When I was a kid, I kept images of my favorite athletes on the wall next to my bunk bed.
These were the players I loved rooting for, the stars of my favorite teams. The strides of Emmitt Smith, swing of Derek Jeter, and aerial maneuvers of John Starks were the last pictures I saw each night, and the first to greet me every morning.
My rooting interests were driven by the desire for my teams to win, no doubt. But as any sports fan will tell you, I was drawn to specific players for reasons beyond their star status. I’ve always favored athletes who play hard, put the team above themselves, and outperform expectations. They were usually undersized or understated, with a strong work ethic serving as their defining characteristic, more than natural talent or physical dominance. Call me cliche if you want, but I especially enjoyed cheering for players who overcame long odds, admiring the struggle that resulted in their eventual success.
It’s no surprise the traits displayed by my favorite athletes informed my outlook on competition, achievement, and work ethic. I learned to associate effort with success, link camaraderie with high performance, and view mindset as a key factor in overcoming obstacles.
In short, my worldview was informed by who I looked up to.
As I got older, the sphere of those I admired extended beyond the world of sports. Aside from modeling those closest to me (family, friends, and mentors), I gained inspiration from writers, actors, entrepreneurs, and historical thinkers. I found myself looking up to people who, in addition to sharing traits similar to my sports heroes, all displayed a deep inquisitiveness about the world around them, despite tremendous natural talent. They seemed to show an insatiable desire to improve in their respective fields, constantly digging deeply into their craft to become a better version of themselves.
I also began to appreciate those who saw themselves as more than just a professional success, but could place those achievements within a broader worldview. The most impactful of these role models can put their accomplishments in context with the rest of their lives, with thoughtful reasons for approaching their work the way they do. They pursue excellence not because they are chasing success, but because they’ve identified this pursuit as part of a fulfilling life.
I’ve found it helpful to reflect on those we look up to as we navigate key decisions in our lives. Whether we’re dealing with a career transition, or deciding who to vote for, taking note of people we admire can lead to clarity in our own thinking. For example, we may learn that someone we admire actually leads a life that isn’t desirable to us. This may illuminate the consequences of aligning our decisions with their values, and provide a clearer path based on our own value system.
In moments of difficulty or struggle, we might pause to ask ourselves,
- Who do we respect?
- Are we drawn to them solely because of their success? Or do we admire how they lead their lives?
- Does their approach to life align with our own? If so, what can we learn from them? If not, what are the consequences of emulating their style and behaviors?
- What does my admiration for this person (or people) tell me about myself?
- Am I modeling my behavior after the right kinds of people?
If you’ve never done such an exercise, give it a shot. I’d be surprised if you didn’t learn something that resulted in a better version of you.