A version of this was first published in Outside the Lines Dec 2005

My first hero

Growing up in Australia the son of an Englishman, one of my first heroes was King Richard I, the Lionheart. “Coeur de Lion” … it had such a fantastic, romantic ring to it, and as an 8-year-old his story was a stirring one.

Thirty years later things look a little more complex. The questions raised by the Crusades aside (no small thing considering the state of the world today), he really had a terrible work-life balance and spent only 6 months of his ten year reign in England.

The metaphor of the heart is so powerful - and it shows up in words such as courage, core and encourage. And this for me gets to the essence of heroism. I’m not much for the outward show of glory. I’m more drawn to those quiet acts of courage, that inward moment of stepping forth into the unknown to try something out and see what happens.

The Hero’s Journey

All of us are surrounded by heroes. All of us have walked a hero’s journey.

Joseph Campbell first described the Hero’s Journey, recognizing it as the basic blueprint for all stories, including the ones we live out in our own lives.

As I lay out the journey Campbell describes, I want to acknowledge my own heroes - some of whom I know personally, and one I don’t.

The first stage

There are basically three stages to the Hero’s Journey. The first is the Departure. It is when the hero first hears the call to adventure - the first hint that something is going to change.

Often the call is initially refused - the notion of leaving the safety of what is known is too scary to contemplate. But the call persists, and eventually the hero - often with the help of a Mentor - accepts the call and crosses the threshold into this new and special world to begin the journey.

One of my heroes I don’t know:

I’m thrilled that Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Gurteen Bank, won the Noble Peace Prize this year. He invented microcredit, a way of lending money to the poor. This seemingly simple process has allowed people - mainly women - with no possibilities to suddenly have possibilities. And by creating economic independence, Yunus has started to change the very social structure of these societies.

The second stage

The second stage of the Hero’s Journey is the adventure itself. On the road to the goal, the hero will face tests and enemies, and will conquer them with the help of allies. The allies may show up as a “sidekick” or they may show up as a team.

The hero may stumble and fall and victory may (more than once) be snatched from their grasp. But slowly and surely the Hero learns the ways of this new world, and comes closer to their goal. The Hero faces the final ordeal - their nemesis - and conquers it. The quest is won!

Some of the heroes I know:

All of people I have worked with who have made a bold choice. One of my passions is helping people to do more “Great Work” - work that takes you to the edge of yourself and makes a bigger impact in whatever sphere you’re working in. To do that, you need to start saying no to some “Good Work” - those activities which you do well, get rewarded for, and which are part of your comfort zone.

It is a bold step to say no to something that’s comfortable - and if you’ve started a business, started a new relationship, renegotiated a way of being with someone, tried something new - then you’ve done that. Bravo!

The final stage

The final stage of the Hero’s Journey is the journey back. Again, there will be challenges to overcome, enemies to face, allies to call upon for help.

Crossing the threshold back to the “real world” can be tricky - will the Hero be able to bring back the new found wisdom, experience and share it? It is often in this final stage that the real transformation occurs.

One of the heroes I know within my family:

My mum. Rosey, has just had an operation to replace her knee. It’s been something she’s done with some trepidation, but she’s stepped over the threshold (or hopped…) and she’s now on the journey back. Her best ally is my dad, Robin. He is loyal and brave - the highest praise anyone can give me is when they tell me I’m like my dad.

Something to practice

What’s your hero’s journey?

• If you are the Hero, what’s the challenge you are facing right now?
• What is your goal? What are you seeking?
• Who is your nemesis? Who or what must you overcome for success?
• Who is your Mentor? Who are your allies you can call upon for help?
• Where are you in your journey? What do you need for the journey to continue?

Who are your heroes?

• How can you celebrate them?
• What does that tell you about your own values? And what’s important to you?
• If you were to act like one of your heroes, what would you do?

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