This week:
Role Models

Who are the strong role models for your career or business choices? Why?

Work & Money survey questions change each Wednesday.

twaj: My role model in personal and business interactions is Herbert Spencer, a 19th century philosopher and sociologist who proponded Adam Smith's vision of a free market economy and added the scope of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. Mr. Spencer held that society was a dynamic instrument that improved as it progressed, and that repressive state institutions only proved to thwart the greater good of economic determinism. Spencer's views should be considered timely in a day and age when the electronic community is attacked on all sides by political constraint. Mr. Spencer's classical liberal philosophy is akin to modern libertarian thought, in that it provides an optomistic approach to forwarding society through the provision of individual freedom.

Locksley: Chuck Yeager and the Mercury Astronauts were the role-models for me. They sought out the limits of their time and pushed beyond them. In the same way, I intend to push the edge of the envelope, to ride the wave of the future, not get washed up in it.

Walker: My work role model is the wise sage who said: when you do the dishes, DO the dishes. As often as I can (which isn't terribly often, alas), I try to do one thing at a time, so I can do it well and with pleasure.

kara: Definitely my parents. Growing up in an age where my friends' families were splitting up all the time, I have a father who repeatedly turned down opportunities to get a higher salary, since these jobs would mean spending less time with us. And my mom approaches every day as a new opportunity to have fun, creatively taking her teaching job and making it a great experience for herself, her students and her fellow educators. I may not follow either of their paths directly, but they have both sure taught me a lot about keeping work in perspective.

M.S.: Being a college professor, strong role models include professors I myself had in college who impressed me in various ways (usually by working hard themselves!).

bebop: Bill Gates! I know, I know: but Microsoft is clearly a leader, and has retained a lot of the characteristics of a young company even though it's gotten rather large. A good negative example, I'm sorry to say since I love Macs, is Apple Computer: they lost the edge when they were late bringing out a laptop.

wilmer: Thank goodness one person has hit it right "kara". It's a pity today that people look to the Dennis Rodman types or other gazillionaires int he sports and business world as role models. But what concerns me more is what is happening to the values in this country..."screw unto others before they screw unto you...." Study history and you'll find out that every civilization crumbled from within because of a deterioration of morality and values. Are we far behind??

Becky: My role-models are anyone who overcomes a physical problem, to do what they do to the best of their ability.

Persuter: Ayn Rand is one of the biggest influences in my decisions because I am a staunch supporter of Objectivism...

bkeithw: Robert E. Lee for his sense of personal honor; Thomas Jefferson for his pursuit of reason and liberty; Benjamin Franklin for his insatible curiosity and dedication to self improvment; Winston Churchill for indomitable courage; and Teddy Rooselvelt for his determination to extract everything from life.

Terryism: Benjamin Franklin. He tinkered, he pondered, he overate, drank too much, joked around too much, slept around too much ... yet he made such an impact in history. Which goes to show it's all in your attitude. You don't have to be a workaholic to make a difference. You can get a lot of work done with a clear sense of self, and a novel attitude. i.e. Follow Your Bliss.

kanel: I don't have role models because I don't need role models. I use my own common sense when I make a decision. You could say my role models are my parents who have taught me what is right and what is wrong. We need more of this in today's society. Too many kids and teenagers aren't being taught what is right and wrong. They are left to decide for themselves what they think is right or wrong. Naturally, they will be wrong about some of these things but there won't be anyone there to tell them it is wrong. Role models are something people with no common sense need. Anyone with a brain can figure out what is right and wrong and what they need to do to make their lives better.

christabel: I do not have a particular role model with a name. I guess I have always been and always will be impressed by people who stayed true to their own beliefs no matter what kind of consequences their actions would bring them. The ability to do the right thing and be unselfish in the moments that count can be associated with many great names in history. But, in everyday life, we meet constantly these kind of heros. They are the true role models for me.

Jayna: Granted, this is my own journey, and I have to make the way for myself in the end, but I haven't found (yet) a sage in the business world that has given me any insight to this world outside of college. All I get are the "big break" stories. There are so many who are not willing to lower their guard down for a struggling, young citizen who just wants to make herself useful in this world!! =)

JeanGrey: The role models for my career choice were the great teachers I've had, beginning with my mom right on up to my college choir director. I didn't have a stable homelife growing up, so school was my security. Unfortunately I've academically shot myself in the foot recently, but only because I've come to realize that the teachers were right -- the books aren't everything. You have to live life, not just read or hear about it. I learned that lesson well, and I want to pass that idea on to my students.

GolfGizmo: Abdul'Baha. One of the central figures of The Baha'i Faith. His life, and actions, the way he cared for people, and all he accomplished, particularly under the severe restrictions which were imposed upon him, stand out as "super-human" among the profiles of great men.

bkjb: Jim Profit from the FOX show Profit. He don't take nothin' from no one, and on his way to top he'll squash you if that what it takes. Just like in real business!!!!

DeLuxe: Among my role models are Frank Zappa and John Cage, two of the 20th century's greatest musical geniuses; R. Buckminster Fuller, visionary scientist who was at least 100 years ahead of his time; Nikolai Tesla, a contemporary of Thomas Edison who did much cooler things with electricity than did Edison; the 14th Dalai Lama, for obvious reasons; Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, one of the first American born hindu teachers in North America; and Paramahansa Yogananda, teacher of the immortal science of Kriya Yoga.

Shazam420: I do not know his name, but the context of his situation describes what I see as beautiful in people: This guy was injured while rock-climbing; he lost both of his legs at the knee. As fate would have it, he has now invented several items to improve the lives of the mobility-challenged -- by using very simple principles of motion and energy. It was a matter of a problem and an open mind. The open mind won.

franc: My role model would have to be Tina Turner! I mean, she's incredible! An incredible voice, and she stands up for what she believes in! Lets' go Tina!