Do you remember who you wanted to be when you were younger?
Chances are, it was the people you read about or watched on television.
For me it was Matilda, Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, and George from the Famous Five.
I read about their stories, I liked their vibe, I deliberately and subconsciously modelled their behaviour.
You might think you want to read that latest business book. You might think you want to watch that new series. But letting information into your headspace is going to change how you act whether you like it or not.
The actions of the characters you become familiar with will become normal to you. You’ll start to mirror what they do, say and believe.
But you can use this in your favour:
- Before a public speaking gig, watch a speech by a confident communicator
- Listen to interviews with people ahead of you in a similar business
- Before you play sport, watch great athletes or a superhero movie
- Read biographies of those you admire and want to emulate
The role models you unintentionally let in might not be right for your journey.
If you don’t want to be like Elon Musk, why read his biography? You might pick it up for the technology insights, or out of general interest in how he operates. But you won’t be immune to becoming more Elon. It will happen subconsciously, page by page.
If you don’t aspire to conduct yourself like Donald Trump, why stay updated with his latest drama? If you don’t think every woman needs saving by a man, most Disney movies shouldn’t be your jam. If you don’t have any desire to be a regular person, soap operas have no place in your world.
Who are you reading about and would you want to become them?
If yes, carry on. If no, find new role models.
