Philosophy
by Ryan Holiday
Who's standing in your way?
Ryan Holiday's answer is usually you. At each one, he argues, ego costs you something different.
Hear a sample · read by Laura
Early on, it's tempting to talk about the novel you're writing or the business you'll start. Holiday argues that talking drains the energy the work needs, because announcing a goal already feels a little like reaching it. His advice to beginners is to keep quiet and get on with it.
In ancient Rome, an anteambulo walked ahead of his patron, clearing the way. Holiday tells beginners to do the same, finding canvases for other people to paint on. Make your boss look good and take the jobs nobody wants. You learn a lot, and ego gets nothing to feed on.
Success brings its own danger. The basketball coach Pat Riley saw teams win a title and then fall apart, as each player decided he deserved more of the credit. Holiday borrows Riley's name for it, and warns that winning is often when ego does its worst damage.
Sooner or later you'll be stuck somewhere you didn't choose, in a dull job or on a project put on hold. Holiday borrows Robert Greene's distinction. Dead time is spent waiting and resenting. Alive time is spent learning and getting better. Malcolm X read his way through prison.
Talk
Talking about your plans can feel like progress, and that feeling can stop you doing the work.
Beginner
Keep learning like a beginner, even when you're good. Thinking you know it all stops your growth.
Canvas strategy
Early on, help the people above you do well. You'll learn a lot clearing the path for others.
After success
Success can make you sloppy and proud. Stay the humble worker who got you there.
Alive time
Use a setback as alive time, to learn and grow, rather than waiting for things to get better.
A story from the book
John Boyd was a fighter pilot and military strategist. Holiday retells how Boyd warned young officers they'd reach a fork in the road. One way, you become somebody, with promotions and good postings. The other way, you do something that matters, and you may pay for it.
One thing to try
Ask your manager or a colleague what's weighing on them, and take one piece of it off their plate. Do it properly, don't mention it afterwards and don't look for credit. Holiday's bet is that you'll learn more from that job than from any you'd have picked for yourself.
Knotd has the key ideas from 250+ non-fiction books, each in a few minutes, in plain words. Ego Is the Enemy comes with a Your Move story to make it stick.
Get the whole book on KnotdOpen in the appWho's standing in your way? Ryan Holiday's answer is usually you. At each one, he argues, ego costs you something different.
Talk, talk, talk; The canvas strategy; The disease of me; Alive time or dead time.
Ask your manager or a colleague what's weighing on them, and take one piece of it off their plate. Do it properly, don't mention it afterwards and don't look for credit. Holiday's bet is that you'll learn more from that job than from any you'd have picked for yourself.
Yes. Knotd has the key ideas from Ego Is the Enemy in a few minutes, in plain words, plus a Your Move story to test them. It's one of 250+ non-fiction books in the app.
