Do we need heroes or mentors? I read a blog this morning (Seth’s Blog) that made me think about this. I take the stand that we need BOTH. Heroes are the beacon, the example, the hope. They take on the dark side and show us that truly good conquers all. They show us that action in the face of danger equals courage. Heroes are leaders. They gather together the dreams of the rest of us and plant the seeds of “YES” in our souls. Heroes think of others and never consider themselves. They throw their bodies onto bombs to save a fellow soldier. They run into burning buildings to bring out babies and puppies. They prove to the rest of us that we are so valuable, so precious, that they are willing to defy risk for our benefit.

Mentors hold the flashlight in a dark tunnel. They listen to us. They hear our goals and support our faith in ourselves even when the economy tanks or we have a bad month. They give us a map and reveal to our inner spirit the stepping stones to success. I don’t just mean financial success either; the deeper personal success can be supported through mentors. They are teachers and coaches. They bring the universe into focus for our own personal lives. While the hero is holding the football high in the stadium lights, the mentor has directed that player’s running the suicides each day of the week to make it possible to run the 80 yards for the touchdown.

If you want to do better in life or business, get a mentor. He or she will focus your goals, create your daily steps, encourage your positive outlook, introduce you to other winners who can offer you insight. Becoming a hero takes time and it is never the goal. A hero just “is”. The mentor is, to be a bit cheesey, the wind in your sails. You might  have many mentors throughout your life.