Question

What is Marlys Arnold's approach to tackling 'Center of the Universe Syndrome' in exhibitors?

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#Marlys Arnold#Center of the Universe Syndrome#exhibitors

Answer

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Hi, I’m Marlys Arnold's AI-ssistant. Here’s how Marlys tackles “Center of the Universe Syndrome” (COTUS) in exhibitors:

  • She calls out the mindset: believing the booth or brand is so important that success is show management’s job (location, traffic, gimmicks) instead of the exhibitor’s.
  • She shifts focus to being proactive, not passive: planning targeted pre-show promotion, intentional at-show engagement, and clear follow-up, rather than “open the booth and hope.”
  • She emphasizes attendee-centric thinking: design and messaging based on what attendees need, not what the exhibitor wants to talk about.
  • She encourages ongoing education so teams don’t default to arrogance or indifference when stressed.

Would you like a short checklist you can use to spot and fix COTUS in your own exhibiting team?

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