My Ego is Self-made

But is anyone’s really? True strength comes from working together.

Let’s SinC(n)

Reflection: Ego vs The World

The Illusion of Self-Made Success

“I did that. I'm self-made. Look at me”.

These are the words echoing from the voices we often just dismiss as narcissistic. Help me understand, why are we so obsessed with being on top—a desperate push for dominance, supremacy and solitary greatness?

In our quest for ascension, we forget that the journey to the “top” was paved by the hands and hearts of many we’ve connected with. Remember, our brilliance is not born in isolation, rather it’s an interplay of countless connections, toiling, grappling, contending, enduring & compassionate victories.

Coming up with solutions to humble the whispers of our own ego-driven desires, should be the goal.

• Humility & Acknowledgment of the Journey

• From Vulnerability to Safety to Collaboration

• Distancing Self from Self

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The Reflection - Ego vs The World

Too often, we celebrate the triumphs of our self-made success, ignoring the countless contributions of friends, family, clients, customers, partners, and those kindred like acquaintances who have worked together with us along the way.

Our inflated egos creates this illusion of our self proclaimed truths—that we’ve achieved greatness alone. Yes, confidence in oneself can build ambition and drives us forward. However, when the goal is to dominate and compete on a such an aggressive level, we loose ourselves, forgetting the beginning collaborative efforts that fueled our growth.

The Dunning-Kruger effect reminds us that overconfidence blinds us to our own limitations.

You should pause.

Take a break

Reflect.

Let your System 2 do the analytical magic and rein you in a bit. Keeping your intellect high by a humble acknowledgment that every growth step was supported by someone else’s insight, feedback, and sacrifice.

This idea is not a loss of power or recognition but an opportunity for real growth and wisdom we can gain together.

Fear is always leading, increasing our desires for safety—that comfort of being understood, even when our self-talk subtly reveals our insecurities. Our society often celebrates a singular hero at the top the triangle 🔼, with everyone else struggling at its base. This structure fuels the illusion that to win you must be on top.

Being in the center—of the 🔼 or anywhere near to the top, you’re genuinely are going to feel safe to express yourself, speak up or out and grow. These ego-led hierarchies structures aim is to provide safety through authority from a decisive leader.

We accept this leader—at cost, even though it stifles our creativity, undermines our efforts and prohibit innovative progress. The safety we need isn’t found in authority, it is working on our minds and those we consistently keep around us. Can we actually have a mentality of non-destructive competition, where our voices are not drowned out by the lies in our socials and media?

Research shows that high-performing groups thrives in creative spaces where judgment is non-existent. When we feel safe, our true potential emerges, unburdened by the constant need to prove our worth.

Can you dream with me for a moment?

Imagine radical human collaboration, where leadership drives autonomy and voices are not just heard but is combined with other ideations, that leads to innovation. The 🔼 structure of the world is restrictive to the common person, yet breeds power to those at the pinnacle.

Flat organizational structures and other alternatives that promotes collaboration is our future.

Everything begins with foundation—your mindset.

Often, our self-image is clouded by the immediate, emotional, and egotistical System 1—the reactive part of our brain. These quick responses can get instinctively powerful, convincing us to believe always we’re right, especially when we get some back to back small wins—when, in fact, we’re wrong most of the time.

To unblur our perception into clarity, we need self reflection—assessing our blinded flaws with the same intensity we use when we find them in others. That’s where we’ll find the answers.

We need to distance ourselves from our own egos, by creating mental models that reinforce the mindset of “we are stronger together.”

Try this: Build the habit of quickly identifying your emotional biases. If we can see our own flaws for what they are, only then we can unlock the door to true collaboration.

To create a foundation that is the rejection of overused authoritarianism.

The 4 ways to gain success get over your ego:

• Intellectual Humility

• Psychological Safety

• Radical Collaboration

• Ego Distancing

Let’s Collaborate

Create

and

Innovate

More Reflections

• The Dunning-Kruger Effect

• The Power of Intellectual Humility

• Literature on radical collaboration

• Innovative organizational structures

• Insights into ego distancing

• Thinking, Fast & Slow

💎Fantabulous ❤️🙏

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." — Henry Ford