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Bill Buckner

An Ego Post

by Tim Dempsey on October 14, 2009

One of the fastest-growing categories of articles or posts I read in the blogosphere these days is “ego posts.”  I wrote about this once back in the early days of the swine flu… suggesting that the downfall of our nice little social media world may be “IM#1,” not H1N1.

I’ll figure out how to use semantic tools to rate blogs’ ego quotients some day.  The lowest of the low might get the “Bill O’Reilly” prize, which should probably be 30 days spent in O’Reilly’s company.  Those with ego in check might earn the “Barack Obama” medal.  OK — I’m kidding with that one.  I’m sure you’ll share even better ideas for the prizes.

But you know what I’m talking about: those posts which describe “how someone as famous and busy as I get through my fun- sun- fan- and follower-filled days;” the rants which essentially proclaim “hey, I’m out here — criticizing you and your business, and you haven’t even bothered to tweet me back or comment on my post.”  It’s a pet peeve of mine.

So here I am writing an ego post.  I hate these things, but this request forced me to reflect a bit, do some writing that isn’t in support of some commercial enterprise, and so I’m going to go ahead and share it here.

I’m hurtling toward my 30th college reunion next spring, and some of the fine folks organizing the event asked me to complete a “survey” to share with classmates during the run-up to the big party.  Whether this serves to encourage attendance or scare away I leave to them… but here’s a slightly edited version of the questions and my responses:

  • What did you think you’d grow up to be when when you were age 5:
    • A singer with The Four Tops or The Temptations
  • Your current life ambition:
    • To teach my children and other young people the hard-learned lessons from my own life
    • To teach small business people that they can have as great, or greater, an impact on their customer communities as bigger, better-funded brands
    • To capture more of life and the world in pictures
  • First impression of  your freshman year:
    • “Ok, pinch me: I’m surrounded by beautiful women, I’m getting As, and I can have all the beer I can drink at a Speakeasy for $5.”
  • Memorable experience at college:
    • Sunny fall afternoons spent with Florence and friends at Harkness Beach.
  • Favorite professor and why:
    • Mel Woody (Philosophy).  He would take the title page of every paper written for him, roll it back-side into his typewriter, and provide an entire page (single-spaced) of comments on my exposition.  ‘Nuff said.
  • Biggest misconception about life:
    • That the majority of people would work hard to achieve their life’s dreams.  Rather, I find one-third do, another third don’t care, and the final third are just plain entitled to them.
  • What are you proud of?
    • I’m proud of the balance I have in life.  Though occasionally extremely stressful, I’ve been able to start a business which allows me to spend time working with growing companies in the States and in Europe; to be available to my children as they grow up into young men; to resume my love of photography; to help local small businesses get with the web marketing program; to continue the never-ending project which is my current (and fourth) significant home renovation.
  • Words you live by:
    • “Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night”
    • “Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.”
  • Guilty pleasure:
  • If you could be anywhere in the world right now I’d be . . .
    • On Block Island, at sunset after a day at the beach, relaxing with family and friends, cooking dinner.
  • Your road not taken:
    • Boston University Law school, likely followed by law practice down on the Jersey Shore
  • Biggest myth about you:
    • That I had cosmetic surgery to create this fine if somewhat pronounced proboscis
  • How is college part of your life now:
    • On my Connecticut College chair, given by my mother, is a needlepoint pillow, made by my mother, featuring the Connecticut College camel.  Next to it, another needlepoint pillow, also my mother’s work, that reads: “Money may not be everything, but it sure keeps you in touch with your children.”
  • My favorite song from college that I hope we dance to at Reunion:
    • Birdland, by Weather Report
  • Who I am dying to see at Reunion:
    • Anyone who ever attended “Scotch Night” at the Park Housefellow Suite during our senior year.
  • Why I am coming back after 30 years:
    • Fellowship.
  • Other fun facts about me:
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