I recommend reading EGO IS THE ENEMY by Ryan Holiday every 6 months. To paraphrase Ryan's words in the book, “ego is like dust in the room. Every once in a while we need to sweep the dust away, or it will accumulate.” Ego is probably not something we can completely kill. But with practice and patience, we will learn how to suppress it and prevent it from ruining ourselves.
If you haven't read it, I highly suggest you should. No matter where you are at this moment of your life.
Part I: Aspire — my notes
These are my reading notes from Part I: Aspire, organized around the chapters that struck me most: Talk, Talk, Talk · To Be or To Do? · Become a Student · Don't Be Passionate · Follow the Canvas Strategy · The Danger of Early Pride · Work, Work, Work.
A few of the threads I keep returning to: detachment is a natural ego antidote; silence is strength early in any journey; purpose (“to” and “for”) beats passion (“about”); become a student and update your self-appraisal downward; follow the canvas strategy — clear the path for others and you create one for yourself; and remember that the best plan is only good intentions until it degenerates into work.
(The full chapter excerpts are extended quotes from Ryan Holiday's book; grab a copy to read them in context — it's worth it.)