“Ego Is The Enemy”
Today, I finished reading what may be my new favorite book. It must have been a near nightmare to compile and create this masterpiece but it was well worth the effort. Thank you Ryan Holiday for producing yet another amazing book.
If you haven’t read it yet, go buy it and read it now: https://www.amazon.com/Ego-Enemy-Ryan-Holiday/dp/1591847818
And quite frankly, if you’re not willing to splurge the $15 for it, that’s probably your ego talking.. ;) but in all seriousness it is well worth it.
I don’t think there is any one specific piece of the book that has changed my life, rather the whole concept, and the title alone was worth the read. That’s a bold bet to make and say that ego is always the enemy but as Ryan points out in many many points throughout the book it has and will continue to be the downfall of many potentially great people.
This category of book falls into my “immediate classics, and must read agains.” However, it is more of a book in the “preventions” category than the “prescriptions.” There is this whole idea that I have heard from many sources that “people want prescriptions, not preventions.” Meaning, more or less that they want the pill to solve their problems now more than they want to do something to solve that potential problem from happening at all.
Ego is a beast. It is something that noone can ever fully escape. It is something that I always struggle with managing correctly, maybe not in the outward sense of things but in inner thinking. The thing about ego is it seems to be a nicer way of saying pride.
Ego is all about comparisons. Ego is all about working hard so you can flatter yourself and receive praise from others. Ego is caring more about being right than doing the right thing. Ego is the thing that gets you killed. Ego is very likely the obstacle for most of us that if solved would unlock future potential.
I most definitely don’t have a solution for taking care of ego, but I know and understand better why it is a problem. This is merely a rambling of my thoughts and ideas, but this book was just fantastic. I can’t say enough good things about it.
My 3 Takeaways:
- “A Man’s Best Treasure Is A Thrifty Tongue.”
- “Amateurs Are Defensive”
- “You’re not as good as they say you are, but you’re not as bad as they say you are either.”
Step 1 is to read the book, and step 2 is to realize when you are exhibiting that ego that is harmful and destructive. Step 3 is to figure out how to eliminate that ego and be humble.
“One might say that the ability to evaluate one’s own ability is the most important skill of all. Without it, improvement is impossible. And certainly ego makes it difficult every step of the way. It is certainly more pleasurable to focus on our talents and strengths, but where does that get us? Arrogance and self-absorption inhibit growth. So does fantasy and “vision.”
― Ryan Holiday, Ego Is the Enemy
