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Egonomics: What Makes Ego Our Greatest Asset
Two of big business's most dynamic consultants explain how ego undermines or accelerates the growth and productivity of business - and they instruct readers on how to strike the balance between too much ego and not enough.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
33 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
David Marcum
73 books49 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
David Marcum and Steven Smith travel the world teaching people to utilize the corporate asset of ego and limit its liabilities. With decades of experience and degrees in management and psychology, they¹ve worked with organizations including Microsoft, Accenture, the U.S. Air Force, General Electric, Disney, and State Farm. Their work has been published in eighteen languages in more than forty countries.
David Marcum and Steven Smith travel the world teaching people to utilize the corporate asset of ego and limit its liabilities. With decades of experience and degrees in management and psychology, they¹ve worked with organizations including Microsoft, Accenture, the U.S. Air Force, General Electric, Disney, and State Farm. Their work has been published in eighteen languages in more than forty countries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 18, 2012
Типична американска книга „пуканка“ (излишно раздута :D), от която си заслужават само няколко странички. Или иначе казано: сиропчето е приятно на вкус, но поразредено :D
А ето и онова, което е наистина стойностно и с размера на брошура:
А ето и онова, което е наистина стойностно и с размера на брошура:
February 26, 2012
Although the concepts in this book were indeed thought provoking, I felt the authors' ego bleeding through the pages. In their writing, they exhibit the inflated, "words to impress" vocabulary that they warn against using when trying to reign in your ego. I found their anecdotal stories interesting but I was skeptical of the validity of some of their research and supporting evidence. It seems the authors have a friend for everything and they tailored their examples to fit their claims, rather than deducing the role of ego from solid support. I also questioned how they knew some of the storied they mentioned. Overall, I finished this book with more questions than answers and the distinct feeling that its intended purpose, a guide to CEOs on how to become "Level-5 Leaders," was lost.
April 3, 2018
Another great book from Ryan Holiday on how to spot ego early and how to counter ego.
I would say I am lucky to read this book in time when I saw my effort translate into success in career and my ego meter started to move up substantially, and I started to feel something is not too right about me.
I would say I am lucky to read this book in time when I saw my effort translate into success in career and my ego meter started to move up substantially, and I started to feel something is not too right about me.
November 11, 2018
One of the best and most impactful books I’ve read in some time. It has changed my perspectives and my life. It provides wonderful stories, examples, quotes, but also practical methods to apply and act upon. I highly recommend it and re-read over and over again.
May 3, 2008
I think this book is very important for nearly everyone because too many people seem to have inflated egos that harm themselves and those around them. A good read.
March 7, 2015
Excelente libro, brinda varias pautas para ser consciente sobre el nivel de ego que tiene una persona, y sobre la influencia negativa o positiva que tendria en el exito en los negocios.
January 29, 2023
What are your favorite quotes from the book?
"Surprising as it may sound, many people don't have enough ego, and that leads to insecurity and apathy that paralyze teams and leaders."
"Often the hardest side of business to master is the human side, and nothing is more human than ego. How we manage ego on the human side affects everything we do on the business side, one way or the other. It's up to each of us to shift the momentum of the one thing that shifts the energy of everything else we do. That shift requires each of us to take a piercing look at the way we work -
conversation by conversation, project by project, meeting by meeting."
"Humility requires not that we think less of ourselves, but that we think of ourselves less often."
"Curiosity gives us permission and courage to test what we think, feel, and believe to be true, reminding us we don't know everything about anything."
"You need to evolve, but you don't need to evolve defensively."
"Weather we're in a public political position, a visible corporate leadership role, or a simple everyday encounter, when we try to escape responsibility for mistakes, to hide the truth, or when we agree we've made mistakes but discard them as trivial, people usually see through our defensive ploys."
"The truth is that the less we focus on our needs first, the more likely our needs will be met."
"Humiliation is a feeling most often felt by those who lack humility."
"And in leading, you need to hire people who have different viewpoints experiences a group around you to keep you humble, because in leadership, it's so easy to be egotistical.''
