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” We relish news of our heroes, forgetting…” (Great Work quote)

We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that
we are extraordinary to somebody too.
~ Helen Hayes

I’m a big big fan of identifying your heroes. They’re often a terrific clue as to what Great Work might be for you, as it is something they’re doing or somehow that they’re being that is calling you forward. (Sort of like that scene from Jerry Maguire).

Here are four things I know about knowing your heroes

1. Often, getting clear on your heroes brings mixed emotions. As well as admiration, there is some degree of jealousy, inferiority, sense of lack. Or maybe that’s just me.
2. They’re human too, with their fair share of frailties and flaws. That’s actually part of the secret of their success.  And realizing this helps with #1.
3. You can contact them. Or at least, you can try. I’m in touch with a number of people I really admire – Seth, Chris, David, Molly, Andrea, not to mention the cool people of  The Great Work Interviews – because I rang them up to say hello. And that helps you connect with #2, which in turn lessens #1.
4. They can offer you a mirror to see your own potential greatness. What’s in them that you want to grow within yourself? What do they stand for that you want to stand for? Which takes us back to #1 but flips it on its head.

Speaking of heroes…

There are two upcoming opportunities to see some heroes of mine in action.

Friday October 16, Tom Peters, Marcus Buckingham, Jeff Jarvis and David Allen are speaking at The Art of… in downtown Toronto. These are three smart, thoughtful guys. I’ll be attending and it’s something I’m really looking forward to it. Are you coming too? If so, let me know.

And two days earlier – Wednesday October 14 – David Allen is speaking in Montreal on the Getting Things Done concepts. I count David as a friend and colleague, and he’s been kind enough to offer Box of Crayons readers a 15% discount on the event. Learn more about the seminar here, and to register and pick up your discount enter boxofcrayons on the checkout screen

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