Hate It Or Love It: Kill The Ego When It Gets In The Way Of Integrity

In this episode of “Hate It Or Love It,” Steven Almeida dives deep into the delicate balance between ego and integrity. Steven reflects on personal experiences and observations within the industry, highlighting how ego can be both a powerful driving force and a potential downfall. He emphasizes that while ego is essential when pursuing your dreams—protecting you from naysayers and doubters—it must be kept in check to avoid overshadowing integrity and true progression.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Dual Nature of Ego: Steven explains that ego plays a crucial role in achieving your dreams. It’s the armor that defends against criticism, doubt, and disbelief, providing the self-belief needed to push forward.

2. When Ego Becomes the Enemy: While ego can carry you to success, it becomes detrimental when it overpowers integrity. Steven warns against letting ego become your identity, as it can lead to negative outcomes, especially when execution doesn’t match ambition.

3. Integrity as a Compass: Integrity is just as necessary as ego on the path to success. Steven stresses the importance of “killing the ego” when it hinders integrity, as integrity helps maintain authenticity and guides long-term success.

4. Ego Without Execution: Ego without the ability to execute can lead to a loss of respect and credibility. Steven candidly describes how an unchecked ego can make one look foolish when not backed by results.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Your ego is going to carry you because your ego is what’s going to defend you against the naysayers, the doubters, and all of that.”

• “You have to kill the ego when it’s in the way of integrity.”

• “When you can’t execute on things and you got this big ego, you’ll just be looking like a clown in the corner.”

Reflect on your own journey—are you letting ego drive you or derail you? Share your thoughts on how you balance ego and integrity in your own life using #IHateThisIndustryPod.

Connect with Us:

• Follow the Podcast: @IHateThisIndustryPod

• Follow Steven Almeida: @___TheRealWorld

• Follow Darrell Reese Jr.: @DarrellReeseJr

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Twitter.com/Darrellressejr

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Twitter.com/___therealworld

Tune in to this candid conversation about ego, integrity, and the fine line between the two. Whether you hate it or love it, this episode challenges you to examine your own path to success!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
And that's why you have to maintain integrity

(00:03):
when you're chasing your mother dreams, man.
Integrity don't have nothing to do with talent.
It don't have nothing to do with business.
It's just more so how you carry yourself.
And I get it.
I understand a lot of people whose ego gets the best of them.
It's happened to me tons of times.
I get it, especially when you're in pursuit of your dreams
because you kind of need a certain selfishness

(00:24):
and you need a certain ego when you're chasing your dream.
It's just required because your ego
is really what's going to carry you to the promised land.
Integrity will too.
Ego is what's going to defend you against the naysayers,
going to defend you against the doubters.
You're dealing with the non-believers
and you need to believe in yourself
and ego plays a big role in that.
So the sentiment of killing your ego,

(00:45):
I know in the context when it's said
and why to use that way,
you kill the ego when it's getting in the way
of progression, when it's getting in the way of integrity.
And I think that's a good way to say it
is that you got to kill the ego
when it's in the way of integrity.
Integrity is important and it's required also
to get to your goals and make it
to where you want to make it to.

(01:07):
A certain level of the ego is required.
But when it becomes this overwhelming thing
and it becomes your identity and I see it all the time,
I've seen it with people I was close to,
I've seen it with friends, I've seen it with family,
I've seen it with so many people in this industry,
the ego just gets the best of them
and they end up looking crazy.
It's different when you can execute on it.
When you can execute on your goals and your dreams

(01:30):
and the things you're chasing and you got that ego,
it kind of works for you.
But when you can't execute on things
and you got this big ego,
you'll just be looking like a clown in the corner.
It's just like...