The most creative thinkers are often the most plagued by egotism.
Analysis
Passion often conceals deficiencies and does not encourage learning and skill development. Artists and others who are driven to self-expression are susceptible to this stagnancy.
Pop guitarist John Mayer called himself an “ego addict” in a 2015 interview with MSNBC when explaining his self-imposed exile from the media spotlight. He’s admitted that in order to focus on his craft, he’s had to retreat to a home in Montana and remain out of the tabloids. Mayer described his early teen years, which he spent learning the guitar, as a time of immense creative output that was focused solely on making music. But once he burst into the public eye, he found himself undergoing what he called a “thinking man’s fiasco” as opposed to the more typical downfall caused by drugs and alcohol. He explained that the media attention and fame led him astray from remaining focused on honing his art and made him a target for salacious tabloid stories. Mayer said he has learned from this experience and cited his growing ego as the ultimate source of harm to his ability to create and remain in touch with his audience. As a result, Mayer forces himself to avoid reading media reports about himself even when they include praise for noteworthy performances. He pushes himself to concentrate his passion on his craft and to avoid indulging his ego, which in the past has caused unfortunate distractions. [4]