Ego-Depletion In The Entrepreneur
These days the idea of ego is a hot topic. For the first time in history, there seems to be a reconciliation between scientific psychology and pop psychology — and this is causing a major stir in the minds of the youth and avid consumers of information.
What does “Ego” really mean anyway? Well, according to psychology, the “ego” relates to the concepts of id (animalistic instincts) and superego (our inner moral compass). It’s (the ego’s) role, is to balance both the id’s and the superego’s influence on our decision making.
But this concept has been completely forgotten by the mainstream media. Now, people use the term “ego” and use expressions such as “having a big ego” to describe some sort of self-entitlement.
There is even a song called “Ego Death” where some of the world’s most famous rappers talk about how you must “get rid of your ego” to “find happiness.”
Needless to say now, keeping your “ego” in check is a big deal.
So what the heck is “ego depletion”?
And why is it so important for entrepreneurs to get this concept in their head?
According to Wikipedia, “ego depletion” refers to the idea that self-control or willpower draws upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up.
In an online environment that emphasizes success and glamour, emerging entrepreneurs are finding themselves more than ever pressurized to meet an unrealistic standard of perfection in work ethic and results.
This, in turn, makes it incredibly easy to fall into the trap of compensating by overworking yourself to death.
The fantasy of a life full of freedom and entrepreneurial spirit is often replaced by one of stress, overwork and overwhelm.
This is one of the reasons why most people quit, and 90% of businesses fail.
People have too much on their plate, and often believe that it is by doing more than a better outcome will come of it.
What we’ve found is that the best you can do is doing what’s best for you.
Moreover, overworking yourself, saying no to the things that make you happy, creating unrealistic expectations, and boxing yourself in an “all work no play” attitude is a surefire way to completely “deplete” your ego and get absolutely nowhere.
Of course, I’m not saying you should do nothing (nor should you listen to anybody about that department for that matter)— a hard day's work bears fruit.
But let’s not forget where inspiration, creativity and luck actually come from…
These are the true seeds of entrepreneurial success.
So next time you tell yourself you’re going to finally “get out of this” or “get to the next level” or even “make this happen in record time” remember that sometimes the best thing to do is to simply let things go the way they should, and only you know how to do that.
Cheers,
Alex
