The Prep Trap: Type A vs Type B Entrepreneurs
"“Type B people are willing to fail twenty times before the Type A person finishes prepping for attempt number one.”"
The Unpack
We often assume Type A personalities — driven, meticulous, organized — have the natural advantage in entrepreneurship. But there’s a hidden trap in that very precision. Type A people can fall in love with preparation. They get their dopamine from the act of planning, not from results. It feels like progress — but it’s not always movement.
Type B people, on the other hand, are more comfortable with imperfection and iteration. They tend to earn their dopamine only when they succeed, not when they’re still in the lab. So while the Type A person is perfecting the first prototype, the Type B person has already failed twenty times, collected feedback, and is closing in on a working model.
The difference isn’t discipline versus chaos — it’s the timing of the reward loop. One gets the hit from planning; the other from progress. Preparation is vital, but when it becomes the point, it can quietly replace impact.
Does the Shoe Fit?
Business
Don’t confuse planning with shipping. Set deadlines for execution, not just deliverables.
Habits
Notice when your “productivity” feels good but moves nothing forward. Dopamine can lie.
Relationships
Progress is built on shared action, not perfect conditions. Start the conversation before it’s fully scripted.
Leadership
Reward your team for iteration and learning, not just polished proposals. Momentum beats mastery.
Try It (10 minutes)
This week, track one moment when you feel productive — then ask: Did I actually move something forward, or just prepare to? Type A, maybe cut a corner or two. Type B, one list might not kill you.
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