title: Ego Is The Enemy description: [AFW M.1.20] Michael's Epiphany #20 published: true date: 2026-06-30T08:09:05.443Z tags: editor: markdown dateCreated: 2021-05-28T21:35:01.081Z
Ego is the Enemy¶
"Ego sucks us down like the law of gravity." -Cyril Connolly
"Believing you’re right is not the same as having your facts straight."
"Ego = 1 ÷ Knowledge. More the knowledge the lesser the ego. Lesser the knowledge the more the ego." -Albert Einstein
"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." -Star Wars Clone Wars, S1E5: Rookies
"Never confuse wisdom with luck." -Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, Rule #44
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." -Epictetus
"Knowing was a barrier which prevented learning." -Frank Herbert, Children of Dune
“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” ―Aristotle
Read Robert Greene's Daily Laws, August 31 - Come to Terms with Your Own Self-Opinion PDF
Read Steve Siebold's Secrets of the World Class #17 - Suspend Disbelief PDF
Read Steve Siebold's Secrets of the World Class #133 - Learn From Role Models PDF
Read Steve Siebold's Secrets of the World Class #159 - Use Mentors PDF
You’re smart. You went to college. You’ve read lots of books. You’ve seen a thing or two. So you know a lot. When people have questions, you’ve got answers. When stuff happens, you’ve got opinions. When there are problems, you’ve got solutions.
This is great, right? Maybe.
Epictetus reminds us that “it’s impossible to learn that which you think you already know.” To the Stoics conceitedness was the primary impediment to wisdom. Because when you’ve always got answers, opinions and ready-made solutions, what you’re not doing is learning. What you’re not doing is looking at things objectively, clearly, with fresh eyes. You’re just relying on instinct and preconceived notions.
Ego is the enemy for a reason. It blinds us. It distracts us. It puffs us up and prevents us from learning. The less of a know-it-all we are, the more we can actually get out and discover.
Remember, the key to Socrates’ philosophy was his admission of ignorance. It was his desire to ask questions, his willingness to be proven wrong, his interest in having conversations — with anyone about anything. He was smart because he was humble, not conceited because he was smart.
Ego is that outsized sense of self-importance, that malignant self-absorption, a belief that one is somehow inherently better and entitled to more than everyone else, what NBA Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley famously called “the disease of me.” It’s the voice whispering in our ear, alternatively, that we’re invincible or that we suck and everyone is plotting against us. Ego is that toxic force that makes real teamwork, empathy, vulnerability and artistry impossible.
Name one situation you’ve ever been in that called for more ego. It repulses advantages and opportunities. It’s a magnet for enemies and errors.
Whatever we’re doing in life - whether we’re aspiring to do something, experiencing success or in the middle of difficulty - ego is the enemy every step along the way. That is why we designed the back of the coin to illustrate the three stages of this cycle: Aspiration. Success. Failure.
This expression can remind us to be:
- Humble when ambitious.
- Gracious when successful.
- Resilient when we fail.
In an era that glorifies selfie culture, reality TV, and other forms of shameless self-promotion, the battle against ego must be fought on many fronts. We hope that by carrying this medallion, you’re able to protect yourself against your greatest foe — your own ego.
Read Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiay BOOK
Apprenticeship, Coachability & Pride¶
"In business, I found nothing came close to the impact of mentors. At every stage of my career, I sought out the most successful people around me and asked for their help and guidance." -Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi
"Be not ashamed to learn truth from any source." -Solomon ibn Gabirol
"Pride will always be the longest distance between two people".
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." -Epictetus
"We could all use a little coaching. When you're playing the game, it's hard to think of everything." -Jim Rohn
"If you're not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you're determined to learn, no one can stop you." -Zig Ziglar
“Sometimes, accepting help is harder than offering it.” -Star Wars Clone Wars, S2E7: Legacy of Terror
"Smart people learn from everything and everyone; average people from their experiences; and stupid people already have all the answers."
Read Robert Greene's TDL 02-00 - February - The Ideal Apprenticeship PDF
Read Robert Greene's TDL 02-01 - Submit to Reality PDF
Read Robert Green's TTDL 02-04 - Value Learning above Everything Else PDF
Read Robert Greene's Daily Laws, October 5 - Do Not Let Success Intoxicate You PDF
Read Steven Siebold's 177 Secrets of the World Class #30 - The World Class are Coachable PDF
Great musicians know it. So do professional athletes and world-class public speakers. Successful people in nearly every field know that they can’t be their best unless they have a good coach in their corner. And now the business world knows it, too: In a fast-paced, fluid, and dynamic environment, where flattened organizations made up of cross-functional teams must respond rapidly to change, mentoring is one of the most effective strategies to get the best out of each and every individual.
Being coachable is one of life's most important skills and attitudes, whether or not you strive to be an athlete or a High-Performance Professional Advisor. If you're any kind of person who wishes to grow, learn, improve, excel or peak perform, you should care about whether or not you're coachable.
The enemies of coachability are Ego and Pride.