Who Are Your Hero’s?

Whatever craft you may be studying or perfecting, there is probably somebody in the past that has mastered it before you. It is unlikely you will run into a situation or struggle that has not been overcome, to great success, from somebody else. The real greats in their fields have often times overcome harder struggles and obstacles than most will face in their lifetimes.

Take Enzo Ferrari, founder of the Ferrari automobile, as example. Enzo’s father and brother died in 1916 from a widespread Italian flu outbreak, when he was 18 years old. This left Enzo with the responsibility of taking care of his mother and being the man of the house at a young age. This drove young Enzo, probably due to extreme pressure, to work 12-16 hours everyday for the rest of his life. I’m not saying that is a healthy “work-life balance”, but he was able to put his mind and persistence to work and overcame enormous obstacles to building a multi-billion dollar empire that the world still knows to this day.

One thing I’ve found, during stressful times as an entrepreneur, is to read biographies of successful businessmen and women to hear their early stories. You will likely find either a less than perfect, or terrible, upbring. Or, running into huge troubles and obstacles on their path to success. Did they sit there and let their struggles overcome them? Heck no. And this is the inspiration that drive you to great heights and success is learning from those that did it before you.