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The Podcast

The new podcast is live!

I’m partnering with my friend Cassidy each week to discuss leadership lessons from our favorite movies.

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Give it a listen here.

LEADER’S LENS

Is Ego Actually the Enemy?

New Jack City is a film that dives into the complexities of crime, ambition, and the quest for power. Nino Brown is a criminal mastermind, but his character is also a symbol of the dark side of Ego and the good old American Dream.

Who is Nino Brown? 

For those who have never seen New Jack City…He is an influential leader and as charismatic as he is ruthless. Through his authoritarian leadership style, he leads the ascent of the Cash Money Brothers to dominate the drug trade within New York City. 

Nino Brown Stat Sheet

• Full Name: Nino Brown

• Organization: Cash Money Brothers

• Position: CEO/Leader

• Height: 6'1" 

• Weight: 185 lbs 

• Born: Harlem, New York City 

Career Highlights:

• Empire Built: Established and led the Cash Money Brothers, turning it into a dominant force in New York's drug trade.

Notable Quotes:

• "Yo baby, we talkin' about combinating and consolidating!"

• "You gotta rob to get rich in he Reagan era..."

• "Sit yo five dolla ass down before I make change..."

• "If I'm going down, I'm taking a whole lot of people with me."

Ego as a Catalyst for Success

Let’s talk about his ego. 

It is at times his greatest asset and then also a flaw so powerful that it leads to the downfall of his entire organization. In the beginning of his journey, Brown's ego is a driving force that propels him forward. His self-confidence, bordering on delusion, enables him to envision a future far beyond his current circumstances. 

It is this vision, fueled by an unshakeable belief in himself, that galvanizes those around him, rallying the Cash Money Brothers to intensely pursue a common goal and igniting a collective sense of ambition.

At its best, Brown's ego leads to transformation. Leader’s need a healthy sense of self if they are going to become the catalyst for extraordinary results. This is good.

The Double-Edged Sword of Ego in Leadership

As Nino Brown starts letting his ego take charge of his decision making, we see his empire begin to crumble. 

This shift is subtle at first, as he stops listening  to cautionary advice, even from those closest to him. Brown's confidence begins to isolate him, creating a chasm between his perception of reality and the actual threats that start to encircle his empire. 

His Ego and fear of losing what he now feels entitled to creates a sense of paranoia. 

His rapid rise to the top, without consequences, creates a belief in his own invincibility. This damages relationships with his team and blinds him to the internal and external threats to his empire. This is bad.

We’ve seen real world examples of this playout with companies who were once thought to be too big to fail, like Blockbuster, Circuit City, and Lehman Brothers.

While ego can be a powerful engine for success, driving leaders to achieve remarkable feats, it can also lead to their undoing. Nino Brown's story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of balancing confidence with humility, reminding us that the greatest leaders are those who not only inspire others to follow them but also remain open to learning and adapting, no matter how high they rise.

Lessons from Nino Brown: Finding Balance Between Confidence and Humility

Brown's journey from the streets to the summit of a criminal empire, and eventually to his downfall, demonstrates the roles ego plays in creating a motivational confidence and detrimental delusion. If you only focus on the good or bad, you are missing out on important takeaways. His vision, charisma, and unwavering self-belief all were incredible strengths that propelled him to success. BUT we also have to acknowledge the pitfalls of how he led– particularly his inability to balance his ego with humility.

So what does it mean to be a leader with an ego?

Here are 3 questions to ask yourself as you reflect on you balance ego with humility:

• How much confidence is too much? 

• Can a leader be effective without a strong sense of self? 

• How can leaders harness their ego for positive outcomes while remaining open to growth, feedback, and the wisdom of others? 

🕶 The key lies in self-awareness—recognizing when our ego is serving our goals and when it is hindering them.

What do you think? 

Is Ego the enemy?