There’s been a few times in my life where I’ve needed a new direction or guidance. One of the best sources of this life guidance comes from finding role models that mirror your own personal life goals and then emulating their success to then reach your own goal success. I’m always looking for great role models, most especially female role models - - as they share the same experiences that I have, like motherhood or being a wife, and they have still built immense (and unique) success in life.
As a great financial and business leader, Warren Buffett was really my start to this role models project. His advice advocates that you model your own leadership (and goals) after the very best: find successful people to admire, then simply repeat [or improve] on their methods to success. He also strongly advocates increasing your communication skills, learning something new every day, and to stop using procrastination and excuses to hold you back. Whenever I get stuck, I go back to his basic yet powerful advice to inspire me and get my progress on track again.
Choosing role models
I’ve found that it’s helpful to choose several role models from the different areas of life that you’d like to focus your goals in. Think about the different areas of your life and for what you’d like to set goals. For me, these major life-goal areas and basic guiding questions might be:
Work: Who do you wish to model professionally?
Relationships: Who enjoys and embodies the types of relationships you seek?
Health: Who is, for you, the model of health and wellness?
Spiritual Growth: Who can serve as a model for your spiritual development?
Personal Interests: Who represents “the best” in your hobbies and areas of interest?
Lastly, remember that it’s always important to be yourself. Set goals in line with who you are and your values. As Judy Garland once said: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” The unique contributions that you can bring to the world are too precious to waste by simply being a copycat. Strive to put your own spin on projects and never give less than your best effort: You’d be cheating yourself otherwise!
Some of my female role models
I highlight female role models in the list below because it was hard for me to find a good list online when I was searching for ladies I could look up to myself.
(In no specific order)
- Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth
- Melinda French Gates
Gates is an influential businesswoman and philanthropist.
One of her quotes: “Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world."
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/leadership/melinda-gates
- Michelle Obama
Obama is a lawyer, former first lady of America, and now a style icon.
One of her quotes: “One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals."
https://barackobama.com/about/
- Simone Biles
Biles in an inspiring Olympic-level gymnast.
One of her quotes: “Do what’s never been done before”
And if you still don't think she's totally amazing, see this clip of her performance: https://twitter.com/nbcolympics/status/1400997747877199873?s=21
- Mary Wallace Funk
Funk is an American aviator and currently the oldest astronaut (flying with Jeff Bezos in July 2021).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Funk
One of her quotes: “You have to remember one thing. The only thing a woman needs to compete in a man’s world is ability.“
- Kathy Ireland
Ireland is a businesswoman, model, and fashion icon.
https://www.kathyireland.com/about-kathy/
One of her quotes: "I look at failure as education. In that respect I am so well-educated."
- Amy Schumer
Schumer is a fun and outspoken comedian.
One of her quotes: “I know my worth. I embrace my power. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story. I will."
- Maya Angelou
Angelou is an amazing writer and poet.
https://www.mayaangelou.com/biography/
One of her quotes: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
- Beyoncé Knowles
Knowles is a singer, dancer, and business investor (she's currently working with Peleton).
One of her quotes: “Do what you were born to do. You have to trust yourself."
- Serena Jameka Williams
Williams is a talented world-class tennis player.
https://www.serenawilliams.com/pages/bio
One of her quotes: “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does."
- JK Rowling
Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series.
https://www.jkrowling.com/about/
One of her quotes: “Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged.”
- Martha Stewart
Stewart is a business empire mogul, a queen at all matters of the home including decor and cooking; and a tv personality.
https://www.marthastewart.com/274830/the-martha-timeline
One of her quotes: “All the things I love is what my business is about."
- Alyssa Carson
Carson is the youngest future astronaut (a Mars colony planned for 2030).
https://nasablueberry.com/about/
One of her quotes: “Believe in your dreams, appreciate oneness, and help others."
...and that’s just a start - what other role models do you find helpful for life guidance? Leave me a comment below.
#amberclee
