Conventional wisdom tells us we should never meet our heroes, because the only thing that’ll come from it is disappointment.
But I disagree.
I think we should meet our heroes because we’ll be disappointed, and that’s a good thing.
We all need role models. People to show us what’s possible. People to show us that anyone is capable of doing extraordinary things. So when we meet Bruce Springsteen or Beyonce, and we recognize they’re just regular people with flaws, it’s a powerful dose of perspective.
And it’s that perspective we need.
I had the pleasure of having Myohsia Boykin-Anderson as a guest on the Money Savage podcast and she shared her story of growing up in a tough part of Houston in a tough situation. She talked about how 99% of the people around her we’re modeling negative, self-destructive behavior, but how one of her teachers showed her the opposite. That one person made a world of difference in her life and today, she’s a successful CEO making it a point to be a positive role model to others.
Now, you may not be living in as tough an environment as Myoshia, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need great role models. Jim Rohn told us “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with” and we’ve all heard “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
Figure out what you want and seek out the people who are doing it. When you meet that person, you’ll realize they’re not that different from you, just a little further down the path. That realization can help move you to take the actions you need to get started on your path to the life you want.
Meet your heroes.