You can’t reverse engineer success by researching origin stories. You can’t follow the same path as those you admire and expect you’ll end up in the same place. Everything worthwhile has an origin, but those origins aren’t the reason that they are worthwhile.
Do you honestly think that by reading articles like “What do the top 10 managers in the world eat” or “How do the top 10 managers in the world dress” we will become just like them? I highly doubt that.
Let’ be honest and take a look at ourselves. How many times have we “imposed” on ourselves a role model following all of his moves, habits and maybe even his mistakes?
I confess I had. I took Seth Godin as a role model and I started reading ALL of his posts, watched all his YouTube presentations and analyzed all his habits. Yes, I admit I was wrong. At one point I even thought about writing a book titled “How to be unsuccessful in a world where everyone else is successful” – but following Seth’s theories. I didn’t do it; I dropped the idea I dropped everything that meant copying a role model in life. After all, if the world had another Seth Godin, where would Robert Katai be? And Seth is not Robert and Robert is not Seth.
His story is not my story. His life does not have the same opportunities as mine. His friends are not like my friends. His purpose is not my purpose. His thoughts, his experiences, his struggles and frustrations do not resemble mine.
There’s nothing wrong in having a role model. What’s wrong is wanting to be EXACTLY like him.
Stop trying to be a (fill in his/her name) and be you.