Strengthen your ego but don’t hide behind it.

Ego is a word that literally translates as “I.” It means everything you mean when you say the word “I,” and it contains what you believe yourself to be in comparison to others. It is important that you have an ego. You need an understanding of who you are. Otherwise, you’ll be adaptable like molding clay, and that’s not a good thing when you are in the wrong hands.

However, ego also protects you when you have to face people who are scary talented compared to you. Talented people are often very sore of ego, because they rarely have their ego threatened by other talented people, especially if they are just hitting fame or got a job among other very talented people. There’s always someone else who has done more, done it better, done it younger, or been paid more, or is somehow incredible to you.

Don’t deny the worth of others to prop yourself above them with falsehoods.

You could deny the worth of others and insist your way is the best way. “Those rock stars, what do they know about music anyway? Pleh, us classical musicians…” Then, you realize these mothafuckers write their own songs, they create their own show, they do this full blast for two hours every day for months straight, sleeping in a bus, and somehow still have the energy to write more music… and fuck some girls. In the meanwhile, your sorry ass is ready for bed after a leisurely one-hour gig entertaining grandmoms, who wouldn’t know the right note from the wrong one but appreciates you for showing up.

Who wouldn’t let that get to you when someone starts to snarl at you and put you down to your place… Especially if they sense of superiority is propped up on falsehoods and misconceptions, to begin with?

Get to the proud truth of yourself.

What you must do is to figure out what about what you do and what you are HONESTLY proud of. OK, they might write their own songs, but what do you do that is cool enough to brag about? Build yourself an arsenal of answers to feel secure enough, and deliver your ammo with a hint of humor if necessary. Don’t forget to listen to what you’re shot at with, however, or you’ll deliver a non-sensical comeback, and that’s mortifying (experience talking.)

People test each other and their ego.

It is common for people to test each other when they meet new people. They establish a pecking order and if you’re secure in what you do and who you are or not. Proud people won’t much like the company of a simp or a submissive pathetic being, nor do people ever like those who deny other’s worth and value to prop themselves up.

While others might think you’re just as good as your new company, it’s quite uncool to wait for someone else to defend you. Therefore, you better load up with TRUTHS while not being aggressive or defensive and balance it all with a sense of humor and understanding.

And never deny other’s worth… And also, it’s really annoying to hear praise or critique from someone who thinks they’re above you but you have no idea why they’d think that. Therefore, before you evaluate someone’s performance, make sure you also make it apparent you know what the eff you’re talking about.

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