A good way to convince yourself you're special when you're not is to act like the system is more broken than it is. Explains the following equation in a self-congratulatory way.
observed outcome=(my ability)*(system brokenness)
John Henryism is a gateway drug here. Formula:
1. Find some activity suited to your strengths and get good at it
2. Develop self-confidence in your strength rooted in that one activity
3. Generalize "I am good at X" to "I am good"
4. Never say you suck at anything ever again.
There is an exception to 4, and I work it like this (for example):
"I suck at trombone, but I'm working on it."
It's important to do things we know we suck at. The point is to add "... but I'm working on it."
The "but" erases the meaning of the phrase before it.
Sounds like a surgeon.
You do make a good point, though: why does no one admit error any more? Why is apologizing bad? People will swear the sky is bright green before admitting fault. Is it a fear of litigation finally spreading to social norms?