When are you gonna cross over into that action, into the implementation? That's where all of the risk is, and that's also where all of the greatest reward is.
Welcome to the Legacy Creator podcast, a show dedicated to giving you the tools you need to build a profitable, purposeful, and powerful business that lasts. I'm your host, Ashton Smith, a sixth-generation entrepreneur who is passionate about helping you think bigger so that you can actualize your goals and build your legacy.
Let's dive in.
So before we dive into anything, it would be so incredible if you could share to Instagram right now. Tell us that you're tuning in, tell us what episode you're listening to, tag us @myawakeningco, um, and we would love to see that, share it, all the good things. But today's episode is gonna be fire. Yesss. Talkin' all about the ego. Ooh! And if you're immediately like, "Ooh, I need to change the episode because I do not struggle with this," please keep listening—because that was me a year ago. I was like—Mm-hmm.—"I don't struggle with this at all." And then I read a book on it and I was like, "gosh." Like, mind blown. Mm-hmm. So, this episode's going to be pretty fiery, pretty spicy, in true, like, Ashton and Jordan fashion. But it's gonna be so good. Uh, before we dive in officially, Jordan, introduce yourself for the peeps who don't know you.
Hi guys, I'm Jordan. I am Ashton's sister, but we also work together. I'm the creative director at The Awakening and I'm here to hang out and talk about the ego today.
The ego, ditching the ego, and putting in the work. Mm-hmm. You know, we said this on our last episode, uh, where we talked about the masculine and the feminine, but this was another conversation that we actually had when we were on our latest family beach trip, and we were just riffing and we were like, "This needs to be brought to the podcast community." Mm-hmm. So, this is gonna be good, and one thing that I wanna mention, just like at the top of this conversation, is that we're going to be referencing this book, uh, quite a bit throughout. It is called Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday, and I'm going to be so transparent with you guys. I have been reading this book for nearly a year now, and it is so profound and so good that I will sometimes read, like, a page at a time and I'll really sit with—Mm-hmm.—some of the quotes, some of the things that he shares. It's so powerful. So if you don't have that book, I highly recommend getting it. It's really good. And I actually wanna pull a quote directly from the book to kind of kick off this episode. It says, "It's a temptation that exists for everyone for talk and hype to replace action."
Mm. Yes. Like, that is the tea. All you need—Mm-hmm.—you don't even need us. You just need—Ryan Holiday in your life. Like, it's—that is just so, so good, and you know, I feel like this conversation is beautifully going to kind of tie to the one that we just recorded. It is going to be more of that, like, masculine forward energy and conversation. Mm-hmm. And we're gonna be calling you guys higher. We're gonna be, uh, you know, encouraging you to, to talk less and do more. And that is a—it can feel like a very masculine stance—Mm-hmm.—but I feel like this is a really, like, simple but important conversation for our community right now. Mm-hmm. I feel like it's actually really important. That's why we wanna bring it to you guys.
So, you know, one thing that we both know about our community is, like, The Awakening equals a community of visionaries. Like, all of our clients, all pretty much all of our community members, like, you guys are so visionary, and I feel like we fall into that category a bit, but you know, I always tell people I pair so nicely with a visionary because I am so action-oriented and I can really break down ideas and, like, put the puzzle together. But nonetheless, you guys are visionaries, which means, like, you're so good at sitting around and dreaming and ideating and vision casting, like setting goals. You guys have some big ideas and, like, we get excited about it. We're like, "Dang." Like, some of our clients are opening Airbnb properties. Some of our clients are starting foundries. Some of our clients are, you know, expanding to run multiple companies, and like, we love that about you guys, and it's actually a huge, huge strength. Um, but like I mentioned in the last episode, any strength in excess is a weakness. And so if you're always operating in that visionary headspace, it can create a dynamic where you're not acting a lot. You're never taking the idea from that ideation stage and then putting it into motion and action. Mm-hmm.
And yeah, just to say, like, I'm, I'm right there with you guys. Like if you're, if you're, like, raising your hand like, "That's me," like, I'm also there right, right there with you because, like, I could have all the ideas in the world and I struggle to implement and, like, actually take action. And that's like—it's such a strength for you to, like—you are very strategic and, and action oriented and so like, you'll have an idea, but you'll also take the next step, whereas I'm like—I struggle a little bit with that. So like, I'm, I'm just saying I'm right there with you, you know?
