Confidently Wrong

My parents called me Gapistan Radio - which translates to one who creates stories just to participate in conversation or simply put, “a rumor-spreader.” Creating such stories isn’t simple - it requires confidence, creativity, and curiosity. Having all three in abundance is a divine combination.

To be clear, I don’t spread rumors, but I also can’t claim complete ignorance about ongoing matters. I participate actively and share my observations in conversations. This trait comes naturally to me. Before the social media era, where people’s mistakes are publicly corrected by their audience, I would answer all questions in oral exams with lightning speed. I knew taking a pause would help me answer better, but my impulses would override that wisdom.

The concept of being Confidently Wrong intrigues me - it completely defines my approach. It has made me reflect on how I unknowingly use incorrect information with complete confidence.

Dunning–Kruger effect

In popular culture, the Dunning–Kruger effect is often misunderstood as a claim about general overconfidence of people with low intelligence instead of specific overconfidence of people unskilled at a particular task.

Apparently, being confidently wrong is a split between confidence vs rightness. I have clear split of confidence levels.

25% of the time is where 90% of my work is done

I believe I am confident and also anxious enough to oscillate between over confident and low on confidence. I approach the situation in a wrong manner and try to respond to it in a collective knowledge I have from various fields of curiousness.

I’m an active seeker who doesn’t abandon situations until they’re resolved or delegated. In conversations, staying quiet is challenging even with incomplete knowledge. Anxiety takes over during the 25% of times when I’m overconfident.

Understanding My Growth

When I joined Amazon, their leadership principle Are Right, A Lot made me pause:

Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.

From Day 1, I wondered: If I’m “Wrong, A Lot,” how would I fit into this culture? How could I demonstrate valuable skills for career growth?

Here’s the turning point - Acceptance. I readily acknowledge when I’m wrong and see it as an opportunity for growth. I’m not rigid about my beliefs or mistakes. I don’t prolong conversations to the point where tracking my errors becomes impossible. My mistakes often stem from sheer excitement or anxiety rather than intentional misrepresentation.

The Power of Words

My words open gates to judgment, and I understand people are free to form their opinions. Some might perceive my knowledge as surface-level - which is often true, and I’m fully aware of this limitation.

While I acknowledge knowing little, my eagerness to learn means I encounter my misconceptions daily, and I’m committed to addressing them.

I know that I know nothing but I am eager to learn and in my progress I might come across my wrongness everyday, and I will change it.

My 25-75 Rule of Engagement

In the 25% of situations where anxiety peaks, I practice extra mindfulness.
The remaining 75% serves as a learning ground for developing better habits.
Each interaction is an opportunity to balance confidence with accuracy.

Moving Forward

Being “Confidently Wrong” isn’t just a trait to overcome - it’s a stepping stone to becoming “Confidently Learning.” My journey isn’t about eliminating mistakes but about transforming impulsive confidence into informed curiosity.

Every day presents new opportunities to transform quick reactions into thoughtful responses.

After all, my goal isn’t to never be wrong - it’s to be wrong less often, learn faster, and grow stronger from each experience.