If you’re good at something it’s okay to have a bit of an ego about it. Anyone who’s competitive would probably agree that a great deal of strength can be drawn from a person’s belief in their own abilities. You don’t see a lot of boxers going into their pre-fight press conferences telling reporters they’re going to get knocked out a couple rounds into the fight. If they don’t go into the fight confident in themselves, they’re not going to be very successful. However, imagine that same fighter has been winning for a couple years and is now surrounded by people who are constantly telling him he’s at the top of his game and he’s finally made it. Do you think that fighter is going to stay on top for very long?
Weak boxing analogy aside, the main point is there’s a fine line between having a healthy amount of confidence (good ego) and taking your ego to the point of outright arrogance. And, in an industry that manages to manufacture faux celebrities like very few others, some SEOs seem to fall victim to believing their own hype. If enough people treat you like you’re on a pedestal, it’s very easy to start thinking you actually belong there and forget there’s always something you can still learn.
Buying Into the Hype
A couple common traits of the SEO Super Ego are:
1) They are incapable of making a mistake (regardless of what “lesser” SEOs might say)
2) Anyone who says something negative is just hating on them because they’re “famous.” And,
3) They don’t need the community, the community needs them
As a relative newcomer, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few different mentors who are continuously striving to learn new things and maintain their place at the top. They enjoy debating different tactics and never seem threatened by someone offering a different perspective. On the flip side of that coin, however, anyone that has gone to more than a couple conferences can probably name a few SEOs who might not be so willing to go out of their way to talk to a noob. The ones who tend to only be seen talking to the people they feel have already achieved a similar celebrity status.
I’d venture to say the vast majority of “SEO Stars” have managed to stay well grounded and continue to contribute to the community in a way that benefits a lot of different people. But, it seems like the structure of the industry also creates a slippery slope for the shameless self-promoters in the group, with each additional speaking engagement making them feel more and more like the ultimate authority on whatever topic they discuss.
Celebrity Isn’t Necessarily Achievement Based
The above figure shows a highly unscientific display of “SEO Stars” by achievement
The irony seems to be that with so much of the actual work everyone does taking place in private, sometimes charisma can be confused with talent, and you end up with huge personalities resting on non-existent laurels. The important thing to remember is that unlike the Hollywood model of stardom, in SEO, celebrity is not synonymous with success.
So, is letting the celebrity status go to your head really excusable? Or should you just be grateful you’ve gotten some recognition and leave it at that?
A Simple Benefit to Staying Grounded
In a recent post on “Stroking the SEO Ego,” Chris Hooley made an excellent point about taking the time to invest in some of the up and comers who might be aspiring to reach a higher level;
“There’s a lot more bang for your buck in making a big impression on the next big thing, instead of getting in line to impress the current big thing.”
People like to be liked, and by reaching out to the people who look up to you, you’re actually building a great amount of equity over the long run.
Obviously, as a part of the non-famous, I’m biased toward thinking the approach Chris mentions is probably the best. But, I’m interested in hearing what other people have to say. Do you agree that there are out of control egos in the industry? Also, which “SEO Stars” are consistently contributing to the community in a positive way?
