EgoCentric or just Self Centered?

Do you ever wake up in the middle of a conversation and realize you have nothing to say that isn’t about your current obsession/project/career?

Or for those of you with a different focus, your child/love life/health/family life/pet?

look at me, I'm so beautiful, naked and happy, me me me...

No functional observations about the news, sports, or even the weather? “oh… did it rain yesterday? Flooding? Really? I must have missed it.”  Sure, it sounds absurd – but I actually said that once in the middle of book production.

Now that the book is at the printers (well, actually in a truck on it’s way to me – yee-ha!), my focus has shifted to event planning.  Finding that perfect, or almost perfect, or at least available-and-answering the-bloody-phone venue for the book launch.  Talking to wine and beer companies explaining why our book launch is an event they really should sponsor.  Writing press releases to let the media know about the new book, the launch party and the great team that made all of it possible.

So I find myself incredibly boring.  Oh sure, I can turn a witty phrase and elicit an occasional chuckle, and people do ask about the book, and what’s going on.  But I’m boring the crap out of myself, and when I get on a roll… well let’s just say the social niceties and my nature curiosity (read nosiness) seem to vanish in a wave of blather about printing, press releases and venues.

I know I’m not the only one who gets sucked into the “Let’s Talk About ME”-flush-spin. I know because I’ve sat through quite a few.  But what do you do when you realized you’re about to go down the pipes?

Or is it just me?

Alexa Clark

Alexa is a digital marketer and author with over 20 years in digital & interactive communications in the food and tech industries. Alexa's CheapEats Restaurant Guides, for both Toronto & Ottawa, were Canadian best sellers. She is a recognized authority on social media and has been named one of Canada's 20 Leading Women in Social Media.

3 thoughts on “EgoCentric or just Self Centered?

  • February 17, 2006 at 12:53 pm
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    Lex, I hear you. I have gotten that way with the knitting. I DO the knitting every chance I get and when I’m NOT knitting, I talk about it to anyone who’ll stand still long enough. I see the glazed eyes, the stifled yawns, the surreptitious glances at the watch – but I care not. Because chances are I’ve had to listen to THEM talk about THEIR obsessions or crappy relationships or unsatisfactory jobs for years on end and now it is MY TURN.
    Also, YOUR turn. Own it! And congrats on the book!! If the launch happens after March 1st, I will totally be there. For I love both books and the eating cheaply.

    Reply
  • February 20, 2006 at 3:41 pm
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    Never. By the way, want to hear the latest about my adorable child? ;=)

    Reply

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