You’ve probably heard someone described as “having a big ego.” Ego in this case refers to a person’s sense of self. People with big egos think highly of themselves. Consider famous politicians, celebrities, and pro-athletes. Don’t many of them fit this description?   But I use the word ego in a different way. For me, the ego is the combination of your personal background and history as well as past experiences you’ve had. Based on this definition, the ego influences the way you view others, your environment, and yourself.   Your Ego and Perception Think of your ego as a pair of sunglasses you wear all the time, even indoors.…

Have you ever thought you were a big deal, only to realize how unexceptional you really were? It happened to me.   I was attending an annual meeting that brought together our company’s national sales force. At the time, I was proud of my professional accomplishments: I had built my own sales team, was well respected by my colleagues, and earned a solid income. During the meeting, I sat in the audience and saw a woman nervously approach the podium. Jane was being honored for heading the company’s top sales team. “Right out of high school, I got married,” she said to the packed auditorium, “I quit working to raise…

If respect doesn’t exist between you and your mentor, then mentorship isn’t really taking place. In this example, mentorship is a useless description of your relationship. So what is respect? In the process of establishing my business, I’ve learned that mentorship done right requires a particular type of respect. I call it ssagaji, which is originally a Korean word and means respect for another person or organization.   Ssagaji’s Origins At its core, the concept of ssagaji is based on Asian cultures that have been heavily influenced by ancient China. Most people in nations like China, Korea, and Japan hold a similar understanding of what respect means. In those countries,…

 It’s a phrase I read and hear all the time. Thousands of books have been published claiming to reveal it. Celebrities and CEOs are constantly asked about it. And countless articles focus on uncovering it. But the truth is, there is no secret. In fact, becoming successful is simple. The first step is to shed light on your koraji—a Korean term I use that describes a lack of understanding and awareness of your weaknesses. If I were to ask you, “What are your weaknesses?” You may think you already know them. But based on what I’ve seen, I realize most people don’t—at least not fully. Unfortunately, when you live under…