View from the Summit

Life is full of lots of opportunities, but the older we get the quicker things seem to fly past us. Think about the last time you said, “I’m going to get to that someday” or “This isn’t great timing for me, but the next time I have some free time I’m going to pursue that.” Did you ever actually end up pursuing it? If you did, was it right away or was it years later?

Nearly every entrepreneur in my circles, and probably every successful person that you know, has a story about their personal battle with ego and pride. That’s why my mastermind groups are reading the book Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday.

There is a fine line between healthy pride and arrogance. As humans, it’s difficult to reach high levels of success and not let that voice in that says “I did this. I was successful at this because I’m better than this person or that person.” When you hear that voice in your head, you have to tell it to leave. That is unhealthy pride talking and it can’t have a place in your life. That type of pride is a parasite that eats away at your character. Those arrogant, haughty, boastful emotions are the things that destroy people who had potential to do great things.

Being selfish is something we often do without even thinking about it. It’s as easy and thoughtless as breathing. We all have needs and desires, and we live in a society that encourages us to seek pleasurable things that bring us instant gratification. This is very dangerous.