In a blog post related to heroism and inspiration, adapted from his new book The Earned Life, the renowned leadership expert and bestselling author Marshall Goldsmith talks about how we need heroes in our lives in order to continue striving for more.
Goldsmith writes, “We all need heroes. It is a need so strong that every narrative we encounter—whether it’s a short story or a film or a joke—must contain a clear hero figure in order to hold our attention.”
We all need heroes. The likeliest candidate for today’s most compelling hero has to be President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who has become the face of Ukraine’s resistance against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invading forces. Zelensky’s passionate speeches to the world’s bodies, such as the American Congress and the United Nations Security Council, have become benchmarks for empathetic and effective modern communication.
Mr. Zelensky had almost no traditional political experience. Before he was elected, he was best known for playing a television role as an ordinary teacher accidentally catapulted into power on the show, “Servant of the People,” which ran for four years and made him a household name. Since the Russian invasion, Zelensky has captured the world’s imagination as he urges people to continue fighting for freedom.
In The Earned Life Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crises, including regrets that stem from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroute destinies, and haunt our memories. These are particularly timely themes today.
With Goldsmith’s book as a guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life that is fulfilling in the long run.
You can read Marshall Goldsmith’s blog here.
About MARSHALL GOLDSMITH
Marshall Goldsmith has been recognized for years as the world’s leading executive coach and the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Mojo, and Triggers. He received his Ph.D. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. In his coaching practice, Goldsmith has advised more than 200 major CEOs and their management teams. He and his wife live in Nashville, Tennessee.
About THE EARNED LIFE
In THE EARNED LIFE (Currency Books), Marshall Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crisis: regret, the kind stemming from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroutes destinies, and haunts our memories—particularly timely themes as the pandemic and Great Resignation inspire people to seek meaning in their lives, get unstuck and make changes. With this book as their guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life too fulfilling to dwell on the “what ifs.”
If you’d like more information on Marshall Goldsmith, The Earned Life, and his work, please get in touch with Lyda Goldsmith.
