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The Importance of Role Models

Strategic Considerations

To me it has always been of paramount importance to have a vision of my model identity. In order to develop towards that ideal my role models would help me strengthen that vision. One effective strategy to find fitting role models is to pick the right environment. Certain organizations will promote specific types of personalities over others. For example in the military there is a tendency to recruit engaging, clearly structured people who have a natural preference to take decisions and action in the face of danger, i.e. under pressure. Thus firm leadership is a skill that is highly valued in military organizations. Other organizations might promote creativity, diversity, individualism and so on. Ask yourself which values you regard as the most precious and then look out for organizations whose values might match best.

How To Be A Role Model

The good news: setting the bar for being a role model will entirely be up to you. It is your own mind first that you need to convince that you are capable of living up to your own expectations. Your behaviour is always on the line to be scrutinized by your own assessment. Internal feedback loops on the one hand and external feedback on the other will give you a steady picture of your progress. Being a role model will become even more palatable once you have children. Your own children will look up to you, no matter if you're the best parent in the universe or not. Even if you are an outright tyrant, your child is going to admire you. Ever since my kids were born, I am much more aware of the possible consequences of my actions and behaviours in regard to being adapted by other people. As one example, I always put on a helmet, when I ride the bike - even if I just make a short hop to our local village bakery - which is really just a few pedal strokes away. Nevertheless, I put on the helmet, because that is what I told my kids to do. (And that is what I suggest everybody does.)

Necessary Role Model Categories

While I am at it, here is my quintessential tip for picking some mandatory role models. Trust me, you will need them in case you should engage in a deep conversation about heroes and other inspiring figures with an infant. Here are the most important categories along with my heroes:
  1. Marvel Universe: Captain America
  2. DC-Comics: Batman
  3. Dinosaur: Veloceraptor
  4. Disney: Merida
  5. Fairy tale: Shreck
  6. Villain: Megamind
  7. Animal: Cat
  8. Lego Multiverse: Lego Batman
  9. Soccer Player: Philipp Lahm
  10. Ninjago: Nya
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