In the last few weeks I have found myself saying, out loud I might add, that I wish I had a bigger ego. That’s not really what I mean but I’ve just noticed some people out there seem to gain success by nothing more than over self promotion.

One of the things I love about blogging is getting to know other bloggers, reading their blogs and watching their journey. A few years ago I embarked on a project that was started by a fellow blogger – I’m not going to name names here as I don’t think that’s fair and this is, after all, just my soap box moment. Anyway in the process of this journey I met some awesome people and I continued to follow the blogger that started it all and then I started noticing things. Suddenly she was everywhere, and I mean everywhere I looked. She’s started another blog, a personal site, a new business and a collaboration and along the way started advising others on all manner of topics. She was definitely garnering success (if that’s what monetary gain is) and I wished her well. Somewhere in all that, though, her ego seems to have taken over and that’s what I mean when asking the question does ego equal success? Actually I think it’s the opposite, I think her ego has actually got in the way and now she comes across as slightly superior and condescending. I’ve been watching it build slowly and my breaking point was last week when I read a tweet from her that just made me mad, which is very usual for me (the getting mad bit not the reading of tweets). I hope, for her sake, that she doesn’t lose any more of her valuable audience since they are the reason for her success.

I think an ego (kept in check) definitely helps because it can turn emotional energy into action. You may be truly inspired but what do you do with that energy? Act on it or let it simmer?

To be honest I could probably do with a healthier dose of ego. I definitely have faith in my abilities but I too often dwell on how much I don’t know instead of how much I know. To quote the movie Valiant – ‘ You need to be yay high and you’re not even hey high’. So what to do? Well I think, for me, I need to heart myself a little more, step outside my comfort zone and engage in some shameless self promotion and ask you my friends to keep me in check if my ego gets a little out of control.

P.S. It won’t surprise you then that I’m enjoying the Marketing for Introverts e-course from Brand Camp