Frictional Freedom - Egoless Creativity

I’ve been tinkering with the idea of Frictional Freedom—the contradictions of choosing freedom and everything that comes with it. The first post I wrote on this topic serves as context (linked here), and now I want to dive deeper into my opinions and how I’m navigating the friction that comes with the freedom I choose.

This is the second edition of the topic—Egoless Creativity.

In the last couple of months, I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom and choice, especially in the creative world. For the longest time, I believed that having complete control—shaping my own path, seeing my ideas come to life without compromise—was the ultimate goal. But the deeper I dive into this journey, the more I realise it’s not that simple.

With the freedom of going independent—whether freelancing or starting something of your own—comes a surprising contradiction, and I’m calling it: Egoless Creativity. Of course, there have been many renditions of this—egoless innovation, egoless management, and egoless leadership. But here, I’m focusing specifically on creativity because of the inherent friction that comes with our choice.

"A person's corporate success often comes from the power of the chair he sits on. He often underestimates how much he is an extension of that artefact. So, when that person steps out, the world repositions him without his knowing. People have a hard time coping with the attendant loss of identity. The day you step out of the collared existence of a blue-chip company, you are a mongrel. The first thing you have to do is to forage and run and duck and breed and forage some more" — Subroto Bagchi, The High Performance Entrepreneur

The day you step out of the collared existence of a blue-chip company, you are a mongrel.

In the corporate world, success is often defined by external validation—your title, the power of the organisation behind you, and the resources at your disposal. But as soon as you step out, that status evaporates. You become, as Bagchi put it, a “mongrel,” needing to adapt quickly, find new ways to survive, and re-establish your identity.

On one hand, we crave the autonomy to create without limits—something that defines our status and what we think we’re cut out for. On the other, that very freedom brings friction. As a freelancer or entrepreneur, I’m not just the visionary anymore; I’m also the admin, the executor, and sometimes, even my own intern. There’s no one to delegate the small tasks to or get help from. Honestly, it’s humbling. The same ego that fuels my creativity feels tested when I’m chasing invoices, managing client follow-ups, or making last-minute changes that I don’t fully agree with.

It’s ironic. We leave structured environments to escape hierarchy and control, only to realise that we miss the support that came with it. The craving for validation that I thought would disappear when I struck out on my own is still very much there—if anything, it’s more exposed now.

But here’s the thing I’m learning: the real measure of growth isn’t how well I held onto a title or how many people rallied around my ideas. It’s how I manage all the tasks I once overlooked, how I learn to separate myself from my work, and how I handle hearing “no” over and over again without losing my spark.

The few things that are realigning my centre are:

1. Detaching from Titles and External Validation: Egolessness means recognising that my value doesn’t come from the title I once held, but from my ability to create, co-create, execute, and lead in an unstructured world. I’ve had to unlearn the reliance on external markers of success and start looking inward.
2. Embracing Uncertainty: As an entrepreneur or creative, we’re often operating without the safety nets that come with conventional roles. The ego craves certainty and control, but in this world, there’s little of that. Egolessness helps me accept the fluidity of the situation. It’s about learning to function effectively even when everything feels chaotic and there’s no blueprint for success.
3. Learning to be a Beginner Again: One of the most humbling parts of stepping out on your own is realising that despite all your past achievements, in many ways, you’re starting from scratch. This has been one of my biggest learnings. Egolessness allows you to embrace being a beginner, to approach tasks with humility and curiosity. We may no longer have the power or resources we once did, but this opens up opportunities to learn new skills and grow in ways we couldn’t in a more rigid structure.
4. Facing Rejection and Failure with Grace: In the entrepreneurial world, facing a lot more “no's” than you ever did is a norm. It can feel like a direct hit to the ego, but egolessness teaches you to see rejection not as a personal failure, but as a necessary step in the process. It helps you take criticism constructively, pivot when needed, and stay resilient without becoming defensive or discouraged.
5. Focusing on Purpose over Prestige: In a corporate setting, prestige and recognition often drive the ego. But when you step out into the world of freelancing or entrepreneurship, you quickly realise that prestige is fleeting and subjective (ah, the material things in the world, right? ??). Egolessness shifts your focus from seeking recognition to finding fulfilment in the work itself. It’s about doing what matters to you, regardless of how others perceive it. Stop chasing status and start working from a place of purpose, and that’s where real growth happens.
6. Collaboration over Competition: The corporate world can foster a competitive mindset, where success feels tied to outperforming others. However, as a creative or entrepreneur, egolessness helps you see the value of collaboration. You understand that your ideas and efforts can be enriched by working with others, and that your success doesn’t diminish someone else’s—there’s room for everyone at the table.
7. Understanding that Success Looks Different Now: The metrics of success in entrepreneurship and creativity aren’t as clear-cut as they are in the corporate world. There’s no quarterly review, no promotion to strive for, no predefined ladder to climb. Egolessness allows me to redefine what success looks like—whether that’s creative fulfilment, financial stability, or simply the ability to keep pursuing my passion. It teaches me to measure success not by societal standards but by personal growth, impact, and the freedom to create on my own terms.

The friction that comes with freedom is uncomfortable, but I’m learning that it’s also where real growth happens. And despite all the contradictions, I still choose this path—because within that friction, I’m discovering not just my creativity, but who I am beyond it.