Most Americans would agree that Benjamin Franklin was a hero. Among so many other things, he was instrumental in the founding of our country, the United States of America. He is certainly one of my heroes.
Without studying his project management abilities very deeply, I can guess that his character traits would have made him an excellent PM. But he was certainly not a superhero. In reading about him, he didn't seem to try to be. Even in his own writings, he admits that he was constantly struggling to learn to apply the qualities of a strong character to his life. He wanted to consciously practice desirable character traits until they became so deeply a part of his character that he unconsciously practiced them. They ultimately became, not traits he tried to exhibit but, traits he possessed in his core being.
Benjamin Franklin worked to ingrain within his character traits such as integrity, responsibility, commitment, humility, patience and courage. He monitored his actions and interactions with others to determine if he was successfully applying those traits. He sought ways to correct any tendencies to stray from those principles of good character. He was committed to becoming a man of good character.
In an article that I found through LinkedIn's Toastmasters Int group, Wyn N. Davies asks Are You a Pilgrim or a Tourist? Wyn speaks of life in general, but his message applies to us as project managers directly. Are you just a tourist in the role of project manager?
Or are you a pilgrim, committed to BEING a project manager. If so, you will follow Benjamin Franklin's example and constantly try to build into your core character those traits that make us heroes. Traits such as cooperation, sound reasoning, perseverance and integrity.
With that commitment you will be someone's project management hero.
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