"If we can't distinguish who we are from what we do, what we have, or who we do it with, we won't see past our titles or tenure in a discussion.''
"The danger in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished."
"If the pursuit of and adherence to truth is to become habit, we need two specific abilities: hearing down and speaking up.''
"Real disloyalty is keeping silent when something needs to be said."
"Weather we're on the receiving or giving end of acceptance, when we're to anxious for it, we are susceptible to insincere comments or artificial information. We're also prone to say whatever we think will get us acceptance we need, which ironically increases the chances we'll get rejected."
"Ironically, the less we're worried about maintaining an ideal self-image and being endorsed by
others, the more genuine acceptance and real confidence come our way."
What is a specific real world application that you will be able to make from what you learned in this book?
"While telling interviewers what they want to hear may get us a job, it may also put us in the wrong job. If you're a recruiter influenced by praise, you're likely to hire the wrong person." Not that I have ever been one who gives a lot praise, it was interesting to think of the effects on ego that praise can have. Putting the connection together that the effects we can have on others ego can result in us getting a job that is actually not a good fit draws attention to the importance of understanding ego in an interview. As someone doing interviews, it is important to evaluate candidates on skills, abilities and attitude and avoid making judgments based on flattery.
What is the one thing that you think you will do differently or think differently about since you read the book?
My reality will be different then another's reality even though we are experiencing the same thing
at the same time. Wow! Once we can think about these differences in all our interactions we can be better leaders as we will better understand other's reality of the situation and have better control in the interaction. - "If we're hypersensitive to how others react to the words we say, the possessions we have, the thoughts we share, or the actions we take, we give control of how we feel about ourselves to others." Maintaining control over our feeling is paramount to our maintaining control of our ego. If we a trying too hard be accepted by others, we lose that control and in order for ego to be an asset we need to be in control of it.
What is one point you disagreed with, or at least questioned, in this book?
"58 percent of workers believe most top executives put their own self-interest ahead of the company's." I don't disagree with this. It's just sad that executives have built so little trust and it makes me question how we can change this perception, especially since it is usually in the executives best interest (ego and financial) to have the company be as successful as possible.
"Surprising as it may sound, many people don't have enough ego, and that leads to insecurity and apathy that paralyze teams and leaders."
"Often the hardest side of business to master is the human side, and nothing is more human than ego. How we manage ego on the human side affects everything we do on the business side, one way or the other. It's up to each of us to shift the momentum of the one thing that shifts the energy of everything else we do. That shift requires each of us to take a piercing look at the way we work -
conversation by conversation, project by project, meeting by meeting."
"Humility requires not that we think less of ourselves, but that we think of ourselves less often."
"Curiosity gives us permission and courage to test what we think, feel, and believe to be true, reminding us we don't know everything about anything."
"You need to evolve, but you don't need to evolve defensively."
"Weather we're in a public political position, a visible corporate leadership role, or a simple everyday encounter, when we try to escape responsibility for mistakes, to hide the truth, or when we agree we've made mistakes but discard them as trivial, people usually see through our defensive ploys."
"The truth is that the less we focus on our needs first, the more likely our needs will be met."
"Humiliation is a feeling most often felt by those who lack humility."
"And in leading, you need to hire people who have different viewpoints experiences a group around you to keep you humble, because in leadership, it's so easy to be egotistical.''
"If we can't distinguish who we are from what we do, what we have, or who we do it with, we won't see past our titles or tenure in a discussion.''
"The danger in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished."
"If the pursuit of and adherence to truth is to become habit, we need two specific abilities: hearing down and speaking up.''
"Real disloyalty is keeping silent when something needs to be said."
"Weather we're on the receiving or giving end of acceptance, when we're to anxious for it, we are susceptible to insincere comments or artificial information. We're also prone to say whatever we think will get us acceptance we need, which ironically increases the chances we'll get rejected."
"Ironically, the less we're worried about maintaining an ideal self-image and being endorsed by
others, the more genuine acceptance and real confidence come our way."
