The most dangerous problems in life are the ones we don’t even realize exist.
There’s no sense in trying to solve them, because you can’t fix what’s not even on your radar.
Think about it. You’re working hard, staying consistent, doing “all the right things.” But somehow, you’re still stuck. It’s not because you’re lazy. You’re definitely not dumb. You’re just blind to something that matters--a skill, a truth, a perspective.
Tomorrow marks one year of writing this newsletter, and I’ve learned a great deal in that time.
I remember staring at my dashboard one morning, frustrated that my numbers weren’t budging the way I felt they should.
It turns out I was missing some valuable perspective on growing a newsletter and what it actually entails.
Once I’d acquired this much-needed perspective, I realized I was getting exactly what I had wished for a year ago--slow and gradual growth.
That’s what makes the “unknown unknown” so dangerous.
They’re not the things you know you don’t know, which are easy to fix since they’re on your radar. You can Google them, ask ChatGPT, take a course, or ask for help.
I’m talking about the things outside your field of vision. The gaps you don’t even think to question, and the reason you hit invisible ceilings.
The Trap Of “I Already Know”
The moment you think you’ve figured it out, you’ve already stopped growing.
That’s about the time the blind spots win.
Unknown unknowns are everywhere.
The writer who keeps rewriting, not realizing their real problem is a lack of story structure. The developer who learns every framework but never masters core algorithms. The entrepreneur who blames marketing when the real issue is the offer.
We all fall into this trap, thinking the problem is out there, when it’s actually underneath.
So how do you uncover the gaps?
How To Spot Blind Spots
Finding out what you don’t know you don’t know isn’t luck--it’s a skill.
It’s a skill I had to learn and continue to refine, and it’s a skill you can learn and build upon as well.
1) Ask Better Questions
This might sound obvious, but don’t just ask, “What am I missing?”
Instead, ask, “What would I see if I looked at this from someone else’s angle?” Then seek out people who will tell you the truth, not just validate you. Ask mentors, peers, or even your audience, “What do you notice I’m not seeing?”
And get comfortable with disconfirming evidence.
Growth starts the moment you’re proven wrong.
2) Seek Mirrors, Not Echoes
Echo chambers feel good.
Mirrors feel uncomfortable, but they reflect reality.
The best ways to get reflections are through feedback loops, such as journaling weekly (where do you keep circling the same frustration?), sharing your work publicly (where do readers or users get confused?), and testing ideas fast (failure is data in disguise).
Just remember, a mirror shows you the truth; an echo only repeats your bias.
3) Study First Principles
I’ve been guilty of this as much as anyone, but I’ve stopped memorizing tactics and started understanding why things work.
Read the classics. Learn fundamentals. Don’t chase shortcuts.
Build something.
Most people collect “how-tos” like lottery tickets. Few slow down long enough to study the math behind the game.
4) Track Confusion
Confusion is a clue, not a dead end.
Anytime you feel stuck, irritated, or “busy but not better,” write it down.
Patterns reveal blind spots.
That repeated pain point? It’s not random. It’s a signal.
Once you’ve spotted them, here’s how to close them.
How To Fill The Gaps
Here’s a hard truth I had to come to terms with: you’ll never eliminate blind spots, but you can shrink them.
So how do you shrink them?
Build a discovery habit, for example, every week you could ask yourself, “What did I learn that I didn’t even know I needed?”
Surround yourself with a range. Hang around people who are more intelligent than you, and in different ways. That’s how you stretch perspective.
Lastly, and I say this a lot, follow your curiosity. When something catches your attention, whether that be a concept, a problem, or a contradiction, chase it with everything you’ve got.
Curiosity is a compass pointing toward your unknowns.
Some Final Truths
Blind sports aren’t weaknesses.
They’re opportunities in disguise.
You can’t see everything, but you can learn to look differently.
Something that I picked up during my time at Apple is to think different. I refuse to view the world in the same way I have in the past whenever I encounter a problem or opportunity.
This alone has enabled me to expand my knowledge base, enhance my intellect, and lead a much more peaceful life.
When you view problems through a different lens, much can be revealed that you would otherwise not have been able to see.
It’s remarkable how it always seems to work out.
The unknown unknown is genuinely one of the wonders of the world.
Where might you be repeating the same frustration and calling it progress?
So here’s my challenge for you:
Ask one person you trust, “What’s something you think I’m missing?”
This might sting a little, but it might also change everything.
P.S.
It’s been one year since I started this journey here on Substack.
To celebrate, both 10-Hour Skill Accelerator (master any skill in 10 focused hours) and Clarity & Direction for Independent Creatives (find your focus, define your path) are back at their special $37 anniversary price — only for October.
A small thank-you for being part of this journey with me.
For a long time I thought my problem was polishing sentences but it turns out my blind spot was story structure. I had convinced myself that it was a lack of inspiration but once I started showing my writing to a few trusted friends I realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I’m nos working on studying story arcs and my words are already starting to flow better. Thank you for showing us how small habits can reveal the gaps Idris Elijah!
When I started painting I thought my problem was technique. It turns out my blind spot was color theory. Once I spotted that gap the ebook I bought from you made way more sense and my work suddenly feels more alive. One shift in perspective can really change everything! This was a wonderful read Idris Elijah and congratulations on one year of your newsletter!!