Chapter 82 Emulate the Successful, Learn from Them.
When we were young we learned many things by imitation: The teacher mixing water-colour on the palette...Father on the piano...The pop musicians performing...The movie star dressing in certain ways...The tennis champion in a particular style. Copying has spurred children to learning and progress. It brings interests and hobbies, followed by knowledge and skills. Parents, teachers and role models influence us remarkably. My childhood was surrounded by books and music! Martina Hingis, now the worlds youngest tennis champion, was trained by her mother Melanie, at the age of two! She was once a champion herself. R. W. Emerson said, "Every man I meet is in some way my superior; and in that I can learn of him. Confucius echoed almost the same words.
As we grow older, creativity and individuality assume greater importance, because our strengths, styles, skills and dexterity are different. We are also in different situations, bombarded by unique demand, problems and challenges. By then, straight duplication isnt enough and it wont work. I would advise you against imitating obsessively, and replicating others on a long-term basis. It is unlikely that you have the same substance and circumstances. What works for others may not work for you. We have seen musicians who mimicked Elvis or performed like the Beatles, but they did not go very far. People would rather have the originals or something new!
A better extension to straight copying is role playing, where we think and act like our successful models in a more matured way. Here, imagery, visualisation and our spiritual setting help in a powerful way, which is not surprising to me. I notice that immediately after we watched the sports champions, we tended to perform better. In general, we should follow the lives of those who are already succeeding if we want to be successful. Some of these people are already around us. It is just a matter of studying them, watching them, asking them questions, mixing with them, learning their beliefs, values, attitude, strategies and actions. When we feel and act like them, we tend to take on their passion and power.
An "idol helps in other ways too. In times of hardship and dilemmas, we could ask ourselves what he would do in the same situation. Dont forget, we learn from other peoples achievements, as well as their mistakes! Napoleon Hill noted, "My experience has taught me that the next best thing to being truly great, is to emulate the great, in feeling and action, as closely as possible. In this way, we are always questing for greatness in people and things, and embracing their enchantment and excellence.
The first step in stimulating ourselves towards success is to meet and talk to other people. In life, it is whom we meet and whom we know that counts. If we can go further to find our mentors and ask them how they succeeded, we can use their ideas and methods, some of which may work well for us too. It is not just mentors, all the good people that we meet should inspire and incite us in some ways. Since everyone is different, each will influence us in a unique way, and eventually our lives will be enriched immensely. Believe me. Many who are admired by others started out admiring someone! The revered, the great and famous started with high ideals and goals. So harbour big aspirations now, then choose your hero and let him take you to towering heights.
"Who deserves to be called wise? He who finds something to learn from each person." - Mishna.
"Surround yourself with people who are as good or better than you are." - Oprah Winfrey.
"Men takes on the nature, the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony." -Napoleon Hill.
"You will always meet someone who can tell you something you didn"t know before. Accept it, digest it." - Dr Maxwell Maltz.
"The actions that go into being happy - the expressions, the postures, the movements can make you feel happy." - J. Laird.
"Be with wise men and become wise." - Proverbs 13:20.