The Ego Bubble....Are you a victim?

Are you a victim of someone's ego? Most people have been a victim of their own ego at some point in their lives. In fact only just recently have I allowed my judgement to be swayed, (by having my ego stroked) You may have see others like colleagues, your Manager, your family or friends who have made poor decisions, refused to communicate with others or have become very unhappy due to their ego.

Every time I have been super successful in my life (and business) it has been because I have dropped my ego (or burst the bubble) Now I would also like to say not every time was it easy to do but often our ego's are what are stopping us being truly successful.

What do we mean when we discuss ego?

If you listen to RYAN HOLIDAY who is the bestselling author of Trust Me, I'm Lying; The Obstacle Is the Way; Ego Is the Enemy; Conspiracy and otherbooks about marketing, culture, and the human condition.....he writes:

“The ego we see most commonly goes by a more casual definition: an unhealthy belief in our own importance. Arrogance. Self-centered ambition… It’s that petulant child inside every person, the one that chooses getting his or her way over anything or anyone else. The need to be better than, more than, recognized for, far past any reasonable utility — that’s ego. It’s the sense of superiority and certainty that exceeds the bounds of confidence and talent.”

Think of a very famous person that you have watched over many year or perhaps you have just watched a movie on their lives. I can think of many off the top of my head and most of them have a similar story. Fought hard to become successful, surrounded themselves with "YES" people, then fell to their own demise.

The ego is not the enemy in fact it is more than likely what drove the person to become famous. The point is everyone, famous or not MUST keep their ego in check.

Holiday suggests that there are several reasons why the ego can be the enemy (when not kept in check)

• Keeps you out of touch with reality
• Creates unrealistic expectations and entitlement
• Makes you dependent on external validation

One of the reasons that your ego could become your BIGGEST enemy is that it keeps you out of touch with reality. Your ego is what prevents you from hearing critical but necessary feedback from others. Ego makes you over-estimate your own abilities and worth, and under-estimate the effort and skill required to achieve your goals. All of this means that you lose touch with reality, and you miss opportunities — to improve, to connect with others, and to achieve your goals.

This can happen for example with people in the WORKPLACE who have been working for the company for many years. They have seen it all before, they know better and they are not interested in any feedback. BEWARE that promoting within can cause an EGO BUBBLE for the new Manager or CEO. It can be eliminated with mentoring or coaching which allows the ego bubble to be burst in a safe environment.

True success in business and life is easier to obtain when you...

• Release your ego. Understand that your way is not the only way.
• Start being curious. Ask others about why they do what they do before passing judgement
• Listen to feedback. Feedback is not good or bad (that's just a label) is just feedback

A REMINDER HERE:

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Yoda - The Empire Strikes Back

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