1.

The Perfectionist

For the Perfectionist, success is rarely satisfying because it could always be better. You set impossibly high goals for yourself, and if you meet 99% of them, you consider the entire endeavor a failure. You focus intensely on the one minor flaw rather than the overwhelming success of the whole.

• The Trap: You often struggle to delegate because you believe "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." You are prone to severe burnout because you rarely pause to celebrate your wins before moving the goalpost further away.

• The Reality Check: Competence does not equal flawlessness. Mistakes are data points for growth, not proof of your inadequacy.

2.

The Superwoman / Superman

This type measures their worth by how many plates they can spin at once. You feel pressured to excel in absolutely every role in your life simultaneously: the top-tier employee, the perfect parent, the devoted friend, and the marathon runner. If you drop a single plate, you feel like a total fraud.

• The Trap: You are addicted to the validation that comes from working harder than everyone else. You often stay late at work or volunteer for extra tasks, not because the work is necessary, but because you are trying to outrun your internal feelings of inadequacy.

• The Reality Check: True confidence means recognizing that your worth isn't determined by your capacity to endure stress.

3.

The Natural Genius

The Natural Genius judges their competence based on ease and speed. If you have to struggle to learn something new, or if you don't master a skill on the first try, you automatically assume you aren't actually smart. You likely grew up being told you were "the smart one" and internalized the belief that success should always come naturally.

• The Trap: You actively avoid taking on new, complex challenges because the learning curve makes you feel deeply uncomfortable and incompetent. You are terrified of looking like a beginner.

• The Reality Check: Effort is not a symptom of stupidity. Even the most brilliant minds have to painstakingly practice to acquire new skills.

4.

The Soloist

For the Soloist, the process of achieving the goal is just as important as the goal itself and that process must be completed entirely alone. You believe that asking for help, hiring a tutor, or leaning on a mentor is an admission of weakness.

• The Trap: You will waste hours, or weeks, struggling in silence rather than asking a colleague a simple clarifying question. You believe that if you didn't do it 100% on your own, your success doesn't "count."

• The Reality Check: Collaboration is a core component of high-level success. Knowing when to leverage the expertise of others is the mark of a strong leader, not a weak individual.

5.

The Expert

The Expert feels like a fraud if they don't know every single piece of information about a topic. You might hesitate to apply for a job unless you meet 150% of the criteria, or you might stay quiet in meetings because you fear someone will ask a question you don't instantly know the answer to.

• The Trap: You are trapped in a cycle of perpetual preparation. You constantly seek out "just one more" certification, degree, or training before you feel ready to start.

• The Reality Check: You do not need to be a walking encyclopedia to be highly competent. True expertise includes the confidence to say, "I don't know the answer to that, but I know exactly how to find out."