Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Hello, Entrepreneur. You Are a Hero. While most entrepreners might not be saving the world with their ventures, there are parallels between their own paths and the 'hero's journey.'

By Jason Fell

Pixabay

What do you have in common with Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games or Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings? They are characters in stories. More than that, they are the heroes of their stories.

If you're an entrepreneur, then you are the hero of your story.

In 1949, mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote The Hero With a Thousand Faces, in which he outlined the common journey of the archetypal hero. Based on his writing, this short video from TED Ed, produced in 2012, explains Campbell's premise and outlines the 12 steps of his "Hero's Journey."

Related: Don't Pursue Your Passion. Chase Opportunity.

Mythical heroes are faced with a challenge, leave their comfort zones and rise above their own expectations to overcome the challenge and accomplish their goals.

While most entrepreners might not be saving the world with their ventures, there are parallels between their own paths and the "hero's journey."

  • Entrepreneurs identify a problem or a need within their own status quo.
  • They devise a plan to solve it.
  • They seek advice from mentors.
  • From finding investors to product development to dealing with competition, entrepreneurs face their own trials.
  • They also experience crises. There are times where they feel backed against a wall and out of options.
  • Some entrepreneurs fail while others move ahead, finding the "treasure" of bringing a successful product or service to market.

While the mythical hero gets to return home -- to some sort of the status quo he or she left behind -- you as the entrepreneur continue to push forward. You've created something where there was nothing before. You have to nurture this thing and plot its course for growth. People need and want your products. Employees rely on you to steer your company to greater success.

There's nothing easy about being an entrepreneur. It takes creativity, risk, courage, intelligence and even a little luck. That's why some of the greatest successes in business can sometimes read like the best adventure novel.

Related: 15 Motivational Quotes From Legends in Sports

Jason Fell

Entrepreneur Staff

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing the Entrepreneur Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as Entrepreneur.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

She Started a Business With $300 After Getting Laid Off. It Made $300,000 in Year 1 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Company.

Bobbie Racette wanted to revamp the virtual assistance space — and provide job opportunities for underrepresented communities at the same time.

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

Business News

Can Anyone Beat Microsoft at AI? The CEO of Salesforce Thinks His Company Can.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff calls Copilot "the new Microsoft Clippy."

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'Not Yet Fully Autonomous': Tesla's Optimus Robots Stole the Show — But Were They Actually Controlled By Humans?

Musk said the $20,000 to $30,000 robot could perform household tasks like mowing lawns and putting away groceries.

Franchise

McDonald's Launched a Happy Meal for the 30th Anniversary of a Classic '90s Sitcom — But There's a Catch

The promotion is only available in one country, so fans elsewhere are turning to resale platforms like eBay to buy the collectible toys.