Narcissistic headlines we need to stop using 

The reach of social media and a call to us all to toot our own horns, to become the CMOs of our own brand, has resulted in the proliferation of narcissistic headlines. Some we have never heard of before, others stretch the imagination in their misuse.

Narcissism defined

“…. grandiose view of one’s own talents and a craving for admiration…..”

 #1 Guru

This a Sanskrit term that denotes someone who is a “teacher, guide or master” of certain knowledge. It has spiritual connotations. Here is a list of Sikh gurus and another one for Hindus. You will not be on it. So don’t use it. Tweets with high numbers of RTs don’t make you a guru even if you are Sikh or Hindu.

Influencers hold the power to sway decisions. It has become widely abused on LinkedIn for example, where non-influencers ape genuinely influential business leaders, by drowning our notification stream with poor quality posts. Even if your LinkedIn updates get shares and likes, you cannot assume Influencer status. This is a position that is conferred by your peers. Because there are so many Influencer wannabes, a whole industry has emerged to take advantage of your latent narcissism.

Ignore any offers to elevate you to this mystical status, via PayPal payments of $$$$ to someone located in a country you have never heard of. They can’t do it. Nor can you just go out and call yourself an Influencer. It is lame, especially if all you are influencing is sandwich fillings and family vacations.

#4 Rock Star

An ability to hold a tune in karaoke at the office party, does not make you a rock star. Unless you are able to move like Jagger or Kylie Minogue and Tina Turner in stilettos, have sold millions of concert tickets, have a clutch of Grammys and world-wide hits, you are not a rock star. Look in the mirror and accept the reality. I know. It’s tough. You can do it.

#5 Maven

A maven is “a person who knows a lot about a particular subject.”  After the age of about 21, we are all mavens in our own ways and fields. Sometimes even much younger than that. You are not that special. It sounds ridiculous.

#6 Disrupter

A disrupter was at one time not a complimentary term. It meant to “throw into turmoil and disorder” Now it has come to signify a positive sense. Something good will come out of all the crap you cause. This a term, together with its buddy, “Influencer,” that is best applied to you by someone else, and not by you to yourself.

#7 Warrior

There are over 150000 warriors on LinkedIn. A warrior is defined as “brave or experienced soldier or fighter.” Or a yoga pose, which involves holding your legs apart. I don’t want to go there. If your only battle is in a meeting room in New Jersey or a call center in Brixton, you are not a warrior, although the commute might qualify you, if Donald Trump is to be believed. This diminishes the efforts of real, experienced soldiers. Please respect them.

Final straw: self-quoting memes

And the final straw is a growing number who put their own little homilies and clichéd sound bites onto photos of seascapes, forests and artfully placed rocks.

If someone does this for Aristotle, Eleanor Roosevelt, Buddha or Helen Keller they clearly have some miles on the quote tires. The probability of you having the same level of gravitas is almost zero.  To quote Ricky Gervais, “it’s embarrassing and you should stop.”

Mary Beth is a content marketing consultant based in California. She says she spends her days, 24/7/365  saving clients from themselves.