{"id":4859,"date":"2023-11-05T07:11:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T11:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/how-to-master-your-ego-and-reach-your-full-potential\/"},"modified":"2023-11-05T07:11:24","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T11:11:24","slug":"how-to-master-your-ego-and-reach-your-full-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/how-to-master-your-ego-and-reach-your-full-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Master Your Ego and Reach Your Full Potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n

Napolean. Khan. Stalin. Hitler. Alexander the Great.<\/p>\n

History is littered with leaders who were driven by ego to gain power\u2014and who ultimately landed in ruin.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistory is also made by individuals who fought their egos at every turn, who eschewed the spotlight, and who put their higher goals above their desire for recognition,\u201d reminds Ryan Holiday in his book, \u201cEgo is the Enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make no mistake. Your ego is one of your greatest mental enemies in life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It stops you from recognizing when you\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n

It stops you from apologizing.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly in our careers, ego impedes learning and the cultivation of talent,\u201d says Holiday. \u201cWith success, it can blind us to our faults and sow future problems. In failure, it magnifies each blow and makes recovery more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holiday describes our ego as an \u201cunhealthy belief in our own importance\u2014the need to be better than, more than, recognized far past any reasonable utility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of us aren\u2019t \u2018egomaniacs,\u2019 but ego is there at the root of almost every conceivable problem and obstacle,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why setting aside your ego is liberating. It frees you from self-judgment and delivers the objectivity you need to correct your course and make the right decisions for your life.<\/p>\n

Of course, setting aside your ego is difficult. That\u2019s why I created the Ego Exercise to help you separate your ego from the true you and put you on the path to success.<\/p>\n

Now, I must warn you. This Ego Exercise hurts. Several times, I\u2019ve asked two of my best friends and coaches, Bedros Keuilian and Matt Smith, to give me no-holds-barred feedback. You can brace yourself, but nothing fully prepares you for reading the wise counsel of friends who know you well and want the best for you.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the Ego Exercise has allowed me to improve as a speaker, a writer, a business owner, a manager, and a friend. That\u2019s why I do this exercise for my Perfect Life<\/a> coaching clients. And it\u2019s also an exercise that can benefit you right now.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to do the full version of the Ego Exercise.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It takes just three simple steps:<\/p>\n

1. Find someone you trust, admire, and respect.<\/p>\n

2. Ask them to share what they believe to be your 2 or 3 biggest strengths.<\/p>\n

3. Then, ask them to share your 2 or 3 biggest weaknesses and how you can improve.<\/p>\n

Of course, you might not be able to get a mentor or coach that wants to do this for you. Or, you simply might not be ready for the brutal honesty about your weaknesses. That\u2019s fair. It\u2019s not easy to lean into this difficult conversation.<\/p>\n

The good news is that after having done this exercise for hundreds of clients, I\u2019ve discovered there are 2 universal strengths and 2 universal weaknesses in nearly every ambitious person.<\/p>\n

Below is a somewhat generic follow-up to the Ego Exercise that acknowledges your strengths while pointing out your weaknesses\u2014and giving you suggestions on how to improve each of them.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re done going through this exercise, don\u2019t harbor regrets or guilt about your weaknesses. Instead, celebrate your strengths and take action to improve. That\u2019s the secret to turning the pain of the Ego Exercise into improved personal performance.<\/p>\n

\n

Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Your Strengths<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1) Your Persistence<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You never give up.<\/p>\n

The world has thrown everything at you: Heartbreak, chaos, tragedy, career and business setbacks, and daily obstacles. But you\u2019ve never given up.<\/p>\n

Each day, you wake up and you take on the world. You often do it alone (I\u2019ll address that in a moment) while often supporting others in their journeys, too.<\/p>\n

The world will never extinguish the fight and fire within you. And people notice. You motivate others when you live this way. It\u2019s inspired me, and everyone around you.<\/p>\n

