My Own Worst Enemy: The Battle Inside Every Leader and Creative

“It’s no surprise to me, I am my own worst enemy ‘Cause every now and then, I kick the livin’ sh!t out of me” — Lit, My Own Worst Enemy

The song My Own Worst Enemy by Lit captures an uncomfortable truth that many leaders, creatives, and high performers know all too well: sometimes, the biggest obstacle isn’t the market, the competition, or even the team—it’s staring back at you in the mirror.

It’s not about reckless nights or metaphorical cars abandoned in the front yard. It’s about the voice inside your head that amplifies self-doubt, fuels imposter syndrome, and replays mistakes on an endless loop. It’s about the perfectionism that paralyzes progress, the fear of failure that stifles risk-taking, and the internal dialogue that can turn even your greatest strengths into weaknesses.

The Leadership Trap: High Standards vs. Self-Sabotage

Leaders are wired to expect excellence—not just from their teams, but from themselves. The problem arises when those high standards cross the line into unrealistic expectations. Maybe you’re pushing a team to hit a deadline while you burn the midnight oil yourself. Maybe you’re re-reading an email draft for the tenth time because you can’t shake the feeling that it’s not quite right. Or maybe you’re replaying a difficult conversation in your head, dissecting every word and imagining how you could have handled it better.

This relentless self-criticism isn’t leadership—it’s self-sabotage. And while it might seem like holding yourself to a higher standard makes you a better leader, in reality, it often clouds your judgment, burns you out, and sets an example for your team that perfection is the expectation.

Creatives: The Double-Edged Sword of Self-Awareness

For creatives—writers, designers, performers—the internal enemy takes on a slightly different form. Creativity requires vulnerability. You have to put a piece of yourself out into the world, knowing it might be criticized, misunderstood, or—perhaps worst of all—ignored.

That vulnerability is where the inner critic thrives. Every concept, campaign, or performance becomes a referendum on your worth. You hesitate, second-guess, and sometimes even sabotage your own work before anyone else gets the chance to.

The irony? The same self-awareness that makes creatives great at their craft is also the source of their internal struggle. You notice things others don’t. You feel things others might miss. But that heightened awareness can also make you hypercritical of yourself.

Why Do We Kick the Sh!t Out of Ourselves?

So why do we do it? Why do leaders and creatives—often people with proven track records of success—become their own worst enemies?

Fear of Failure: The higher you climb, the harder the fall. The fear of letting others down, or worse, letting yourself down, can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors.
Perfectionism: When ‘good enough’ doesn’t feel good enough, you start to lose sight of the bigger picture.
Comparison: In a hyperconnected world, it’s easy to compare your ‘behind the scenes’ with someone else’s highlight reel.
Overidentification with Work: When your identity is tied too closely to your job or your art, any failure feels personal.

Overcoming Your Inner Enemy

The good news? You’re not alone, and you’re not powerless against your inner critic. Here are a few ways to start fighting back:

Acknowledge the Pattern: The first step is recognizing it. Are you overthinking an email? Avoiding a difficult conversation? Putting off starting a project because you’re afraid it won’t be perfect? Pause and acknowledge what’s happening.
Separate Yourself from the Critic: That voice in your head isn’t you. It’s a part of you, sure, but it’s not the whole story. Try to observe those thoughts objectively, as if they were coming from someone else. Like Adam Grant says, you don’t have to believe everything you think.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Celebrate small wins. Done is often better than perfect.
Surround Yourself with the Right People: Have people around you who can ground you, challenge you, and remind you of your strengths.

Leading Yourself First

As a leader or creative, your ability to manage your own mindset isn’t just about personal well-being—it’s about the impact you have on those around you. Teams notice when leaders are having doubts. Clients hesitate. And your audience—whether it’s viewers, readers, customers, or fans—can sense when you’re holding back.

The truth is, you can’t fully lead others or create your best work until you silence that inner critic, let go of unrealistic expectations, and remember that everyone—yes, even you—deserves a little grace.

Final Note

We all have moments when we’re our own worst enemy. The key isn’t to eliminate self-doubt entirely—that’s impossible. The key is to recognize it, manage it, and refuse to let it control you.

Because in the end, the only person who can truly stop you…is you.

Next time you hear that voice kicking the sh!t out of you, turn up the volume on My Own Worst Enemy, and remind yourself: progress over perfection, always.