Aweh, My Dearly Beloved Fellow Ruminants & Groupies
Let me tell you, dearly beloved readers, as you all know – and believe me, everybody knows this. I have many thousands, maybe even millions, of the most devoted groupies you’ve ever seen, across the world. People are talking about it everywhere, okay? Because this blog – and let me tell you, it’s not just any blog – this is the most tremendous, the greatest blog ever. People are saying it’s a phenomenon. No one’s seen anything like it before! Absolutely huge, dearly beloved, huge!
As you can clearly see from my amazing portrait, and believe me, people are talking about it, I’m extremely good-looking, people, extremely. Not only that, I’m also incredibly rich, okay? We’re talking wealth on a level most people can’t even imagine. And let’s not forget — incredibly smart. Some say “genius,” but honestly, the word genius just isn’t nearly good enough. I’m on a whole other level, people. Nobody does it better! Ok perhaps there might be a slight exaggeration regarding how rich I am but otherwise, it’s all true.
One of my most devoted groupies asked me to ruminate on the concept of ego. The term gained prominence through the work of Sigmund Freud in the early 20th century, who used it to describe a key component of his model of the human psyche. But let’s not forget, this is the same guy who thought a kid’s potty-training shapes their entire personality later in life. Now apart from my tremendous intellect and amazing, good looks, I have the best bullshit deflectors in the world. Pure premium-grade bullshit Dr. Freud. So, let’s skip Freud today, but we’ll give him credit for throwing the word “ego” into the mix.
The ego is the sense of self or identity that we have, including our thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions about who we are. It plays a key role in how we view ourselves in relation to the world and others. Egos come in all sizes.
A “small ego” typically refers to someone modest, humble, and not overly focused on themselves. People with small egos tend to downplay their achievements, are less concerned with gaining recognition or validation from others, and are generally more open to criticism and feedback. They don’t feel the need to constantly prove their worth or assert dominance, often prioritising others’ perspectives and showing empathy. A small ego suggests a balanced, grounded sense of self.
A “huge ego” refers to someone who has an inflated sense of self-importance and is excessively focused on themselves. People with a huge ego tend to know they are superior to others, crave constant attention and praise, and have difficulty accepting criticism. They come across as arrogant, dismissive of other viewpoints, and obsessed with their own achievements or abilities.
So, the question now is who is more successful, more fulfilled, and happier? During my corporate days there was a senior overpaid intellectually challenged HR executive who happened to buy a management book in the airport lounge. One of the wonderful things about this book is that it came with a set of very friendly and knowledgeable consultants who, for a small fee, organised three-day workshops where you got free lunch. So it came to pass that we had a compulsory workshop.
There we learned that the key to success as a leader was to have a small ego. To listen to others, be empathetic, and bring out the best in others. Of course, I find this appealing and some leaders do this and are successful. Perhaps Warren Buffet might be an example. But is this the only key to leadership success? And here the answer is no.
Let’s consider just one topical example. Donald Dump and Elongated Rusk (credit to Rob Vega) are currently having a bromance. Are these two men successful? Perhaps the definition of success is subjective and personal but let’s just say that if you become the president of the United States or come from a modest background and become the richest person on the planet it might be fair to say you are successful. Do these two men have small egos? Definitely not. Their egos are between large and huge.
Surprisingly, the friendly consultants at the workshop sent me to the naughty corner for making this point and I thought I was being constructive. Why was I surprised? This then brings me back to psychology. I have discarded Freud so let’s turn to Carl Jung and the principle of synchronicity. It’s a complex concept but one aspect of it can be described as follows, “We attract experiences to ourselves which can allow us to become conscious of any limited or restricted parts of ourselves to allow us to transform”. In everyday terms, synchronicity refers to those meaningful coincidences or events that seem to happen at just the right moment, often nudging us to recognize something about ourselves that we might otherwise ignore—whether it’s a challenge we need to face, a weakness we need to address, or a new direction we should take. These events can serve as signals or nudges to pay attention to parts of ourselves that may need attention. Being conscious of the parts of ourselves that are limited or restricted and thinking deeply about this is not something someone with a large ego can do because you need to accept that criticism and acknowledge your deficiencies.
When we look at successful leaders, synchronicity often plays a subtle but pivotal role. Take Steve Jobs, for example. Known for his formidable ego, Jobs also experienced moments of profound personal and professional transformation—whether it was being ousted from Apple or his eventual return to the company. Jung might argue that these moments were synchronistic events designed to challenge his inflated sense of self and force him to confront his weaknesses. Jobs’ later success, marked by a refined vision and more collaborative approach, hints that synchronicity played a part in his personal evolution. These moments pushed him to acknowledge his vulnerabilities, and that ability to embrace such challenges is what allowed him to grow as a leader.
Jobs’ approach to his own mortality is another powerful example. His diagnosis with pancreatic cancer in 2004 was a turning point, and he openly spoke about how facing death shaped his priorities and sharpened his focus. He famously said, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” Confronting his mortality allowed him to strip away ego-driven fears and embrace the possibility of change, pushing him to think more deeply about his legacy. In Jungian terms, this was synchronicity at work—forcing him to confront the impermanence of life, which ultimately deepened his leadership and creative vision.
Whether driven by large egos or small ones, leaders often find themselves encountering synchronistic events that either break down or refine their sense of self. The ability to embrace these moments, learn from them, and evolve is what ultimately determines whether they become figures we admire and remember.
Here’s the thing: as I grow older, I’d like my own ego to shrink. Life feels lighter that way. But how do I do that when I’m running the greatest blog ever when I’m (still) ridiculously good-looking, and when I have you lovely people hanging on to my every word? It’s a conundrum. Yet, I’ve realized that self-awareness might just be the key. Accepting that we’re all flawed, all learning, is where real transformation begins.
Thank you for all the recommendations, comments, and love I feel in cyberspace.
Regards
Bruce
Ruminant Pink Friday 