Haven’t you noticed that everyone nowadays uses ego as an excuse for everything? 

• You say NO to something. They say “ Oh it’s your ego” 
• You say My Product is the best. They say “Oh it’s Your Ego” 
• You say That place is below my standards. They say “ Oh it’s Your ego” 

Everyone uses it as a negative connotation.

Yet the truth is : 

• 99% of these people don’t know what ego is for real. 
• 0.99% of them will tell you that it’s okay to have an ego. 
• 0.01% will give you real advice on how to use your ego to get ahead in life. 

If you’re reading this congrats, you’re part of the 0.01%. 

This information you’re about to learn is the pure juice of how most successful entrepreneurs manifest, create, build and grow faster than others. 

I truly believe the only thing they have in common is: they know how to control their ego. 

• So what is ego ? 
• Can we really control it?
• If yes, then how?  

Well, this letter answers those questions.

Let’s dive in. 

What is Ego?

The ego is our sense of self, our identity. 

It’s what makes you say, “I AM.”

 It drives our ambitions, our desires for success, and our need for validation. 

While a healthy ego can motivate us to achieve great things, 

an unchecked ego can lead to stress, conflict, and unhappiness.

Characteristics of the Ego:

• Self-Centered: Focuses on personal needs and desires.
• Comparative: Measures worth against others.
• Reactive: Responds defensively to threats.
• Fear-Driven: Fears rejection and failure.
• Instant Gratification: 

The Lower Self

The lower self is the ego at its most basic level. 

• The spiritualists call it The Lower self.
• The Buddhists call it The Monkey Mind 
• The Kabbalah calls it The animal soul.
• The religious call it The Devil, the flesh..

Everyone calls it differently, (of course with different personal meanings.)

For the sake of this letter, let’s take those callings with an open mind. 

With that said, the lower self operates from a place of fear and separation. 

often leading to attachment, judgement, and insecurity.

Manifestations of the Lower Self:

• Attachment: Clinging to outcomes.
• Judgment: Criticizing others to feel superior.
• Insecurity: Seeking constant validation.
• Overreaction: Taking things personally.

Now for entrepreneurs, having a big ego can be both a blessing and a curse. 

It can drive innovation and success, but it can also lead to burnout and poor decision-making. 

The key is NOT to eliminate the ego but to control it. 

 Here are 3 powerful ways to do it, inspired by successful entrepreneurs.

1. Intermittent Fasting: Inspired by Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter and Square, practises intermittent fasting to maintain focus and energy.

What’s intermittent fasting?

 It’s eating one meal in the evening and fasting for the rest of the day. 

Intermittent fasting teaches discipline and self-control, helping you to master your bodily desires.

By delaying your food intake, you’re: 

• Saying Not yet to your ego-driven cravings. 
• Managing your bodily needs for power. 
• Mastering physical hunger.
• Gaining Mental Clarity.

It’s no wonder that fasting has alot of benefits, it’s written in the Bible, the Quran, the Turah and experienced by millions.

You might be saying, but how do you get the energy to work as an entrepreneur while fasting? 

Well this might sound illogical, but fasting makes you a high performing individual during the day.  

That’s exactly what Jack Dorsay has done over the years. 

Scientific Insight: Intermittent fasting triggers autophagy, the body’s process of cleaning out damaged cells and regenerating new ones, as per the New England Journal of Medicine.

Jack Dorsey’s Fasting Routine:

• One Meal a Day: Dorsey eats one meal in the evening, fasting for the rest of the day.
• Weekend Fasting: Sometimes, he extends his fasts over the weekend.
• Benefits: Improved mental clarity, energy levels, and overall health.

2. Meditation: Inspired by Jack Ma

Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba Group, practices meditation to maintain focus and balance.

What’s Meditation?

Meditation is a practice that allows you to observe your thoughts without attachment. 

It reduces the ego’s chatter, allowing for clear, thoughtful decisions and maintaining inner peace.

