Robert Genn, High Ego Force

Robert Genn’s Twice Weekly Letter, The Painter's Keys website., today wrote:

 

 

“Fact is, great art comes from both the schooled and the unschooled.

It may have more to do with the old business of "character."

In our game, character is the confluence of four virtues:

high motivation,

high curiosity,

high work habits

and high ego force.

Funnily, among the folks I compete with, those four virtues are most often found among the unschooled.”

 

and he also included a John Holt quote,

 

"What makes people

smart,

curious,

alert,

observant,

competent,

confident,

resourceful,

persistent--

is not having access to more and more learning places, resources, and specialists,

but being able in their lives to do a wide variety of interesting things that matter, things that challenge their ingenuity, skill, and judgment, and that make an obvious difference in their lives and the lives of people around them." (John Holt)

 

Robert Genn’s message content was thought provoking. The ‘high ego force’ is a phrase I have not seen before, and yet it is so descriptive of leaders and achievers. It is the propelling fuel of initiative overcoming the inertia of stale mate, status quos, and apathetic, conforming acceptance of existing environmental or social negatives surrounding us. 

 

There exists an operative social conditioner which chastises persons for being too egotistical, and why is that? Conceit is not a virtue, and it is linked to being too egotistical and self centered (selfish). What is the magic that separates high ego force from egotistical and conceited? 

 

Perhaps Robert is linking high ego force with self esteem and belief in one’s abilities to overcome obstacles, to be able to make productive progress by eliminating problems? Persons who say “I can” versus those who say “I can’t” have high ego force. The traits and attributes of achievers distinguishes them from non achievers. Can persons achieve if not being self motivated, action oriented, and having a strong knowledge of who they are regardless of others preferring they be someone different, or others attempting to change either this or that in them? It is essential to know when to listen to others, but to not abandon self determination and personal self development as determined by your innate self directives.

 

Polonius:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

 

Laertes:
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.

 

Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82