Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

I used to think confidence meant being loud, certain, and always right.

But somewhere between starting a project and failing at it (twice), I realized my biggest obstacle wasn’t talent, timing, or tools.

It was me.

Or more specifically—my ego.

Then I picked up Ego Is the Enemy, and I wasn’t ready for the mirror it held up.

“Impressing people is utterly different from being truly impressive.”

Oof. I sat with that one. This book didn’t just humble me—it helped me breathe easier without the constant pressure to perform.

🪞 1. Ego Wants to Win. Wisdom Wants to Learn.

Ego makes you chase applause. Wisdom makes you chase growth.

💡 Real life: I used to overtalk in meetings just to sound smart. Now I ask questions—even dumb ones.

Takeaway: You grow faster when you're more curious than defensive.

📉 2. Success Is a Terrible Teacher

Sometimes, our wins teach us bad habits—like thinking we’re invincible.

💡 Been there: I got one big “yes” early in my career and thought I was a genius… until I crashed the next gig by overestimating myself.

Takeaway: Stay grounded when you rise. Arrogance is a quiet saboteur.

🙊 3. Be Quiet, Do the Work

Ego loves to shout about the dream before it's real. But the book reminds us: talk less, do more.

💡 Shift I made: I stopped announcing projects prematurely. Now I let the results speak first.

Takeaway: Let your legacy echo louder than your announcement.

🧽 4. Be a Student, Always

Ryan says: if you think you're too good to learn, you’ve already stopped growing.

💡 My check-in: I started sitting in on webinars and workshops again—even as a “professional.” Ego hated it. Growth didn’t.

Takeaway: Humility is a skill—not just a vibe.

🚪 5. Failure Isn’t Personal—Unless Ego Makes It So

When ego runs the show, failure feels like a full-body collapse. This book reframes failure as feedback.

💡 One example: A project bombed and I almost quit. Instead, I asked: What did this teach me that success wouldn’t have?

Takeaway: Ego sees failure as an ending. Wisdom sees it as a beginning.

This book doesn’t coddle you—it checks you.

But it also frees you.

Because once ego isn’t in the way, everything else flows better: your craft, your relationships, your peace.

GÊT BOOK: https://amzn.to/4eyDwRG

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