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A perspective shift to unlock purposeful leadership and peace of mind
“Every superhero has a secret identity…
Who wants the pressure of being super all the time?”
-Mr. Incredible, opening scene of The Incredibles
American culture is known for breeding visionaries — they take on larger-than-life personalities and we put them on pedestals in our minds and on the cover of TIME. The cycle continues as they attract more and more attention and the average person feels more and more distanced from who they are as people. We see this play out with celebrities, politicians, and increasingly with entrepreneurs, as their quest for disruption thrusts them into the public eye.
As the narrative of entrepreneurship becomes glorified through media attention and venture capital, more people are intrigued by its promises. Intellectuals and builders, who may never have found their way into the spotlight otherwise, can now be celebrated for their truest gift: creating something of value through vision and grit. They come to believe they can not only be the hero of their own story but perhaps save the world in the process. It’s a tantalizing premise, and those who embark on the journey are undoubtedly courageous. But what our culture, the media, and founders themselves often get wrong is that the founder isn’t the Hero of the story.
