me about myself?

Your annoyance will reveal one of the following:

• That you perform a skill better

• A value you hold dear has been compromised

• A personality clash

Work out which it is, and the answer will inform how to use that information.

• Skill

• Coach that person to perform to your standard.

• Take a second to appreciate how skilled you’ve become, and the high standards you’ve achieved and expect from others.

• Recognise you may have to learn to be patient when working with people less proficient than you.

• Value / Belief

• Stand up for yourself. If you allow them to disregard your values or beliefs once, they’ll do it again.

• Explain why this is important to you. Use the opportunity to hone your argument.

• Find a way to incorporate this value or belief into your personal brand.

• Personality traits

• Describe how this personality trait’s frustrating you. How would you describe your opposite personality trait?

• Learn how to give constructive feedback if there is a valid problem e.g. team member is constantly late to meetings.

• it it’s not a problem, take a deep breath and let it pass. Everyone is different.

Conclusion: Your eye rolls are a catalyst to increasing your self-knowledge and your capacity to fire on all cylinders. 

Challenge: Your challenge is catch yourself when you find yourself prompted to eye roll.

Interested in learning more about yourself? Use Black Friday code BFINTEL200 for $200 off* INSIDER INTEL.

(*Code can be used to book any session but must be used by 23.59 on 7 Dec 2025 to secure this offer.)