On Heroes

The internet is an incredible place.

Every few weeks I stumble upon someone who captures my attention and introduces me to new ideas or ways of living. I find myself captivated by their podcasts, tweets, interviews, YouTube videos, or Substack articles. They may be relatively unknown with very followers or they may be someone famous that I’m seemingly the last person on earth to find out about. Some of these rabbit holes into someone’s life and work last only a few hours. But some have lasted years. They continue to shape my thinking as I immerse myself in their ideas. I revisit their old content again and again. And when new material is dropped, I consume that. The ones that capture my attention for awhile but quickly fade are simply influencers. But those whose ideas resonate with me over the long term and are worth coming back to again and again, those are my heroes.

I define a hero as anyone who positively inspires you. Heroes come in many forms. Some are luck enough that their heroes surround them - friends, coaches, aunts/uncles, teachers - or even raise them - parents, grandparents. These are the best pool of heroes as they are present early and often in most peoples’ lives. For others not so lucky to have positive role models around, there is the internet. Heroes can be discovered. There are so many creators out there that no matter who you are, you can find the ones who speak to you. Who positively inspire you to be better, however you define ‘better.’

The difficult task is separating the wheat from the chaff. Finding the voices that speak to you and inspire you. For many, it’s almost a feeling.