130: Ryan Holiday – What Is Your Greatest Enemy? Your Ego

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Jun 5, 2016

Ryan Holiday, a media strategist and best-selling author known for his insights on strategy and stoicism, joins to discuss the enemy that we all face—our ego. He shares fascinating stories of figures like Kirk Hammett from Metallica, illustrating the importance of humility and continuous learning. The conversation also explores the balance between passion and purpose, urging a rational approach to personal development. Holiday emphasizes the significance of mentorship and supportive relationships in overcoming ego, ultimately guiding listeners toward self-discovery and growth.

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INSIGHT

Beginner's Mindset Kills Ego

Always keep learning because thinking you know everything stops growth.
A "beginner's mindset" humbles your ego and helps master your craft indefinitely.

ANECDOTE

Kirk Hammett's Relentless Learning

Kirk Hammett joined Metallica and still hired top guitar teacher Joe Satriani.
He took lessons for two years to continuously improve despite already being in a world-class band.

ADVICE

Embrace Rigorous Feedback

Embrace rigorous feedback from editors and mentors to refine your work.
Accept criticism as it leads to better creative outcomes, even if it's uncomfortable.

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Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer

The book tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a well-educated young man from a middle-class family who, after graduating from college, gave away his savings, abandoned his car, and set out on a journey to live in the Alaskan wilderness. The narrative, written by Jon Krakauer, explores McCandless's adventures, his interactions with various people he met along the way, and the circumstances leading to his untimely death. Krakauer's investigation involves interviewing McCandless's family, friends, and people he encountered, as well as visiting the places McCandless had been. The book delves into themes of idealism, rebellion, and the allure of the wilderness, presenting a nuanced and gripping account of McCandless's life and death.

Originals

How Non-Conformists Move the World

Adam Grant

In 'Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World', Adam Grant delves into the creative process and the mindset of individuals who challenge the status quo. The book discusses how originals manage risk while following their vision, the importance of quantity over quality in idea generation, and the role of procrastination and strategic timing in creative output. Grant also addresses how to communicate original ideas effectively, deal with emotional turmoil, and instill originality in various contexts, including business and child-rearing. The book challenges common myths about success and creativity, offering practical advice and anecdotes from historical figures and contemporary examples[2][4][5].

The 48 laws of power

Robert Greene

In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.

The War of Art

Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Steven Pressfield

In 'The War of Art', Steven Pressfield identifies the internal force of 'Resistance' that hinders creative endeavors. The book is divided into three sections: 'Resistance: Defining the Enemy', 'Combating Resistance: Turning Pro', and a final section that discusses the role of the muses and the battle between the Self and the Ego. Pressfield provides practical advice on recognizing and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous work in achieving creative success.

Ego is the Enemy

Ryan Holiday

In *Ego Is the Enemy*, Ryan Holiday delves into the concept of ego and its detrimental effects on personal and professional success. The book is divided into three sections: Aspiration, Success, and Failure, each offering valuable lessons and perspectives. Holiday draws on a vast array of stories and examples from literature, philosophy, and history, featuring figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt. These individuals achieved great success by conquering their own egos, and their strategies and tactics are presented as models for readers. The book emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, continually learning, and embracing a mindset of growth rather than letting ego hinder development.

Give and Take

A Revolutionary Approach to Success

Adam Grant

In 'Give and Take', Adam Grant examines the surprising forces that shape success, highlighting the differences between givers, matchers, and takers. Givers contribute to others without expecting anything in return, matchers aim to trade evenly, and takers strive to get as much as possible from others. Grant uses cutting-edge evidence and captivating stories to show how these styles impact success across various industries. The book emphasizes the benefits and challenges of adopting a giver mentality and provides practical advice on how to build successful relationships and achieve extraordinary results.

Episode 130: Ryan Holiday – What Is Your Greatest Enemy? Your Ego

If you enjoyed the first conversation Ryan Holiday and I had, then you will absolutely love this one. We went much deeper on a number of really interesting topics including: Destiny (does it choose us?), Ego, Stoicism, Risk, Metallica, Focus, Silence, and Gawker Media… I loved it.

Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and prominent writer on strategy and business. After dropping out of college at nineteen to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, he went on to advise many bestselling authors and multiplatinum musicians. He served as director of marketing at American Apparel for many years, where his campaigns have been used as case studies by Twitter, YouTube, and Google and written about in AdAge, the New York Times, and Fast Company.

His most recent book, “Ego Is The Enemy” draws on a vast array of stories and examples, from literature to philosophy to history. We meet fascinating figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who all reached the highest levels of power and success by conquering their own egos. Their strategies and tactics can be ours as well.

Episode 130: Ryan Holiday – What Is Your Greatest Enemy? Your Ego

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“Ryan Holiday is one of his generation’s finest thinkers, and this book is his best yet.” - Steven Pressfield, author of New York Times bestseller “The War of Art”

The Learning Leader Show

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The importance of always being a student – “One cannot learn that which they think they already know.”
The remarkable story of Kirk Hammett, lead guitar player for Metallica – His actions upon being hired will blow you away (and inspire you)
Ryan’s process for receiving feedback and coaching
Why it’s not wise to try and impress others
Being motivated to prove people right
The importance of your spouse
The power of silence and how it relates to Robert Greene’s work in The 48 Laws of Power
The phrase confident and secure leaders are willing to say that others are not
Don’t follow your passion, follow your effort – Nobody quits what they’re good at
What is destiny? Is it predetermined?
Meeting your heroes in person
Why Ryan feels that Gawker is one of the worst media companies of all time and the piece he wrote about Peter Thiel
Great giveaways for his book

“Be an anteambulo – Clear the path for others to be successful.”

“One cannot learn that which they think they already know.”

Continue Learning:

Go To Ryan’s Website: RyanHoliday.net
Read: Ego Is The Enemy
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @RyanHoliday
Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12