Prove Myself vs Improve Myself

I wish I had come up with the sentiment of the subject title. 

I didn’t. 

I heard it from my friend Chip Conley on the Rich Roll podcast last week. 

I also remember Serial Entrepreneur Eric Ryan sharing it on my podcast last year when it first stuck. 

Eric is a special guy who is maniacal about staying curious. 

Just look at the businesses he has cofounded: 

Method soap, Welly, OLLY, Cast and WILL perform.

Eric has seen his share of venture capital board rooms. These rooms, as you can imagine, can make or break both an idea and the person responsible for presenting them. 

In those pressure cooker arenas, Eric has chosen to adopt a mental state that's less “prove myself” and more “improve myself”.

If you are like me, then your humanness shows up from time-to-time. A moment occurs and suddenly your ego takes over and you find yourself feeling the need to show others what you are capable of. “Prove myself” has often bubbled to my mind in different stages of my life when I’ve pitched creative work, my company or even myself. 

When I catch myself under the guise of the “prove myself” soundtrack, it’s often related back to a personal self-esteem glitch and a moment of weakness. 

When I can find it in me to shift to an “improve myself” mentality, I make it all about curiosity, exploration and furthering the cause of an idea.

Prove myself = “me vs others"

Improve myself = “me vs me"

You have nothing to justify on the journey you’re on. 

Keep evolving that idea.

Keep working on yourself. 

Keep pushing. Keep growing.

Keep chopping wood. 

THE COURAGEOUS PODCAST

Jason Feifer has turned pattern-spotting into a super-power: on the page, on stage, and on LinkedIn’s daily feed.  In his conversation with Ryan, Jason, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine, author of Build for Tomorrow, host of the million-download podcast Help Wanted, and writer of the 65-thousand-subscriber newsletter One Thing Better, breaks down how he turns vague ambitions into clear, repeatable systems. He explains the “fresh-brain” morning ritual that powers his content engine, the incremental risks that build true courage, and the rules that keep his personal brand and Entrepreneur symbiotic. From building scarcity around his own voice to teaching companies how to decode viral ads, Jason shows that the fastest route to tomorrow is mastering one thing better today.

Missed the last 5 Podcasts?

• Climbing Mount Everest w/ Len Forkas
• Rethink w/ Aaron Starkman
• TikTok Former Global Head of Marketing Nick Tran
• Mastercard w/ Raja Rajamannar
• COTE Hospitality w/ Agnelo A. Fernandes

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Ryan Berman is the founder of Courageous; a think-feel-do change consultancy based in Southern California. With 25 years in creative business, Ryan believes your “future is safe with change”. Ryan is a speaker, practitioner, and authority on the subject who has been featured in Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc, and Forbes. Ryan has spoken on the topic all over the country including at Google, Procter & Gamble, Snapchat, Kellogg’s, Kraft Heinz, Logitech, Discover Card, and charity: water. Ryan also hosts The Courageous Podcast where he talks with leaders from around the globe to uncover what it means to be courageous in today's world. His book, Return On Courage, shares why companies need to unlock courage while providing practical tips on how organizations can operationalize courage today. Learn more at courageous.io