The FIRM Principle Part 5    

“A boy doesn’t have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn’t like pie when he sees there isn’t enough to go around.” – Edgar Watson Howe

 The last element of the FIRM Principle is Modeling.  It does not matter who you are or what you do.  You can have a family or be living on your own.  You can be a teacher, performer, athlete, businessman, Pastor, or whatever; you are a role model to someone.  People are always going to watch you and what you do.  Children are going to be influenced by the things you so.  You may not like it, you may not want to be a role model, but you are all the same.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had it right when he said “As a parent, I have a job as a role model to my children, and by extension, to other young people.”

 MISSING ELEMENTS

It is my belief that there are three things that have been missing from today’s social order that when reestablished will make the changes we all long for.  They are: Good Manners, Reverence for God, and Respect for Heroes.  These three elements of life can change a person’s attitude and success in life.  Success-Minded People know that these three elements are vital to all success in life.  Sadly, over the past couple of decades we have valued good manners, reverence for God and heroes less and less.

 WHAT MAKES A HERO

We all need heroes to look up to.  Some of the heroes of today are placed on pedestals for their bad behavior not for the good they do.  This is not a hero – it is called a bad example.  Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli said “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”

Heroes are those men and women who have fought against the odds and won.  They do what is right and good and do not compromise in the face of opposition.  Heroes are willing to take risks for the sake of discovery and the good of all.  They think of others first, not themselves and are willing to sacrifice to do their duty with honor and integrity.  These are the people we need as examples and we need to place before our children.  This is the type of person we as Success-Minded People should strive to be.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”

 TODAY’S HEROES

We do have heroes today.  The problem is not really a lack of heroes but the failure to recognize them and hold them up.  Society finds bad behavior far more interesting than heroic deeds.  There are Success-Minded People everywhere who are standing for right and not compromising with a greedy and corrupt world.  We have the thousands of men and women defending our country and the freedoms we hold dear.  These are true heroes and worthy of our respect and gratitude.

Teach your children and those around you that we can all be a hero.  It is not by telling stories – although that is a great way to teach – but more by example.  See yourself as a Knight Errant on a quest to win back the honor and glory of those who truly deserve it.

 © 2011 John Patrick Hickey