From Bogeys to Blown Fuses: Navigating Self-Doubt [E239]
Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and Autel
In this episode, Matt starts on the golf course and ends up right back in the service bay, because apparently, even a decent round of golf can turn into a cognitive psychology lesson.
After shooting a personally strong nine-hole score, Matt catches himself doing what many technical and mechanical specialists do every day: ignoring the accomplishment and obsessing over the shots, tests, tools, or decisions that could have been better. That leads into a discussion of discounting the positive, upward counterfactual thinking, hindsight bias, expert bias, and the curse of knowledge.
The point is not to stop improving. The point is to stop rewriting reality after the fact. A two-hour intermittent short diagnosis may feel “obvious” once the problem is found, but it was not obvious when the vehicle came in. The same applies to repairs, removals, procedures, and every job where experience only becomes obvious after you earn it.
Matt also closes with some listener-driven Mount Rushmore talk, including an all-time basketball starting five featuring Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, LeBron James, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Key Topics
- Why a good result can still feel disappointing when you focus only on what could have gone better
- The difference between honest reflection and beating yourself into the ground
- Discounting the positive and how it shows up in diagnostics
- Upward counterfactual thinking: “If only I had done this sooner…”
- Hindsight bias in the shop after the failure is already found
- Why “that was obvious” is usually only true after the fact
- How technical specialists can learn from a job without erasing the accomplishment
- The danger of judging another specialist’s time after you already know the answer
- Expert bias, the curse of knowledge, and why experience can distort how we evaluate others
- Giving yourself enough credit while still getting better
- Listener messages and future Mount Rushmore-style segments
- Matt’s all-time basketball starting five discussion
Pull Quote Options
“Once you know where the problem was, it starts feeling obvious. But it wasn’t obvious when you started.”
“Why can’t both things be true? That was a good find, and next time I might do it faster.”
“Learning from it does not require running yourself into the ground.”
“Knowing what I knew at the time, that wasn’t bad.”
Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology
Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Visit PicoAuto.com
Thanks to our Partner, Autel
From drivability diagnostics and TPMS service to ADAS and advanced safety systems, Autel helps technicians follow OEM procedures and repair with confidence. Learn more at Autel.com
Contact Information
The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/
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