Ego Will Destroy You—

Welcome back to Marginal Gains.

Sorry for the lack of an issue last week. I was suffering with a tooth infection so it was hard to focus and write. Thankfully I'm over it. And I'm excited to share this week's issue with you. It's from the latest book I'm reading, Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday.

So let's get into it.

Ego Will Destroy You—Here’s Why You Need the Plus, Minus, and Equal System

Ego affects our life in subtle ways without our knowledge.

It's a hidden saboteur adjusting our path without us knowing. Let it get too big and it controls you completely. You become powerless to it's hunger. It's drive is to feed itself.

Like a cancer, It keeps growing until it destroys you.

So what's the treatment?

The Plus, Minus and Equal System.

The Plus, Minus and Equal system used by Martial artist Frank Shamrock is a great way to keep your ego tamed.

A way to keep you in the student mindset.

You need to have:

• A Plus: someone above you to learn from.

• A Minus: someone below you to teach.

• An Equal: someone who can challenge you.

The system is great because it helps check your skill and knowledge from different angles. So you know what you know and what you don't. Stopping you becoming complacent.

Your ego can trick you into a false sense of power.

You think you're great. You think you've figured it all out. You think you can't be beaten?

That's when you get complacent.

Get lazy. Get figured out. Get beaten.

Just look at Mike Tyson.

In 1986, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. But his meteoric rise soon gave way to a dramatic fall.

After the death of Cus D'Amato, his mentor and coach, Tyson became a victim of his own success.

With no guidance and increasing fame and fortune, his ego grew and eventually destroyed him.

The Plus, Minus and Equal System helps because it controls the ego.

There's always someone that's better than you keeping you humble. Someone below you who can help improve your understanding so you can keep growing. And someone who is able to challenge you and keep you on your toes.

Each angle gives you something different.

Those above you teach you the what.

Those below teach you the why.

Those equal teach you how.

But the Plus, Minus and Equal system isn't just limited to martial arts.

It's a recipe for life.

Want to stay sharp? Keep learning? Keep your ego in check?

This system does it all.

A Plus pushes you forward.

A Minus grounds you.

An Equal keeps you sharp.

It's simple. It's effective. It keeps you growing.

In our pursuits, whether in martial arts or life, we must resist the siren call of complacency.

It's easy to get lazy and to think there's no more progress to make. But by embracing the Plus, Minus, and Equal system in your life, you stay humble. Stay hungry. Stay sharp.

So how can you apply it?

For whatever you want to improve at, find your Plus. Your Minus. Your Equal.

Who's above you? Learn from them.

Who's below you? Teach them.

Who's your equal? Challenge them.

Keep your ego in check.

Keep growing.

H/t to Ryan Holiday. I came across this idea from book "Ego is the Enemy". A perspective-changing read that will redefine how you approach aspiration, success and failure.

Thank you for being a part of the Marginal Gains community.

Every Sunday I share small simple tips to help you become your best self.

Want to read more?

Check out our previous issues here

Until next week,

Stay Thriving,

Shoaib.