Yeah. We're here together. We're in it together. Yeah. Honestly, this is not like—none of our conversations are ever like a coming at you type of energy. Mm-mm. It's more of a like, "Wow, we see this. This is awesome." Or, "This is a need and we really wanna speak to it." And that's what this conversation is today. It's not to say that, like, we know best and we've never struggled with this. I think we both have. Mm-hmm. And I know that we've seen it as a struggle in our community and that's why we wanna bring it to you guys today, but you know, I really do wanna set the tone in saying that, you know, your ability to be a visionary, like, it is such a strength. And so, you know, don't, don't be so frustrated with yourself because you have all the ideas and sometimes you struggle to act, because there's someone on the flip side that, you know, can act and do all the things, but they have struggle, a—a—struggle, like, ideating and like, having the vision and paving that path forward. So it's a strength. We just have to figure out how to back it with motion and action and make sure that you're fully leveraging the strength that you carry. Mm-hmm. You know?
I think it is so funny because I had quite a few calls last week, and I would say maybe over the last, like, one to two weeks, um, I had calls with clients, I've had calls with potential clients, and so many people have said, I would say between, like, three and five people now, have said the exact same thing, "I wish that I could get paid to come up with ideas." Like, that is, like, how visionary, visionary our community is. Like you guys—Mm-hmm.—have like 50 new ideas every day. And it is a strength, but again, like, the question we really wanna propose here is, like, are you talking or are you doing? Are you talking so much about your ideas, about your visions, about your goals, and staying in that headspace of just very visionary? Or are you actually taking that and putting it into motion and action? Mm-hmm. You need both.
Yeah, I love the word in that Ryan Holiday quote, like, hype, like talk and hype. Like, you really can, like, just build up all the hype in your head 'cause you're just talking about your ideas so much, but are you actually taking action? So that's, like, that's, like, the guiding light throughout this whole episode, that's the question to really ask yourself. Are you talking or are you doing? Mm-hmm. And when you're talking, like, that's fine, but are you taking it to the doing? Are you taking it to the acting—Mm-hmm.—to the momentum? Um, and really, you know, ego can be at the center of this. Um, and I just wanna mention at the top of this, like, what is ego? Ego is simply our sense of self-esteem or self-worth, and I also wanna mention that, like, every single one of us has an ego. Like, it doesn't mean that you're egotistical. That's entirely different. Mm-hmm. Uh, but all of us have an ego. You can be the most confident person in the world, you can be the most doubtful, like, shy person in the world, we all have an ego.
And I actually want to read directly from Ego is the Enemy, because he really sets the tone for what ego is, and specifically how it is different from confidence. So, just gonna open my book here. "When we remove ego, we're left with what is real. What replaces ego is humility. Yes, but rock-hard humility and confidence. Whereas ego is artificial, this type of confidence can hold weight. Ego is stolen. Confidence is earned. Ego is self-anointed. Its swagger is artifice. One is girding yourself, the other gaslighting. It's the difference between potent and poisonous."
Ooh. Man, snaps for that. Like, that's, who writes that, first off? That's crazy. That's a lot. Uh, it's, I feel like that's so much to unpack. Yeah, and that was, I think that's literally in the introduction, and it was one of the first things I read and I just stopped there. I was like, "Woo, that is so profound." And I've read that to Jordan, like, I don't know, 5-plus times now. Yeah. Every time you read it, I'm like, I have to, like, really sit with it. And like I, for a second I, like, close my eyes 'cause I'm like I wanna, like, really listen to this 'cause it's, it's just, these are big conversations, man. Yeah. That's all, yeah. It's just, it's so profound, so again, get the book, but you know, I really love the distinction that he makes between ego and confidence. Like, you can be a very confident person and not operate from, like, an egotistical place. Mm-hmm. But you can also operate from ego and not actually be a confident person. You can mistake the ego for, for confidence or s—or think that you're putting on some level of confidence when actually it's, it's the ego talking. Ooh. Yeah. Dang. It's, it's so good.
And so, you know, really in this conversation, we want to hit home on the fact that ego is all about talk. Like, talk, talk, talk. Why? Because it feels so good to talk about your ideas, to talk about your goals. But what can happen is, like, in the talking, you confuse talking with acting. Mm-hmm. You confuse ideating with actual progress. Mm-hmm. You confuse, like, you confuse the two. I mean, sitting around and talking about your ideas is productive for a time, because, I mean, like, we do that. Yeah. You have to do that.
