“Trust is a universal attribute. It is something we all want. Without trust, we would be merely surviving, not thriving. In a world without trust, our lives would be hell.” Suspending your ego is the 1st of 5 rules of engagement to gain trust.  Don’t you think that “suspending our ego” is something we all se: while driving you are hindered by another driver and the alpha male or female inside you wakes up. You figuratively go into the counterattack, until you arrive at the next red light and it appears that the other driver is one head taller and twice as wide as you.... All that is left for you to do is wave to the other driver - who in the meantime is already fully excited - and make a gesture to him to apologize. You have abandoned your ego…and both of you are driving away.

Drake’s advice is not to wait for a scenario as dire as road rage to sharpen your skills at ego sublimation. “Swallowing your pride may be a bitter medicine but take a little every day and the bad taste goes away”, writes Drake in his book.       

According to him, “sublimation of ego gives you the power to steer clear of conflict, stay focused, move forward, win friends, and influence people.  Suspending your ego is the single most important element of being trustworthy, and enlisting others in the pursuit of your goal. It’s the central action that animates the four other rules of the Code.” Read also the other rules. (picture bu Kai Wenzel on Unsplash)