When one talks of a role model, most people conjure up with images of only a positive one: a successful person whose values and behaviors are worthy of imitation. However, there is more to consider than just success.
A role model can be a person other people notably the young people look up to in order to determine appropriate values and behaviors; A role model is more than just a person you look up to and admire; it is someone who can help you unlock your potential by showing you what is possible and providing examples of how you should, or shouldn’t behave.
Presumably, there are three types of role models: positive role models, reverse role models, and anti-role moles.
Briefly; a positive role model is that who offers helpful values and behaviors: who is positive in both values and behaviors; a reverse role model is that who is both positive and negative in both values and behaviors, and an anti-role model is that who is negative in both values and behaviors.
A positive role model shouldn’t just be someone who accomplished what you want to accomplish; they should be those who share your values, and who use an approach you want to emulate. Chris Fussell explained to Tim Ferriss that there are three levels of positive role models he can follow: these were; “a peer who you think is better at the job than you are someone who does something better than you; someone who is doing the job you did a year, or two, or three years ago better than you did it; someone senior to you that you want to emulate”. To quote Fussell ” if you just have these three individuals that you are constantly measuring off of, and you are constantly learning from, you are going to be exponentially better than you are”.
Similarly, a reverse role model is nearly like the positive one; however, reverse role models have flaws that you don’t concur with; they are those who show off themselves of what they are not. Because of this, they help you to avoid those negative values and behaviors they portray. Moreso by observing them, you are able to find out how you can achieve your goals in a humble way, and be who you should be in other words be yourself and genuine.
While an anti-role model is someone who has not achieved what you want to achieve despite being on the same career. Their values and behaviors will help you create guardrails for avoiding a similar fate. Anti-role models help you to uncover (and avoid) the biggest blocks to success. These blockers often include; sloth, envy, resentment, self-pity, entitlement: all mental habits of self-defeat. Avoid these qualities, and you will succeed.
Therefore, regardless of your industry, if your goal is to take your career to the next level, having role models is essential. Role models offer the ultimate shortcut for leveling up your knowledge because you are able to learn vicariously from them; they show young people how to live with integrity, optimism, hope, determination, and compassion; they play an essential part in a child’s positive development. However, parents, caretakers in general, are exhorted to guide their children on how to find a role model; they should help their children discover a role model and for what reason. Because for instance, a positive role model may make poor choices; and so the children shouldn’t assume that negative and inappropriate behaviors that involve racism, sexual harassment and dishonesty among others by admired public figures or friends ( who they make their role models) are acceptable. Thus, when a role model displays behaviors that are bad, shouldn’t be copied by the mere fact is a role model.
Role models come in young people’s lives in a variety of ways; they can be educators, civil leaders, parents, clergy members, peers, and ordinary people encountered in everyday life. Because of this, being a role model is not constrained to those with fancy titles, or personal wealth. Anyone can inspire Young people to achieve their potential in life. However, the trickiest part is when it comes to identifying the right one. Because of this, besides the reverse role model, and the anti-role model, one can find a good role model considering among the many, the following qualities;
A role model should be that with; passion and ability to inspire: passion for his, or her work and capacity to infect others with his lifestyle; clear set of values: he or she should live his or her values in the world; commitment to community: should be other-focused as opposed to self-focused, active and freely giving of their time and talent to benefit others; ability to overcome obstacles: he or she shows how success is possible no matter the obstacles faced – A Booker T. Washington noted” success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, but by the obstacles which one has overcome”
Therefore, not only successful people can be role models but also you who is successful in potency. However, you and I may be compelled to speculate: how can we attract people to make us their role models! A parent, and a civil servant, for instance, on which grounds will your children, and young people make you their role model respectively.
” Let someone make you a role model, but a positive one”
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