Yeah, I was, I was actually thinking about, like, when we're coming up with ideas for, like, you know, we're gonna put on, like, a photo shoot or something, like, we do a lot of ideating. We actually spend some time talking with each other, like, talking through an idea, but then, you know, we have to take the next steps, we have to get everything in order, and then we have to actually, you know, do the photo shoot. So, like, there is power in the talking, but if you're just talking and there's no action, then, you know, I feel like that, in a way, can be kind of fluffing up the ego, 'cause it's just kind of like building up that hype and you're never actually doing anything. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah. Just talking, just ideating. And again, it's productive for a time, but at some point in time, if you stay in that space, it hinders your growth, it's not productive, and it helps no one. Like, it definitely doesn't allow you to feel, like, a true sense of fulfillment, to create a true sense of impact. And I think that this conversation is so nuanced, like, because, like we just said, you have to spend time cultivating your ideas. And like, I even think about our, our podcast that we did on creativity. You need to take the time to ideate, to create—Mm-hmm.—to be in that, again, like that more feminine, visionary space. But at what point does it need to enter into the implementation and the execution? And sometimes we can stay in the realm of ideating because it's maybe more comfortable, or maybe that's your strong suit, right? But it helps no one to stay in that space forever. You may even stay in that space because you're afraid. Like, maybe your ideas are, like, terrifying. I mean, I've felt that before. Mm-hmm. Um, we're all susceptible to this, but at some point, your ideation has to turn into action. Otherwise, you never actualize anything. You never fulfill anything. You never create what you want in reality. Mm-hmm. It's just an idea. It's just a vision.
Yeah, and I think that's also how you become a stronger, like, person, entrepreneur, and leader is, like, like you said, if, you know, say that ideating is a strength for you. Like, if you just stay in that place just because it, it's a strength and you feel comfortable there, like, that's, that's okay for a time. But then if you never step out of that, if you never step into action, if you, if you never step out of where it, where it's comfortable for you, then you're never going to grow. Like, we talk about this all the time, like, growth requires a little bit of discomfort. It requires you to get out of that comfort zone and, and do some things that maybe you don't wanna do. And so if you stay in that place, you're never gonna grow as—you're never gonna grow to the next level and become the person and the leader that you're supposed to be if you just stay where it's comfortable. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Growth is not comfortable. Like, you know, even think about a flower that blooms. Before it can bloom, it literally has to break through the dirt. And I think that, like, that is just such a good metaphor for, like, when you're going into your next level in business. Every single time that I've had to go to another level, I've felt discomfort. Mm-hmm. Some more than others. Yeah. And I think that you don't ever get rid of the discomfort of growth. You get better at managing it. You get better at maintaining resilience. You get better at maintaining stamina and grit. You learn how to keep the vision in mind. You learn that it's all worth it in the end, but you have to take the action. You have to, like, approach that breaking point, approach that breakthrough, approach the door, the opportunity, whatever it is, knowing that as you do, you're going to become the person that you need to be to actually carry out the vision. And like, that's a whole other thing here too, is like, there's so many people that have these big visions, and I firmly believe that, like, the presence of a desire in your heart is proof of your ability to actualize it. It wouldn't be there. If it's a true desire that is your own, not influenced by what other people are doing or what sounds nice, but truly a desire that you have, it is meant for you, like, without a shadow of a doubt. But that doesn't mean that it's meant for you today. Why? Because whenever you actualize something, don't you want to maintain it? Like, when you grow to a 7 or 8-figure business, when you start speaking on stages, when you write that book, when you hire that, you know, large team that you want, don't you want to, like, maintain it? Don't you wanna keep it? You don't wanna just hit that milestone and then everything crumble beneath you. You wanna be able to maintain stamina. And like, that is what getting uncomfortable and growing allows and creates and makes possible for you. Mm-hmm.
Wow, I just—I went on a big rant there, but I'm really passionate about that. And it's like, if what's inside of you is meant for you, but you're never fully acting on it and you're not getting out there and claiming it and making it happen, then like, what's it all for? It's just a desire. And you're never gonna be fulfilled because you're not putting action behind the desire. Mm-hmm. And just because something is hard and just because something doesn't feel good, it doesn't mean that it isn't meant for you. It just means you need to go through some things in order to get to the other side. I feel like 2023 is, like, one of those years for me and I think we'll do, like, a dedicated episode on that. But, I mean, the last 9 to 12 months have been so hard for me. Mm-hmm. And it has not looked like what I thought it would, but I firmly believe, like, it's all a part of, like, the big picture and it's all preparation for what's to come, and I have to be willing to ride it out. My word for the year is steadfast. I have to be able to, like, stay the course. Mm-hmm. Keep moving forward. Even when things don't feel good, it isn't because, you know, something isn't meant for me or it's not right. Actually, it, it means that, like, I'm, uh, I'm on the right path here. You know, usually you have resistance when you go after something you really want. Yeah. That's normal.
At the end of the day, we always want to get you guys in motion and action after our episodes. So, here's a simple method to get you started:
First, look at your list of goals and identify one thing that's your top priority. For visionaries, this is a crucial step to avoid overwhelm.
Next, outline the first three starting steps for that goal. These aren't the only steps, but they are the immediate actions you can take to build momentum.
Finally, add these three steps to your to-do list or calendar with due dates, and then do them. The act of doing is what builds resilience, stamina, and confidence. Just get to work, and the rest will sort itself out.
This method, which Jordan and I have both used, is like building a snowball and pushing it down a hill. Once you take that initial action, momentum will naturally follow.
