Confronting the ego

It's recently dawned on me just how ego-centric I am. In conversations, I often find myself waiting for my turn to speak. I tend to obsess about my problems without paying as much attention to those of others. I find myself thinking of people in terms of what they can do for me. When this kind of realization hits, it can be an eye-opener, and not a pleasant reality to face. Here I was thinking of myself as a kind, generous, spiritual being. And yet even my kindness came from ego. So where do I go from here? I can't guarantee that I won't fall into the same patterns again, but at the very least, I'd like to become a better listener.