Boy...You And Your Ego

From personal experience, I’ve noticed that when someone becomes more successful or gains a better job, it’s easy for their ego to inflate rather than for their character to improve. The story of Diesel Dan highlights this common pitfall — a bigger ego doesn’t necessarily mean better relationships or happiness. Instead, it can lead to more problems, such as a worse attitude and less empathy toward others. I once worked alongside a colleague who recently got promoted and started acting untouchable, similar to Jarvis in the story. Despite having more respect and attention from others, the person’s attitude grew worse, and it created distance between them and their friends. It wasn’t until they recognized how their ego was building walls rather than bridges that they began to mend those relationships. This teaches an important lesson: a good job or status alone doesn’t fix personal issues or build genuine connections. It’s crucial to balance confidence with humility and to stay grounded in empathy. When we focus on improving ourselves internally, rather than letting success feed our ego, our relationships and lives improve in a much more meaningful way. If you find yourself or someone you know caught in a similar situation, try to be mindful of how ego shows up. Are you feeling superior or less empathetic? Are problems increasing despite external success? Recognizing these signs early can help prevent ego from sabotaging your growth and happiness. Ultimately, true personal development comes from building character — not just a bigger ego.