Latest news with #ego
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Editorial: No winner to declare in Trump-Musk feud
The bitter feud that broke out this past week between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump is more than bravado gone bad. It highlighted the ugly, juvenile tendencies of both as they aired a personal grudge on a global scale. As bizarre and, admittedly, entertaining in a sort of WWE way, it proved, there were no winners to declare. Not Musk, not Trump, not their supporters, investors nor perhaps even bystanders. Ego can bring down the powerful — as Shakespeare observed long ago with Macbeth, King Lear and Othello. Achieving common goals and maintaining stability requires unity and collaboration. But that was quickly lost as they traded punches on social media. For Musk, it only further erodes his current and future customer base for everything from Tesla cars to The Boring Company tunnel contracts to SpaceX rockets and satellites. It also suggests that maybe he isn't cut out for leadership no matter how many billions of dollars he still has. Lost trust is difficult to recapture. For Trump, the world sees again that if you upset him enough, you can get under his skin. Get close to him, play to his ego and you can win him over without any authenticity. Neither quality is ideal for a global leader at a time when America needs to reassert itself. Oh, it was quite the bromance for a time. Remember when in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Trump, Musk tweeted unequivocally, 'I fully endorse Trump.' What followed was a prolonged political alliance that saw Musk sporting MAGA hats of nearly every variety, standing beside Trump at rallies across the country, addressing tens of thousands of Republicans at each stop, helping to raise millions for Trump and the GOP, and frequently, if awkwardly, appearing in the background of Oval Office meetings. Now, we suspect, Musk (and his son) won't be invited back to the Oval Office for some time. Some of the more prescient among us saw this coming. Cracks were already apparent as Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' was vetted. Claims that it would both jumpstart the economy and reduce the deficit proved too difficult a pill for Musk to swallow. 'Shame on those who voted for (the bill),' Musk now famously observed. Trump and many of his supporters alleged Musk only took issue with the bill because of the loss of electric vehicle subsidies. Musk, who spent hundreds of millions of dollars to get Trump reelected, then reminded the president of his game-changing political contributions. Oh, and he used the word 'ingratitude.' Trump then threatened to cut all of Musk's government contracts, to which Musk quickly replied that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon Spacecraft (a spacecraft that the government heavily relies on for deliveries and trips to the International Space Station). Musk also dropped his 'big bomb,' accusing Trump of being in the government's unreleased Epstein files meaning he was associated with the late Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier convicted of sex offenses. In a Shakespeare play, this would now be the third act and one or more of the antagonists would express some remorse. They might even recognize their faults. Whatever offers of rapprochement we hear from the world's richest man and the world's most powerful man, we see little chance of such self-awareness. Musk crossed the Rubicon given how Trump values loyalty above all else. Perhaps a marriage of convenience is still possible but trust? Never again. The takeaway for the rest of us? How embarrassing and truly awful that the president of the United States would engage in this juvenile, public dispute with his most valued supporter simply because they have differing views on deficit spending. And perhaps there's also a lesson in not airing your dirty laundry in front of tens of millions on a social media account. In a better functioning democracy, disputes among political allies are resolved through negotiation and compromise, not through public accusations and threats. We are better than that. Whatever comes next, Musk and Trump might try having a private conversation. Without the public tweets and attempts to humiliate the other. It's a lesson most of us pick up in middle school or thereabouts. _____
Forbes
09-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Your Ego Is The Enemy Of Progress
Tom Cattarius, CEO of Arktisquelle and a trusted advisor in the water filtration industry and e-commerce sector. getty We all want to feel important and valued by those around us. But in a business setting, that desire can quietly sabotage your decisions—especially when you're trying to reach the next level of your career (or beyond). Here's how your ego might be holding you back without you even realizing it. Don't get me wrong; being confident in business is crucial. Sales calls, conversations with employees and many other situations rely on confidence. But ego is something completely different. Imagine walking into a meeting and presenting your ideas with confidence. So far, so good, right? But then a colleague, mentor or coach shares a better idea—one that you know, based on their track record, is worth considering. Or let's say you've been stuck at the same revenue level for five years. Suddenly, someone in your industry who started just three years ago is already ahead of you in revenue or profit. Now, you have two choices: You can either let your ego justify why this person is different, why you have disadvantages or why it's not fair. That's the kind of ego I'm talking about—the one that holds you back. Or you can take the harder but more productive path by setting aside those excuses and asking, 'What can I learn from this person's behavior and mindset?' But here's the catch: Ego is tricky. It's easy to see in others, but in ourselves? Not so much. Here are some of the most common ways ego can slow your growth, along with how to recognize it in yourself. You don't have to act on every piece of feedback. But the inability to even listen to feedback—especially from people with more experience than you—is a red flag. When things go well, do you automatically take all the credit? Chances are, your ego is speaking louder than reality. Ask yourself, 'How much of my progress is thanks to my team, mentors or partners?' If you believe no one can do things as well as you, that's your ego talking. Growth in business requires trust and letting go of control. When something goes wrong, do you always blame external factors? Or can you say, 'That one's on me'? Letting ego drive your decisions will slowly erode your business and personal growth. Over time, this leads to: • Damaged Relationships: Eventually, your best people will stop tolerating that behavior. • Missed Opportunities: If the idea didn't come from you, your ego might block it. • Burnout: You'll get frustrated more easily, feeling like you're pushing against invisible walls. I often ask myself, "How many entrepreneurs are stuck at the same revenue level for seven years or more—not because it's impossible to grow, but because their brain is conditioned to believe that it's normal or it's 'hard' or they don't need more?" That mindset kills progress. When I catch myself thinking that way, I stop and say, 'No—that's my ego talking. I need to challenge that belief.' Here are a few powerful ways to keep your ego in check: • Practice radical self-awareness. Ask yourself, 'Who in my age group or industry has already achieved what I want?' If someone else has done it, it's possible for you, too. • Seek feedback—from the right people. Don't take advice from just anyone. Listen to those who have achieved what you want to achieve. • Surround yourself with people who challenge you. Yes, it can feel uncomfortable to be the 'smallest' in the room—in revenue, experience or net worth. But that's exactly where growth happens. • Learn to say 'I was wrong.' It may sting at first, but it's one of the most powerful leadership skills you can develop. Now it's on you. Take some time to reflect and ask yourself, 'Do I need to make any changes here?' If you take one thing from this article, let it be this: Choose growth over being right. When you choose this path, everything shifts. You become more open, more coachable and more effective as a leader. Your team will trust you more because they see that you're willing to learn and adapt. You'll make better decisions based not on protecting your ego, but on what actually works. And over time, that mindset creates a compound effect: stronger relationships, smarter strategies and sustainable growth. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
