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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