The Ego-less Servant: How to Provide Irresistible Value with None of the Headache (Going Great #4)

I hate pride.

There aren’t many things that bother me in life, but when people delude themselves into thinking they’re better than another human, it takes all the power within me to not snap.

I’m not sure why this upsets me as much as it does. Maybe it’s because I’ve stood on the opposite side too many times. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to having the odds stacked against me.

But no matter the reason, pride always stirs something within. And what makes matters worse is that the most arrogant people usually aren’t the brightest:

So how do you not become like that?

How can you possibly do great things without your head swelling greatly?

This post will show you how.

The Ego-less Servant

Enter the ego-less servant, an archetype that describes anyone who’s Going Great.

This person provides irresistible value without the headache that often accompanies talent.

Ego-less servants are dependable, consistent, and exceptional at what they do. But the best part about them is, you actually want to be around them.

So how can you fit this wonderful mold you ask?

Well, you need to do three things:

Eliminate Self
Sacrifice the Right Way
Make an Undeniable Impact

These three actions are typical of pride-free service, and I’ll describe each in detail below.

#1 Eliminate Self

In a world obsessed with self-promotion, self-confidence, and self-esteem, the easiest way to rebel is to eliminate self. No, this doesn’t mean you become a doormat, but as an ego-less servant, you understand that self stands between you and greatness.

Nothing disappoints more than talented people who can’t coexist because they think they’ve outgrown each other. Yet this scenario plays out all the time.

This is why you have to purposely avoid pride.

ego-less servant eliminate self — The world is much bigger than you.

The truth is, people are naturally obsessed with themselves. And if you don’t think you’re conceited, it’s more likely that you are, in fact, conceited.

That’s why I cringe when I hear self-love or self-esteem advice—it encourages people to do what they’re already inclined to do.

Even self-hate is a twisted form of self-love. Notice how those who claim to hate themselves don’t care nearly as much about the same “defects” in others.

Self-hate stems from you not meeting the ideal version of you created by yourself. Sure, it’s okay to be disappointed by parts of life, but when that feeling becomes self-hate, you just display your ego in a different way.

So how do you counter self-love and self-“hate”?

It’s simple: you remove “self” altogether.

This is the essence of true humility.

Most people dismiss humility as weak these days, but true humility is the strength of self-control. A truly humble person controls the natural urge to elevate self, or as C.S. Lewis put it, “He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”

What’s really weak is fake humility—which is actually fear in disguise. This is when you’re insecure and it paralyzes you; when you’re afraid of rejection so you don’t stand for anything.

That’s not what I’m talking about.

Great servants have a secure identity and defend themselves against real danger, but they have no interest in self-promotion. They’re too concerned with the needs of others to glorify themselves.

#2 Sacrifice the Right Way

It’s amazing how our culture even uses inherently selfless words to promote self.

Take the word “sacrifice” for example.

It’s meaning since ancient times refers to giving something of value for another’s well being. But look at any form of media today, and you’ll see that we’ve hijacked the word.

We have rappers who sacrifice for nice cars, women who sacrifice to love their reflection, and athletes who sacrifice to be the best in the game.

You see a theme here?

Our “sacrifice” isn’t sacrifice at all. You giving yourself for you isn’t sacrifice—it’s self-investment. And like I said earlier, we naturally elevate ourselves.

So what is true sacrifice? And how do you use it to do great things?

True sacrifice is giving yourself for the benefit of others. And from this point, we see the difference between the fake and the real thing:

The former is self serving self. The latter is self serving others.

Your heart’s motivation determines your status as an ego-less servant. True greatness requires you to give for more than just yourself.

This could mean giving your time, or your money, or even your own dreams. But what you give isn’t nearly as important as who you give it for.

So see if your actions help your team, your community, or the world as a whole. And if you haven’t yet, make their interests a priority.

#3 Make an Undeniable Impact

You see the question asked all the time:

“What makes a good piece of content?”

This usually leads to a formulaic answer: You have to write this many words, or have this many links, or use a case study with special research.

But while these specifics have their place in content creation, they don’t answer the question.

All of those are just tools of the craft. They’re all used for a larger purpose.

So let me ask the question again:

“What makes a good piece of content?”

The correct answer, is impact.

Value isn’t defined by style, research, or word count. It’s defined by the effect those factors have on the reader, viewer, or customer. It doesn’t matter if you write 500 words or 5,000; if you make an impact, both are successful.

Impact isn’t about formulas; it’s about meeting needs. The greatest servants give selflessly and consistently to meet those needs.

In some cases, the need is an escape from reality. In others, it’s the wisdom required to face it. But no matter what those needs are, great service strives to meet them.

I hate to use myself as an example here since it sounds boastful, but one thing I do to make an impact is write stuff that’s memorable. I’m not a natural writer or the most technically sound, but if you read my work, you’re gonna feel some type of way.

That’s my goal here: to affect a reader’s life for the better.

My biggest crime isn’t writing a flop or missing a typo. My biggest crime is being idle, incompetent, forgettable—or as the biblically-inclined would say, unfruitful.

So next time you get a chance, compare your work to a similar standard. Ask yourself, “Am I making an impact now?”

Give an honest answer first. Then respond accordingly.

Remember that making mistakes is forgivable. But being useless never is.