What is a specific real world application that you will be able to make from what you learned in this book?
"While telling interviewers what they want to hear may get us a job, it may also put us in the wrong job. If you're a recruiter influenced by praise, you're likely to hire the wrong person." Not that I have ever been one who gives a lot praise, it was interesting to think of the effects on ego that praise can have. Putting the connection together that the effects we can have on others ego can result in us getting a job that is actually not a good fit draws attention to the importance of understanding ego in an interview. As someone doing interviews, it is important to evaluate candidates on skills, abilities and attitude and avoid making judgments based on flattery.
What is the one thing that you think you will do differently or think differently about since you read the book?
My reality will be different then another's reality even though we are experiencing the same thing
at the same time. Wow! Once we can think about these differences in all our interactions we can be better leaders as we will better understand other's reality of the situation and have better control in the interaction. - "If we're hypersensitive to how others react to the words we say, the possessions we have, the thoughts we share, or the actions we take, we give control of how we feel about ourselves to others." Maintaining control over our feeling is paramount to our maintaining control of our ego. If we a trying too hard be accepted by others, we lose that control and in order for ego to be an asset we need to be in control of it.
What is one point you disagreed with, or at least questioned, in this book?
"58 percent of workers believe most top executives put their own self-interest ahead of the company's." I don't disagree with this. It's just sad that executives have built so little trust and it makes me question how we can change this perception, especially since it is usually in the executives best interest (ego and financial) to have the company be as successful as possible.
December 21, 2022
changing my life!
August 31, 2016
My 5 stars is not (being defensive) just because I'm acknowledged (showcasing) for my contribution -- page 249, the line above Jack Welch (comparison) -- you guys know I'm not like that right? (seeking acceptance). I mean Peter Drucker & Jim Collins are obviously more well known (overly competitive) but they don't have to (making excuses) run major corporate behemoths like me (total bullshit) & Jack (delusions of grandeur), which is probably why their on the back of the page (belittling others).
Joking aside. With Ego costing corporations up to 20% of revenue Egonomics is a must (or should) read for all, not just CEOs & Corporate Executives which is the authors core focus. Presidents, Prime Ministers and anyone in the Banking or Financial Services Industry should be made to recall it like a London cabbie - that way we might get to where we need to without the expensive & unnecessary detours !
Shareholders are not the only victims of ego driven behavior. What about taxpayers picking up the trillion dollar tabs when we get lost on some international ego trip?
The real cost of ego is going to be felt by every inhabitant of planet unless we really start to embrace veracity and apply what we know, to what we do. The race to the top has proven to be a quick way to a short stay, whereas sustainable success/greatness/influence/happiness or whatever switch your trying to flick has always been a bit more of an arduous climb vs. the meteoric rise that catches the attention of the "would be" ______.
But the meter is running on the race to change direction when it comes to our natural environment. Mother Nature does not discriminate between those who should pay the price for the ego epidemic - that saw profit & environmental responsibility as a zero sum game - and those that ultimately do.
Business does seem to be the natural starting place for the Science of Ego - applied. Dave and Steve did a great job at laying out a framework from which to tackle this two headed beast but my thinking just naturally seems to go past any sorrow for shareholder losses and straight to the environmental and social impact of ego economics. A system fueled by the practices of global corporations who have the biggest impact should point to the target zone for focussing attention and calls for greater transparency and accountability.
Virgin Atlantic pumping a fixed %age of its profit into the search for cleaner jet fuel is an example of the type of "veracity applied" behavior that makes the point better than I am.
Games are supposed to fair and fun. But Ego has a dark side, it's no joke when someone prizes a photo with big game as a trophy (dead) over a beautifully captured photograph of the same animal doing it's wild thing (alive), a billion dollar quarterly profits over healthy ocean ecosystems or cheap electronics over concern for our fellow human's working conditions.
Out of sight, out of mind is a term that technology has rendered redundant. Egonomics, great title, implies a platform for change on such a massive scale that I wish it was a subject, discipline or even a module of study found in Schools, Universities and MBA programs.
