My Role Models, Heroes & Idols

Mentioned the importance of having Role Models to look up to. Here is a list of people whom I admire and why. Some has deceased but to me, they are legends.

And while I may have a hand full of them, some have slightly greater influence & impact on me. They mainly fall in the media industry.

Here they are:

1. Takeshi Kaneshiro

Cool, fashionable and am ambassador for big international brands - Biotherm & Armani. He is the face of the modern Asian man.

2. Lee Hom

From English speaking, Lee Hom overcame the odds in the East to become one of the more successful singers of this time.. his American influence combined with Eastern outlook is admirable. And his music is pretty cool too!

3. Jay Chou

Multi talented - from composing to singing and even directing. His songs are modern yet not too advanced, mixing the very East & some Western influence.. to become simply his (style). The songs are so simple yet catchy.. and they always have a good message behind them as well - now that's the power of influence for a singer ie to share good songs, reach out to the mass and inspire them with meaningful lyrics!

4. Tan Sri P. Ramlee

Being able to touch & reach out to Malaysians of all ages from yesteryears to today through his movies & songs - as an actor, director, singer & composer. No Malaysian has come close to this yet.

5. Steve Jobs

The guy who redefined style and made it a worldwide phenomenon.

6. Mark Zuckerberg

For turning a 'simple' thing big. He understands what his market wants - and keep giving them that.. and he has a big dream, with a good cause. And he makes geeks - cool!

7. Adam Lambert

Talented, entertaining and for having the guts to being true to himself and the world.

8. Lady Gaga

Though may seem wacko in some ways, but knows the right ways to get the right attention.

9. Paulo Coelho

For being able to write inspiring stories that is fiction but yet seems so real.

10. J. K. Rowling

For overcoming the odds in her hard life, to eventually write a series that became an international bestseller - and with a mega movie series to it. Her creativity and storytelling is simply amazing!

11. Bruce Lee

Simply for making his 'arrogant self' become a big thing - not just in the East but also captivating audiences globally.

12. Upin & Ipin

Most probably Malaysia's most famous personality, showing the true essence of the Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can) spirit - and that everything is really possible.. to the point that nationality is not a hindrance to achieving success.

13. Walt Disney

For making animation magical & inspiring.. and so big. That's touching lives in a big way! Plus to have a magical-wonderland.. who would have thought of that?

14. Oprah Winfrey

From humble background to empowering others, touching & inspiring lives. Plus being such a power of influence - anyone she recommends seem to be an instant hit. Oh and the fact that her media business expands beyond the TV program into radio, publishing and soon her own network.

15. Simon Cowell

Straight & blunt - being his true self.. yet making money out of it, and helping others along the way too.

16. Steven Spielberg

For simply being one of the world's greatest Director, of all time. His name is way bigger than the stars in his movies.

17. Elvis Presley

From acting to singing, he was a world sensation, marked closest only by Michael Jackson (and maybe Beatles).

Form 6 Was Cool: I Had A Role Model

As we are now in December and already towards the year's end, I'm taking some time off for me to do some research (some call it soul searching).. the reason is I'd like to see if my actions & things that I do are moving towards my goals & dreams.

To start off, one of the things I'd like to do is to search some background on my idols aka role models. Now the reason is simple.. we admire our idols who in many ways inspire us. Some of us will follow their actions, or some of us will in fact, turn out to be like our idols/ role models ourselves.

I still remember clearly when in Form 6, I took upon a senior as a role model. He was every teacher's dream. Good in studies, above average in sports, great PR skills, and a influential leader. Of course, he did well in school..

I thought that he set a good standard - a lil high of course, but if I could be close to what he is, I'd have made it too. So, that was my goal in Form 6.

And I think I succeeded in that. The goal was real. And it was attainable.

So what I did in that 2 years was to emulate him - not exactly, but on the bigger picture. I joined & held committee positions in some extra curricular activities, managed some events, represented my house in sports (was just shot put, but hey, I'm still proud of it! haha!).. and of course, studied like mad.

But besides achieving my goal, Form 6 turned out to be one of the more memorable years in my schooling years.. and I attribute it to the fact that I had a role model to look up upon.

Well, now that I'm on a different path (ie not schooling & on my entrepreneurship journey), I'm looking for new role models.. role models in the industries that I am in.. I'd say that I've done my research a lil and that will be up in one of the next posts! :)