2. Your Generosity<\/strong><\/h4>\n

My friend Yanik Silver once told me, \u201cYou cannot out-give the universe.\u201d Well, if anyone\u2019s tried, it\u2019s you. Your heart shines through in good times and in bad. You\u2019re always there for everyone.<\/p>\n

You have nurtured so many people and helped them grow. You\u2019ve been there when their lives were falling apart, when their businesses and marriages were failing, and when they were ready to quit. YOU played a huge role in turning them around.<\/p>\n

No one has ever thanked you enough for all that you\u2019ve done. You are the catalyst for change that so many of us needed in our lives.<\/p>\n

So let me be the first to thank you\u2014on behalf of everyone.<\/p>\n

THANK YOU for being so generous with your time, your energy, your strength, and your love.<\/p>\n

The world is lucky to have you.<\/p>\n

I could spend hours talking about your strength, loyalty, commitment, honesty, and generosity. But now, it\u2019s time to shift gears and look at how to overcome obstacles\u2014never forgetting the strengths that will support you in the next phase of your journey.<\/p>\n\n

SUGGESTED READING: Mastering Human Relationships<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Your Weaknesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. You Forget About You<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll do anything to take care of the people around you, but you forget to take care of you.<\/p>\n

That leaves you tired, unfulfilled, overworked, and with no time or energy to replenish yourself.<\/p>\n

This can only go on so long before you crash.<\/p>\n

I understand you are physically and emotionally spent after taking care of everyone at home and trying to grow in your career at the same time. But you have to carve out time for yourself.<\/p>\n

As the old airplane safety clich\u00e9 goes, \u201cAdjust your own oxygen mask before helping others.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. You Hold Back<\/strong><\/h4>\n

People are out there \u201ccrying themselves to sleep\u201d because they don\u2019t have your help. You know it. You\u2019ve heard them. And yet you\u2019re still not being the leader that you can be for your team or your customers.<\/p>\n

You are handcuffing your personal and professional growth because you aren\u2019t willing to leave your comfort zone. I can understand that. Most people are scared of making the big leap. But this inability or indecision is creating a hard ceiling on your ability to reach your peak potential.<\/p>\n

Yes, you\u2019ll need to go through a short period of discomfort. But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight.<\/p>\n

You need to build your leadership skills through deep, uncomfortable conversations. This will build up you and everyone around you in every area of your life.<\/p>\n

3. You Are Being a Pushover<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You\u2019ve done so much great work in your industry. People owe you. Yet you\u2019re afraid to ask what you are worth. This is holding you back from enjoying the wealth and personal growth you deserve.<\/p>\n

When you allow yourself to be treated as a pushover at work and at home, you do not get what you are worth.<\/p>\n

Look at those who motivate and inspire you. They aren\u2019t afraid to command their value. You must follow their lead.<\/p>\n

This requires you to step up, act with greater confidence, set boundaries on meetings, and stop doing free work for friends. Demand more of yourself and everyone around you will treat you with greater respect. It all starts with you.<\/p>\n

(Psst! A great path to renewed confidence starts with my Perfect Day Formula<\/a>. I\u2019ve got a free copy waiting for you! Just CLICK HERE<\/a>.)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Perfect<\/a><\/p>\n

BONUS. You Need to Enjoy The Love You Deserve<\/strong><\/h4>\n

(This might not apply to everyone\u2014but if so, as it does to many of my clients, read on!)<\/p>\n

Listen, you are a CATCH. Now you need to get back in the ocean so you can be caught!<\/p>\n

No more excuses. Stop saying you are too busy for love.<\/p>\n

You deserve to be happy in every area of your life.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got everything that a discerning person would want in a partner.<\/p>\n

Whatever it is that\u2019s blocking you, address it.<\/p>\n

Gay Hendricks has a chapter on finding love in his book, \u201cConscious Loving.\u201d It applies directly to you. Here\u2019s the outline:<\/p>\n