Meditation is about eliminating distractions to achieve mental clarity and emotional calm. 

Jack Ma uses a blend of mindfulness and Qigong meditation, which involves deep breathing, focused attention, and energy cultivation.

But Why Meditate?

By dedicating time to meditate, you’re:

• Silencing the Ego: Reducing the constant chatter of the mind.
• Gaining Mental Clarity: Seeing situations more clearly without ego-driven distortions.
• Managing Stress: Keeping calm under pressure.
• Enhancing Creativity: Allowing innovative ideas to flow.

Meditation has seen an increase in benefits for those practising it.

Whether on a personal level or business level. 

It is a tool that helps, but it’s not an escape from the current reality. 

Couple months ago, someone shared with me how they’ve been meditating for 2 hours/day yet they’re still nowhere where they want to be in life. 

It’s sad to think that meditation will miraculously create the dream life for you.  

Because the truth is : 

Meditation will NOT create the business for you. 

Meditation will NOT bring in the customers for you. 

Meditation will NOT post your offers for you. 

It’s what you do after meditation that matters. 

Or with what you learned during it. 

Scientific Insight: A study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that meditation reduces activity in the default mode network (DMN), the brain region linked to mind-wandering and self-referential thoughts.

With that said, here is Jack Ma’s Meditation Routine:

• Qigong Meditation: Practised for about 20-30 minutes each day.
• Consistency: Regular meditation for many years.
• Mental Benefits: Improved calmness, clarity, and stress management.

By integrating meditation into your routine, you can harness its power to control the ego while enjoying the many benefits it brings to your personal and professional life.

3. Silence: Inspired by Naval Ravikant

Naval Ravikant, renowned entrepreneur and investor, believes that creating intentional quiet spaces in our lives can lead to happiness and wealth. 

He once said  “ Enlightenment is the space between your thoughts.” 

You might be asking how I can find the space between my thoughts? 

Well as we saw in the previous section that meditation allows you to observe your thoughts. 

What is Silence ? 

Now silence is more than just the absence of noise. 

It is about being aware of your stillness that connects you to your soul. 

It allows you to hear your true thoughts and feelings.

When you’re doing so, notice how your body starts getting itchy, or you start wandering, or you get distracted by a noise happening outside, maybe you wanna check your phone..etc 

That’s basically your ego who cannot stay still. 

It wants to be stimulated. 

So by practising silence, you can:

• Quiet the Ego: The ego thrives on noise and distractions. 

Silence helps to quiet the mind’s constant chatter, allowing your true self to emerge.

• Gain Clarity: In the stillness, you can see things more clearly, free from the distortions of ego-driven thoughts.
• Manage Stress: Disconnecting from the constant barrage of stimuli helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Enhance Creativity: When the noise subsides, your mind can explore new ideas and innovative solutions.

Naval Ravikant’s Approach to Silence

Naval incorporates silence into his daily routine, finding it essential for deep thinking and personal growth. 

He uses silence as a tool to reflect, gain insights, and connect with his inner wisdom.

Scientific Insight: Research in Brain Structure and Function showed that two hours of silence daily lead to new cell development in the hippocampus, improving memory and emotion.

Tips to Start:

• Designate Silent Time: Set specific times daily for silence, free from distractions.
• Reflect Daily: Use this time to reflect on whether your actions align with your intentions.
• Practice Mindful Speech: Speak only words that reflect your true intentions.

By quieting the ego, you can align more closely with your higher self, leading to actions and decisions that are in harmony with your true purpose.

Conclusion

Controlling the ego is an ongoing journey. 

Incorporating meditation, fasting, and silence into daily life cultivates self-awareness, discipline, and true self-alignment. 

These practices help transcend the ego’s influence, leading to a more authentic life.

Incorporate those practices in your daily routines. 

Start small, stay consistent and notice how you create a more meaningful reality. 

Until Next Week

-Ons