Who is your "Hero"?

Everybody needs a hero. A role model. Someone to look up to and try to emulate. Someone to learn from. Someone that will guide us through our life of learning.

Personally I have a number of heroes.

All have influenced me and guided me in some way, taught me things, made me think about things from a different perspective, and all have contributed to making me a better person.

My parents were a big influence in my life. They taught me discipline, love of family, how to be a good person, husband and father. My dad was inspirational in that he was able to tackle a problem and come up with a clever solution to fix it. He taught me that when it comes to solving challenges, "where there is a will, there is also usually a way".

My mother taught me how to love life, live life and enjoy the company of others. She and my father taught me closeness of family - in that we put family ahead of self. I am s very thankful that I had the parents that I had.

My wife is also one of my heroes. She has been my rock, my biggest supporter, my business partner, the person that keeps me grounded, and the most honest and loving person I have ever met. If there was anyone that should be looked at as the role model of a great human being, a loving mother and wife, and a good friend, then my wife is it.

She epitomises all that is good in the world. She inspires me every day to do my best.

However, when it comes to wealth creation and entrepreneurship, there were certain people that I learned from. People who influenced me in positive ways.

In the 80's I was a huge fan of Zig Ziglar. He was a sales trainer, motivational speaker and I learned to sell by listening to his training tapes, attending his seminars etc. I learned how to sell and interact with customers and people in general.

In the late 90's through to about 2015, I was a big fan of Robert Kiyosaki. I first found out about him when I read his best selling book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". I then read every other book he had written. His property investing methods, and wealth creation concepts just clicked with me. I went and listened to him speak many times, and around 12 years ago I did a class with him where I was one of 30 students. It was a great learning curve for me.

I'm still a fan, though I'm more a fan of his property investing principles more than his other investing vehicles, but that's just my preference - remember..... "if I cannot understand it or control it, I will not invest in it".

Of course, then there is Mr Warren Buffett. He is a phenomenal investor, he understands compounding, and the use of time to build wealth. I have read his annual letters to his shareholders. He is dedicated to his shareholders and his shareholders love him. I like the way he is not extravagant, and even though he is currently the 7th richest person in the world, he still leads a simple and humble life. He is a huge philanthropist and donates billions of dollars to charities. He is a hero and role model to many people, including myself.

These three individuals, Zig Ziglar, Robert Kiyosaki and Warren Buffett were the most influential in my business and wealth building journey. These are people that I have learned the most from. However, Warren Buffet is the person I would class as the role model that I would prefer to emulate - not because of the wealth he created, but for because of the way he leads his life, his philanthropic work, his sharp intellect and understanding of all things business related....... ok, and the fact he is a phenomenal investor as well !

These are the people that I allowed to influence me. These were my heroes.

And now two quotes from one of my heroes:

"Tell me who your heroes are, and I'll tell you who you will turn out to be" - Warren Buffett

and

"The best thing I did was choose the right hero" - Warren Buffett

So, who are your heroes???