Usage of title and adjective you give yourself and your work

I recently received an email from a colleague from another department and noticed that he carries the title of an "eSpecialist Learning Innovator!"  This reminded me of an incident years ago when I was embedded with a team in a multinational company.  We came up with an design that we thought was clever enough to deserve a presentation to their Intellectual Property Department.  During our presentation someone in the panel raised his hand and asked a question.  Interestingly, he chose to introduce himself before his question with the statement and I quote "I am also an inventor. ..."  That got one of my team member so confused he scratched his forehead using only his middle finger!

See personally, I think the title of an innovator and the adjective of being innovative is one that ought to command a lot of respect and is not one we would use simply.  From a communication perspective, calling oneself an innovator/inventor can be perceived as condescending and may not do anything to improve communication.  Unless, of course, if that is exactly what is needed at the time.

An equivalent of this is the title of Master.  Calling oneself an innovator/inventor is like a martial artist calling himself/herself a Master.  This potentially open oneself to be challenged or have a challenge accepted as the following Wushupedia video illustrates.  I am actually very impressed with how respectful the MMA fighter is.

David Bao, a Wushu and Tai Chi instructor from China now living in Malaysia, seems to be someone who also subscribes to this philosophy.  He has, on many occasions, when his students call him master, would say that he is only a teacher and not to address him as master.  From our conversation with him, it gives me the impression that to him the title of Master is not a title you give yourself!