"Ego-accounting" would sure be a fun way of applying a tax to the few who have grossly enriched themselves at the cost of many. Tax hikes based on carbon footprint ?
Ego awareness - can we make that go viral instead of Angry Birds ? One of the points that underpins the application of the work on an individual level, is that ego should be viewed much like a diet, that you are on it and that without vigilance and discipline it is easy to get drawn to either end of the continuum.
Ego is the epicenter of a lot of harm, whether your looking at your navel or the world at large, you have to start somewhere and Egonomics provides just that - a great start - so you can check your organizations ego is in balance with as much vigor as we do the financial reports.
Maybe the correlation is the real gold ? A nice thought to keep you focussed on that ego diet & not the vanity metrics keeping you from staying nice and ??
Dave Marcum call Eric Reis - Start-up the Lean Ego Movement - it's a winner !
+
= The Future !
Joking aside. With Ego costing corporations up to 20% of revenue Egonomics is a must (or should) read for all, not just CEOs & Corporate Executives which is the authors core focus. Presidents, Prime Ministers and anyone in the Banking or Financial Services Industry should be made to recall it like a London cabbie - that way we might get to where we need to without the expensive & unnecessary detours !
Shareholders are not the only victims of ego driven behavior. What about taxpayers picking up the trillion dollar tabs when we get lost on some international ego trip?
The real cost of ego is going to be felt by every inhabitant of planet unless we really start to embrace veracity and apply what we know, to what we do. The race to the top has proven to be a quick way to a short stay, whereas sustainable success/greatness/influence/happiness or whatever switch your trying to flick has always been a bit more of an arduous climb vs. the meteoric rise that catches the attention of the "would be" ______.
But the meter is running on the race to change direction when it comes to our natural environment. Mother Nature does not discriminate between those who should pay the price for the ego epidemic - that saw profit & environmental responsibility as a zero sum game - and those that ultimately do.
Business does seem to be the natural starting place for the Science of Ego - applied. Dave and Steve did a great job at laying out a framework from which to tackle this two headed beast but my thinking just naturally seems to go past any sorrow for shareholder losses and straight to the environmental and social impact of ego economics. A system fueled by the practices of global corporations who have the biggest impact should point to the target zone for focussing attention and calls for greater transparency and accountability.
Virgin Atlantic pumping a fixed %age of its profit into the search for cleaner jet fuel is an example of the type of "veracity applied" behavior that makes the point better than I am.
Games are supposed to fair and fun. But Ego has a dark side, it's no joke when someone prizes a photo with big game as a trophy (dead) over a beautifully captured photograph of the same animal doing it's wild thing (alive), a billion dollar quarterly profits over healthy ocean ecosystems or cheap electronics over concern for our fellow human's working conditions.
Out of sight, out of mind is a term that technology has rendered redundant. Egonomics, great title, implies a platform for change on such a massive scale that I wish it was a subject, discipline or even a module of study found in Schools, Universities and MBA programs.
"Ego-accounting" would sure be a fun way of applying a tax to the few who have grossly enriched themselves at the cost of many. Tax hikes based on carbon footprint ?
Ego awareness - can we make that go viral instead of Angry Birds ? One of the points that underpins the application of the work on an individual level, is that ego should be viewed much like a diet, that you are on it and that without vigilance and discipline it is easy to get drawn to either end of the continuum.
Ego is the epicenter of a lot of harm, whether your looking at your navel or the world at large, you have to start somewhere and Egonomics provides just that - a great start - so you can check your organizations ego is in balance with as much vigor as we do the financial reports.
Maybe the correlation is the real gold ? A nice thought to keep you focussed on that ego diet & not the vanity metrics keeping you from staying nice and ??
Dave Marcum call Eric Reis - Start-up the Lean Ego Movement - it's a winner !
