(4blackyouth.com) Tiger Woods is still a great role model, and so are Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern, and Charles Barkley. Yes, even Sir Charles, who once sparked a big debate in the media by saying, "I am not a role model." He is. They all are.
In our society, we tend to tack the term, "role model," onto anyone in the spotlight. Today, the meaning of the term, "role model," has come to encompass a whole lot more than its dictionary definition. According to the Random House Dictionary, the definition of role is "a proper or customary function," and the definition of model is "a standard example for imitation or comparison."
In his role as an athlete-turned-sports commentator for TNT, Charles Barkley has achieved great success, even winning an Emmy. For an aspiring athlete or sports commentator, it would be beneficial to emulate Sir Charles's career, because he's great at what he does. However, it doesn't mean you should mimic his personal life. And although the majority of us can't agree with much of what Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern says, these men are at the top of their game as radio talk show hosts. Anyone who wants be successful in this field would do well observing Rush and Howard on the job.
"Do as I say, not as I do."
Parents who say, "Do as I say, not as I do," are keenly aware that their children observe their every move and as a result, witness their shortcomings and mistakes. Media giants like Tiger don't have the luxury of having their mistakes witnessed only by their loved ones because the press scrutinizes their every move. These public figures are presented as "role models" and expected to live picture-perfect lives, so when they commit acts that don't align with their "role model" persona, the public feels betrayed and disappointed.
Emulate Their Successes
Role models should be looked up to for the success they've achieved in their career, not for every act they've committed in their personal lives. To advance in a particular field, study your role models' success and the discipline, traits, and behaviors that got them there. Emulating the behavior of successful people in a variety of fields is the best way to achieve growth in key areas of your life.
Role models are just that: models in their roles. I am a golfer and will continue to study Tiger's game and model mine after his, but I'm certainly not going to look to him for insight on how to treat my wife. Likewise, if I were a trash-talking radio talk show host, I would probably emulate Rush or Howard career-wise, but wouldn't look to these two controversial radio hosts for advice on how to treat women or run my personal life.
I never agreed with the commercial that aired several years ago in which young people said, "I am Tiger Woods," because no, they're not. As great as a golfer Tiger is, I'm sure no one would wear a "What would Tiger do" bracelet. He's just another human being like us, and he's definitely not someone you could look up to off the golf course. You can, however, learn to be tenacious like Tiger in order to reach your goals or become a top golfer.
So, cherry pick the best traits from the best in order to achieve success in every field that interests you. Just don't expect a mere mortal to provide you with a blueprint for how to run your life, no matter how successful he/she may be in their careers. They are human beings with flaws, just like the rest of us.