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💭 A Real Lesson on Ego, Advice & Building Something Worth Following Scrolling through Instagram today, I came across a reel ( attached below ) a 16-year-old trying to build a brand and searching for a co-founder. Honestly, nothing wrong with that. In fact, I admire people who start young and try to build something meaningful. But, since it’s social media, you can always expect a cocktail of responses some encouraging, some sarcastic, and some giving advice based on personal experience. I’m the kind of person who reads through these comments to understand how people think, and sometimes, I end up learning more from the comments than the content itself. One comment stood out from someone a bit older who had attempted a similar business at 16. He wasn’t putting the kid down but instead shared his own experience: how it took more money, maturity, and preparation than he expected. While I didn’t agree with everything he said, I could relate to the intention behind it. As someone who thinks deeply, I took it as constructive advice. But then came the twist. The 16-year-old creator replied: "Please don’t give your advice, man. Thanks. Giving advice when not asked is a sign of poverty and attention seeking." That reply hit differently. Not because it was rude, but because it exposed something critical: ego. 🔥 That one moment taught me two powerful lessons: 1. Always stay open to learning even if the advice is unsolicited. 2. Ego is a silent killer of progress. It might feel powerful in the moment, but it can close the door to opportunities, mentorship, collaboration everything that actually helps you grow. 📍No matter where you come from rich, middle class, or struggling. Patience, humility, and self-awareness are what shape true builders. And let’s be real: Building anything meaningful requires those traits far more than just money or hype. You need to be a sponge, not a brick wall. > “When ego leads, growth leaves.” If someone asked me today whether I’d recommend being that guy’s co-founder my answer would be a clear no. Not because of his age or idea, but because of the mindset. Entrepreneurship demands patience, grit, humility, and the ability to listen not defensiveness or superiority. Let me put it in perspective: 👔 Person 1: Rich, ego-driven, attitude-heavy may have followers or fans bought with money or status, but behind the scenes? Resentment, gossip, and shallow support. 🧠 Person 2: Grounded, respectful, even if broke builds meaningful relationships, earns loyalty, and becomes someone people want to see succeed. ✨ At the end of the day, the real flex isn’t money or clout it’s the ability to inspire, lead with kindness, and uplift others. Build your mindset before you build your startup. And always remember ego doesn’t scale. The link to the reel : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFptFoJuKw2 *This Post adhers to all community guidelines* *Rephrased using GPT* *The image used below is the comments from the particular reel i spoke about*