Many people work very hard in business. Some spend thousands of dollars on coaches, training, and positioning themselves as experts or “gurus” in whatever niche they specialize in for their clients and customers. Receiving accolades for their work is a wonderful byproduct. Yet, there seems to be something that seeps into some people’s businesses and can kill any success or momentum that’s been built up.

Let’s call it straight up: Your ego is the one thing that can kill your business. Look at the social media world these days. How many people are out there becoming “experts” and making themselves look and feel bigger than they truly are in life? The numbers are staggering. It’s ok to think and visualize for bigger influence or business, yet you don’t have to knock down people in order to get where you want to be.

When perusing Facebook, it’s amazing to see how many people have let their egos run amok. The “ego is not my amigo” sentiment couldn’t be more true than today. The business marketplace is saturated with global entrepreneur superstars. Of course, people are going to attach themselves to ones that stand out to them. This is not a bad thing, yet it can turn into one pretty quickly. More and more, though, the ego steps into the light and brings powerful people down into the depths of despair.

What happened to being human in business?

It still happens when people meet one another at local community or business gatherings. It’s really interesting to see how many people are beginning to shift their mindsets away from online marketing tactics to building solid relationship-based communities.

There are times where having a healthy dose of bravado matters a whole lot. The ego, though, pushes you to be more than you really are to others. A bigger-than-life picture gets formed and, ultimately, it comes crashing down like a burning house.

Is there a place for a healthy ego? Yes. Look at the number of people who have found success and nurture it all the time. They care for and cultivate their success by following what they’ve learned from others as well as from hard-fought life experience. When the healthy ego shows up, it arrives in the form  of confidence and humility.

You do not have to be a jerk in your business. “But that’s just the way I am” is a recent and well-worn phrase used by many online entrepreneurs. Ok, so you are going to talk to your family and friends the same way you do in comments to people online? Maybe you can check yourself before commenting again.

There is a definite pathway to prosperity and a wonderful life. It does not have to be marked with potholes and rude behavior because that will lead to stinking thinking and doing harmful deals. E-G-O. It is a short, little word yet packs a powerful punch, doesn’t it?

“Leadership is not a popularity contest; it’s about leaving your ego at the door. The name of the game is to lead without a title.” – Robin S. Sharma

You can change the course of your ego by making some simple new choices day by day

One of them is to have compassion for other people. Remember, not everyone’s path is your path, nor is theirs yours. Every single person wants to succeed at something in life. It might not be business related at all. It might be running a marathon, finding the special relationship with a significant other, or taking a long-dreamed-about trip to a foreign country.

Those are markers of success in peoples’ lives. Do you have the depth of compassion to appreciate someone else’s happiness and not make it all about yourself? If this doesn’t happen in your world, then check yourself.

Another new choice to make is avoiding any reaction out of haste to other people and their words. Reacting from a place of fear and insecurity ends up leaving you looking like a hot mess. What would it look like if you responded more fervently and from the heart instead of your head? It might make you look even better than before.

It is little changes every day that add up to a better way of communicating with others. It also takes the ego out of the equation.

Removing ego is important

Removing your ego from your business is a powerful choice. Instead of always having to be “top dog” and act out in videos or through your words in private, you can actually be a human being and keep on growing.

People are attracted to different types of business owners and entrepreneurs. The ego will always be around and cause problems. This is a fact. Yet, does it have to be the be-all, end-all way of doing business? No, and it shouldn’t be.

It’s time for more compassionate and thoughtful entrepreneurs to step into the light. It’s time for egomaniacs to step aside, count their millions, and thank the Universe for their success. Their time in the light is growing smaller and smaller. Their private mistakes are being pushed into the public’s eye.

“Check your ego at the door. The ego can be the great success inhibitor. It can kill opportunities, and it can kill success.” – Dwayne Johnson

You can check your ego at the front door. You can be part of the great change sweeping across businesses today. Consider your words and actions wisely. Don’t let your emotions take over your thought patterns. The ego loves to see you act out in haste, anger, and frustration.

But the more you let your ego run the show, the quicker your business will go bye-bye. You don’t want that to happen, do you? Of course not, so be humble and caring about others. Lead from behind. Encourage others in your business from a heart-centered perspective. The rewards you will reap from doing these things will pay off more than any ego-churning online course.

Do you struggle to separate your ego from your own self especially when it comes to your success? How do you manage your ego before it gets to big? Let us know your advice in the comments below!