It's to their great credit that they ratcheted their workload up several notches and then delivered. Discussion One of the things I believe in most strongly about leadership development is the value of observed and studied behavior in others. They are not there as a set of biographies, but rather as examples. Gardner brilliantly uses them as reinforcement agents for the lessons he's trying to teach or the points he's trying to make. For me, the distinction is important.
Role models are of our own choosing.
Heroes have gained a certain distinction either by fame and visibility or by generic category such as astronaut or missionary. It's relatively easy to study the behavior of heroes as much is written about them. Role models on the other hand, provide us glimpses, often from a distance and often without the opportunity of intense study over time. One can find dozens if not hundreds of books on General MacArthur so that disciplined study can reveal traits to be followed and others to be avoided. One might only see their preacher on Sunday and then from the 10th row of chairs, yet still want to model their behavior after the role portrayed from the pulpit.