It’s a sad reality when you notice how many people walk around in the business world as sheep dressed in wolves’ clothing. It might be hard to see at first, but with time, the seams begin to unravel and the people who once appeared to have it all reveal who they truly are — and it’s not what they want people to see.

Separating yourself from the entrepreneurs who make it and those who don’t come down to how well you can back up your words with action. But it’s also about seeing yourself as being no better than the next person. The bottom line is this: there is simply no room for ego in business.

I’ve seen firsthand what ego does to executives, their organizations and their people — and it’s not pretty. While it may be a confronting truth to accept, your success will be short-lived if you carry yourself with anything less than authenticity and grace.