Thousands of years ago, a man named Marcus Aurelius invented the habit of aligning your actions to your ‘heroes’ so to say.

Specifically, he said, “Think continually of one of the men of old who lived a virtuous life.”

What he’s saying is, remind yourself of people who have lived—or are currently living—that you look up to. People who’s ideals and behavior you want to emulate in your own life.

Centuries later, Napoleon Hill had a similar practice while writing Think and Grow Rich. He called it his “Invisible Council.” Every night, he’d close his eyes and imagine his heroes—Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, etc—sitting around a table and giving him advice. He simply trained his brain to think in the ways of the people he most admired.

Both men understood something we often forget: you don’t need to wait to find the perfect role model. You can build your own mental council of them.

Here’s the challenge:

• Make a list of 3-5 people, past or present, alive or dead, whose qualities you admire.

• Ask yourself: How would they handle the problem I’m facing right now?

• Keep them in your mental “boardroom” for advice whenever you need it.

Maybe you’d put Marcus Aurelius on your list to remind you to stay calm. Or Maya Angelou for courage and honesty. Or Steve Jobs to push your creativity. Or your grandmother, who lived with grit and kindness.

There’s no right or wrong choice. Your council is yours to decide. And the best part is, they’re always available. They’ll never charge a consulting fee and you might even find them giving you better advice than the internet ever could.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m still in the middle of reading Mission Ready by Derick Johnson. A guide on destroying limiting beliefs and how to train your mind to start dominating your own mission in life.

Quote Of The Week - “The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.” — Paulo Coelho