We all have heroes.

Looking at it from a career perspective, who are yours? Who are the people in your industry of choice that you admire? Who are the people in your industry that inspire you? Who are the people doing something spectacular? Who are the people who have taught you things? Who are the people that have changed your life?

Right now, see if you can list off ten people who you consider to be your heroes - the ten people that you wish you could invite over to your house and thank for helping you get where you are in your career today.

Now do yourself a favor. Look at that list and stop trying to be like these people.

It’s ok to have heroes, but at the end of the day, none of those people got where they were by copying other people. They went in new directions, tried new things, took risks. Their heroes influenced them, but with truly great people, it’s about inspiration, not emulation.

This is something that stands true across every industry. Blogging. Internet marketing. Freelance writing. It goes beyond virtual career paths too. Doctors. Teachers. Bartenders. You get to be truly great in your field by breaking new ground.

Take inspiration from your heroes. Go a step farther and reach out to these people - most love to know when they’ve changed someone’s life, even in a little way. But do your own thing. Someday, don’t you want to be someone’s hero too?