Leave your ego at the door every morning, and just do some truly

From the pen of Robin S. Sharma, teacher of discipline and seeker of mastery, comes a command as sharp as a blade and as gentle as a prayer: “Leave your ego at the door every morning, and just do some truly great work. Few things will make you feel better than a job brilliantly done.” These words are not a casual exhortation, but a law of the spirit, a summons to all who would create, to all who would lead, to all who would live with honor. For in them lies the eternal struggle between pride and purpose, between self-glory and the greatness of the task itself.

To “leave your ego at the door” is to lay down the heaviest burden of all—the need for recognition, the thirst for praise, the constant comparison with others. The ego is a restless tyrant, always demanding more, never satisfied, always whispering of titles, rewards, and applause. But true greatness is never born from ego’s chains. It comes instead when the craftsman, the teacher, the warrior, the leader enters his work as a servant of the task itself, pouring his whole being into excellence without calculation of applause. This is the humility of the master: to be less concerned with how the world sees him, and more concerned with whether the work itself sings of brilliance.

When Sharma speaks of “truly great work,” he reveals what anchors human dignity. For what is greatness if not devotion to the task at hand? A mason who lays each stone with care, a mother who raises her child with patience, a scribe who shapes his letters with clarity—all of these are acts of greatness, though the world may not see. It is not the size of the stage, but the depth of the effort that makes work shine. And in the end, such greatness always reveals itself, even if only in the silent satisfaction of the one who gave themselves fully to the task.

Consider the story of Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When asked why he labored over the smallest figures in the darkest corners, where no eye could see, he replied, “God will see.” Here was the perfect embodiment of Sharma’s teaching: the ego cries out for recognition, but the spirit whispers for excellence. Michelangelo knew that the reward was not in the applause of men, but in the brilliance of work done with devotion, even in secret. To him, as to Sharma, the joy lay not in glory, but in the job brilliantly done.

The quote also speaks of fulfillment. Sharma promises that “few things will make you feel better” than doing work with brilliance. This is no idle claim. The soul is not nourished by empty praise; it is nourished by the knowledge that one has given their best, that nothing has been withheld, that the task was carried out with excellence. Praise may fade, rewards may vanish, but the quiet pride of true work endures within. This is why soldiers speak of honor, why artists speak of legacy, and why laborers speak of pride in their craft.

The lesson for us is clear: discipline and humility are the path to fulfillment. If you wish to taste the deep joy of existence, do not chase applause; chase excellence. Each morning, set aside vanity and rivalry. Approach your work as a sacred duty, and let your aim be not recognition but mastery. If the world applauds, let it be a gift; if it does not, let your soul rest easy knowing that the work itself was worthy.

Practical wisdom flows from this: before beginning your day’s labor, pause for a moment at the threshold. Imagine leaving your ego outside like a discarded cloak. Step into your craft with clean hands and clear purpose. Ask not, Will this be seen? but rather, Will this be great? Then give yourself wholly. At the day’s end, look not to the opinions of others, but to the quiet flame in your own heart. If you feel peace, if you feel pride, then you have indeed done what Sharma commands.

Thus the teaching stands eternal: true greatness is not in being seen, but in doing well. Leave your ego at the door, enter into your labor with humility, and let the brilliance of your work speak louder than any self-proclamation. For in this lies the secret of mastery, the source of joy, and the path by which ordinary days become extraordinary.