+
= The Future !March 1, 2017
Really useful in the world of work and life. How to not let our ego master outselves
August 30, 2012
This is one of those books you need to be deeply involved with in order to get at the level of insight and advice these guys are giving. You should not speed read it, because the ideas need minutes, not seconds to digest and to even put the book down and reflect on is a necessity to really get at what they are talking about. All in all this is a book of reflection, something the corporate environment can suffer from a lack of most of the time. I've worked aside people who have been brilliant and highly skilled strategists and technicians with incredible work capacities, but at the same time it has been the egos of these very people that have led to destruction in the team dynamic and an over all feeling of mistrust, which leads to the demise of both the team and the project. Ego definitely is in need of balancing between an asset and a liability. So to conclude, I agree with their general concept and also the finer points. The value of this book to any team leader is great. I am going to take from this book its three simple lessons - humility, curiosity and veracity. Not long ago I read "the Rise and Fall of Bear Stearns by Alan Greenberg. Now after reading Egonomics it is easy to see why that organisation hit the ground as hard as it did. It was run by some big egos who could not work together, in fact they hated each others guts.
May 31, 2011
There is much about this book that is through provoking, so much so that I dozen people could write a dozen different reviews about it. Rather than try to capture the essence of the book, here is a little bit from the last few pages of the last chapter.
"... Alan Deutschman wrote an article on change for Fast Company entitled "Change or Die." What if you were given that choice? For Real. What if it weren't rhetoric that confuses corporate performance with life or death, but actual life or death? Yours. What if a doctor said you had to make tough changes in the way you think and act - or your time would end soon. ... "If you look at people after coronary-artery by-pass grafting two years later, 90% of them have not changed their lifestyle.""
Why do I suppose that I am different? We all imagine that we are in the 10% that would actually change.
The point of "Change or Die" and of this book is to teach people how to actually change instead of staying in the same unproductive ruts.
"... Alan Deutschman wrote an article on change for Fast Company entitled "Change or Die." What if you were given that choice? For Real. What if it weren't rhetoric that confuses corporate performance with life or death, but actual life or death? Yours. What if a doctor said you had to make tough changes in the way you think and act - or your time would end soon. ... "If you look at people after coronary-artery by-pass grafting two years later, 90% of them have not changed their lifestyle.""
Why do I suppose that I am different? We all imagine that we are in the 10% that would actually change.
The point of "Change or Die" and of this book is to teach people how to actually change instead of staying in the same unproductive ruts.
May 19, 2014
Written in an accessible and conversational style, this book is an easy read. Marcum and Smith decided to study ego, within the context of business, setting out with the idea that the ego was “negative and needed cold-blooded elimination”.
Once they started studying it (and I suspect clarified their definition), they found it can also be very helpful, hence the subtitle of the book “What makes ego our greatest asset (or most expensive liability)”.
While the book is written with a business focus, it’s blatantly applicable to life in general, and the business context simply gives a nice set of examples through which to understand the concepts they’re teaching.
The most interesting idea from the book is that our greatest strengths can be turned against us when our “ego isn’t balanced”....
Full overview here:
http://unfebuckinglievable.wordpress....
Once they started studying it (and I suspect clarified their definition), they found it can also be very helpful, hence the subtitle of the book “What makes ego our greatest asset (or most expensive liability)”.
While the book is written with a business focus, it’s blatantly applicable to life in general, and the business context simply gives a nice set of examples through which to understand the concepts they’re teaching.
The most interesting idea from the book is that our greatest strengths can be turned against us when our “ego isn’t balanced”....
Full overview here:
http://unfebuckinglievable.wordpress....
February 19, 2011
Honestly, this book provided more valuable personal insights for me as a person than any book I've read. Managing an ego (whether small, big, yours or that of someone else) is not an easy thing to do. The authors do an amazing job at breaking down why you need an ego, how to keep it balanced, and how to deal with others who have an ego that is to big or too small.
Since reading this book, my interactions with others has improved, my opinion of myself and how I let other people treat me has changed, and I have become a more self-aware, and respected person.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who interacts with other people on a regular basis... ie: everyone.
Since reading this book, my interactions with others has improved, my opinion of myself and how I let other people treat me has changed, and I have become a more self-aware, and respected person.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who interacts with other people on a regular basis... ie: everyone.
