“Ego is the enemy of what you want and of what you have: Of mastering a craft. Of real creative insight. Of working well with others. Of building loyalty and support. Of longevity. Of repeating and retaining your success. It repulses advantages and opportunities. It’s a magnet for enemies and errors. It is Scylla and Charybdis.” Ryan Holiday
Impressions
1- Live with Purpose Not Passion
2- Always Be a Student
3- Talk & think less; Do More
I have read many books on leadership, but this one, Ego is the Enemy, by one of my favorite authors, stands out.
It will help you if you are struggling with your ego in your professional and personal life.
Ryan’s approach is straightforward.
He will provide examples from the ancient world by bringing his interest in stories and using his modern knowledge to share a comparison.
He will also show that the ego is not a new thing; it has been going on for centuries. But there is a way to, I would say practica way to, handle ego.
If you know Ryan, his writing is not oversimplified but intriguing to keep on the pages to know what will happen next or how that person overcomes his egotistic personality.
Are we driven by genuine purposes, or is it about feeding our egos?
If you’re drawn to this book, chances are you’re aware of your own ego.
It’s a paradox—those who need to read it most might resist the idea of examining their ego.
If you are aware or maybe unaware of your ego or want to learn how ego is destroying us in the long run, this one is for your ego, or want to learn how ego is destroying us in the long run – this one is for you.
Notes
The ego we see most commonly goes by a more casual definition: an unhealthy belief in our own importance. Arrogance. Self-centered ambition.
What humans require in our ascent is purpose and realism. Purpose, you could say, is like passion with boundaries. Realism is detachment and perspective.
The pretense of knowledge is our most dangerous vice, because it prevents us from getting any better. Studious self-assessment is the antidote.
“Most trouble is temporary…unless you make that not so.”
“Your ego screams for people to acknowledge you. But you must do nothing. Take it. Eat it until you’re sick. Endure it. Quietly brush it off and work harder. Play the game. Ignore the noise; for the love of God, do not let it distract you.”
“You know that all things require work and that work might be quite difficult. But do you really understand? Do you have any idea just how much work there is going to be? Not work until you get your big break, not work until you make a name for yourself, but work, work, work, forever and ever.”
The only relationship between work and chatter is that one kills the other.
“Most of us aren’t “egomaniacs,” but ego is at the root of almost every conceivable problem and obstacle.”
“If you start believing in your greatness, it is the death of your creativity.”
“A man’s best treasure is a thrifty tongue.” Hesiod
“Impressing people is utterly different from being truly impressive.”
“This is what ego does. It crosses out what matters and replaces it with what doesn’t.”
“The egocentric path requires many compromises.”
“Passion is from over function. Purpose is function, function, function.”
“Clear the for the people above you and you will eventually create a path for yourself.”
“Say little, do much.”
“There’s no one to perform for. There is just work to be done and lessons to be learned in all around us.”
“If you can’t swallow your pride, you can’t lead.” – Genghis Khan
“The first product of self-knowledge is humility.”
“Don’t boast about what hasn’t happened yet.”
“Every time you sit down to work, remind yourself: I am delaying gratification by doing this. I am passing the marshmallow test. I am earning what my ambition burns for. I am making an investment in myself instead of in my ego. Give yourself a little credit for this choice, but not so much, because you’ve got to get back to the task at hand: practicing, working, improving.”
“Success is intoxicating, yet to sustain it requires sobriety. We can’t keep learning if we think we already know everything.”
“A persistent cycle of pragmatic learning, experimental adaptation, and constant revision driven by his uniquely disciplined and focused will.” Genghis Khan was not burn genius.
“Do you know how you can tell when someone is truly humble?
I believe there’s one simple test: because they consistently learn and listen, the humble improve. They don’t assume, “I know the way.”
“The way to do really big things seems to be to start with deceptively small things.”