In Episode 61 of Crossroad Conversations, the Lewis Brothers dig into one of leadership’s trickiest balancing acts: Ego vs. Instinct. They explore how ego can alert you to an issue—but also create blind spots—and how instinct, shaped by experience, leads to better long-term decisions. The conversation moves from dealership strategy to real-life examples of pride, overconfidence, and humility in business.

They share how unchecked ego can derail teams, why humility keeps confidence from turning into arrogance, and how leaders can channel ego as a positive driver without letting it steer the ship. From football analogies to lessons in managing expenses, delegation, and feedback, this episode reminds leaders that confidence without awareness can be costly—and that self-control, reflection, and instinct are the true signs of maturity in leadership.

Takeaways

  • Ego isn’t the enemy—it’s a tool that must be managed and balanced.
  • Instinct grows from experience, pattern recognition, and reflection.
  • Pride can create blind spots, especially after success.
  • Overconfidence often causes leaders to ignore feedback and red flags.
  • Humility keeps confidence grounded and ego in check.
  • Delegation empowers teams and reduces ego-driven decision fatigue.
  • Use ego as a motivator, not a defense mechanism.
  • Great leaders know when to pause, listen, and adjust course.
  • Transparency and awareness strengthen trust and accountability.
  • Confident leaders invite challenge—they don’t silence it.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro – Ego vs. Instinct: What Drives Your Decisions
00:53 – Recap of Episode 60: Filtering the Noise
02:00 – In the Garage – Lewis Pre-Owned Inventory and Business Philosophy
07:15 – From Auctions to Local Buys: Transparency and Trust
09:09 – Ego Says “I Can’t Be Wrong”; Instinct Says “Something Feels Off”
10:07 – How Ego and Competition Can Coexist
11:22 – Balancing Ego with Humility and Teamwork
13:10 – Confidence vs. Instinct: When Leaders Confuse the Two
15:47 – The Value of Experience and Knowing When to Pause
17:07 – Pride and the “Captain Goes Down with the Ship” Mentality
19:20 – Learning from Failure Without Letting Ego Define You
21:02 – Re-Evaluating Old Ideas Instead of Scrapping Them
22:54 – Ego as a Barrier to Innovation and Team Input
23:33 – Working on the Business vs. In the Business
24:14 – Harnessing Ego as Fuel, Not Fire
25:19 – Leaders Make 400 Decisions a Day—How to Delegate Wisely
27:59 – Ego Creates Blind Spots After Success
31:24 – Case Study: Growth vs. Expenses and Expectation Management
35:14 – Communicating Finances Without Discouraging the Team
38:04 – Humility in Leadership and External Training
41:37 – Overconfidence and Ignoring Red Flags
43:06 – Listening Before Speaking: The Power of Silence
45:13 – Confidence and Humility in Balance
46:02 – Stay Humble by Staying Around Those Who Challenge You
47:02 – Using Ego Productively to Fuel Excellence
48:34 – MythBuster: Ego Is Bad and Should Be Eliminated
49:21 – Ego as Horsepower: Channeling Drive with Discipline
50:38 – Leading with Instinct and Experience
52:20 – Trusting Gut vs. Data: When Instinct Wins
55:34 – Listening Inwardly and Outwardly as a Leader
57:16 – Final Thoughts – Humility Is the Highest Form of Strength