May 18, 2014
Una excelente reflexión acerca del impacto del ego en las decisiones y el comportamiento de las personas, en especial en el contexto laboral. El libro aborda el complejo balance que las personas requieren para que el ego se transforme en un factor que refuerza positivamente el actuar y las capacidades, sin que por el contrario genere los efectos negativos que vemos tantas veces cuando no es bien manejado. Me pareció muy concreto e interesante, en un tema que se ha vuelto muy actual y relevante. Vemos cada vez más como este aspecto influye decisivamente en las organizaciones y en las personas afectando la calidad de sus decisiones e interacciones y afectando a los equipos.
May 26, 2012
Most of the problems we have at work and at home have to do with "ego" getting in the way of problem solving. This book helps dissecting our ego problems and suggests methods to overcome them. The examples given are relevant and a few even inspirational. It tries to put forward some theoretical framework, pairing 4 personality types with 4 ego mechanisms, but it falls short of providing a solid framework. Nevertheless in terms of poking readers to engage in some soul-searching, it does it effectively. I believe this book can help us not only in our work but also as a person.
August 4, 2014
Desde Leader Summaries recomendamos la lectura del libro Egonomics, de David Marcum.
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: liderazgo, características de un buen líder, trabajo en equipo.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro Egonomics, Por qué el ego puede convertirse en nuestro mejor aliado en lugar de llevarnos a la equivocación permanente: Egonomics
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: liderazgo, características de un buen líder, trabajo en equipo.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro Egonomics, Por qué el ego puede convertirse en nuestro mejor aliado en lugar de llevarnos a la equivocación permanente: Egonomics
October 10, 2007
Jon is always reading books for work and I sometimes will read them along with him. This was the case for Egonomics. The author actually lives in our neighborhood so I was a little curious too. This book helped me realize some of the strengths my ego brings to my relationships and also how when it's not in balanced I become very stubborn. Jon pointed that out to me while reading. This wasn't a "fun" book to read more interesting and self searching.
July 31, 2008
I guess this book is business strategy or leadership theory, but it goes further than that. It's also a great book to read to mull how people/organizations get myopic, closed minded, and dysfunctional. At a couple points it's a little touchy feely but that doesn't really detract from its important message, especially for these times.
January 30, 2010
I read this book in Portuguese (it was a gift) so my analysis can be misleading regarding the original version.
The content is in most cases only common sense and doesn´t add much to the area of subject. The related experiments are interesting however very scattered and in most scenarios without the necessary follow up.
Interesting read but not something I would specially recommend.
The content is in most cases only common sense and doesn´t add much to the area of subject. The related experiments are interesting however very scattered and in most scenarios without the necessary follow up.
Interesting read but not something I would specially recommend.
April 14, 2008
This is a great book that is very needed today. It was written for use in the business world, but I found it very useful for everyday use and how to reign in that ego that can get out of hand sometimes.
July 25, 2012
thought provoking and a self-reflection kind a book for me. I found out how much my ego has been either beneficial or destructive to my economy, reputation and relationship. Simple, clear and easy to digest the content.
June 28, 2014
This book gives me lessons the warning signs if we have too much ego and how to manage it. I love how the book gives key points at the end of each chapter so I can re-read the book without spending a lot of time
May 4, 2008
Learned a lot about what drives other people and myself and how to keep ego in check.
June 10, 2009
....FEEL FREE TO JOIN MY FAN-GROUP....
......|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯•.•¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|........
EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO
......|___________.•.___________|.........
......|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯•.•¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|........
EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO EGO
......|___________.•.___________|.........
December 28, 2011
A very thought provoking book worth the time to read. tough part is learning and having the courage to apply it in daily life
August 6, 2016
I had to read this for a business class. It was good advice, but like most business books it could be shortened down about 75%.
May 18, 2012
Great book. It has a very different view of ego. I learned lots of things about myself and my relationship with other people.
March 11, 2013
First half was interesting, second half was mostly redundant waffle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews