Episode 001 – Richard Matthews

Welcome to the first episode of The HERO Show.

Hey There, I’m Richard. I’m really glad you stopped by.

Let me talk from my heart for a few minutes.

Several years ago, 2007 to be exact, I was in my car headed to my job. I had a CD (remember those) playing in my car. It was a talk given by one of my HEROs, Chris Brady. He said something that stuck with me and created an indelible itch in the back of my mind.

He said, “Someday, your kids are gonna have a HERO. It had damn well better be you.” The implication being that if I wasn’t worthy, if I didn’t actually deserve to be looked up to by the kids I’d have eventually… then they would go else where to find their HEROs.

I’m not sure why… but that scared the crap out of me even though I didn’t have kids yet. I knew immediately I needed to get my butt in gear and start my journey to becoming the kind of person that was worthy of having influence. Specifically having influence over the kids I’d have eventually (I now have a little boy and a little girl – best things in my life).

I needed to become a HERO.

But there was a problem…

I’m not a HERO like you would see up on the big silver screen. I’m not a sword swinging, hammer throwing, suit wearing bad-ass who fights to save the world from evil.

I’m also not a some great military strategist or a soldier who has fought to preserve freedom and liberty or end slavery or bring down an oppressive dictator.

I’ve never rushed into a burning building. I’ve never had to protect and serve. And I’ve never saved a life with a scalpel or a stitch or a well timed dose of medication.

All of those types of men and women are rightly called HEROs. Our world would not be what it is without them. Even the fictional characters who serve to inspire us to think of others and to protect them from the evils of this world.

But there is another kind of HERO. The kind whose work is often not thought of as HEROic. The kind whose actions are sometimes derided by those who don’t understand what he or she is trying to accomplish.

Sometimes these HEROs end up with a huge following because of their work. Sometimes they are never even noticed by the general public. But they are HEROs none-the-less… this is the type of HERO, I knew I could become.

What kind of HEROs are these?

The producers. The creators. The ones who look out at this world full of problems and think to themselves… “You know what? I can solve that problem. I can help people. I can solve their problem better, or cheaper, or faster, or to a higher degree.”

Then they go out and actually DO it!

These are the people who make our world go round. They are the ones we look up to and think, “I wish I could be like them”.

They are the ones who made that chair your sitting in. The one’s who built your house. The ones who designed that phone you play with. The ones who taught that course you went through hoping they could help you help yourself.

They are builders. They are educators. They are producers and it’s about time we started recognizing them for what they are… HEROs.

This kind of HERO is easy to recognize. Often they already have visible success or influence.

Sometimes they just have the charisma and that “I’ve got my shit together and I’m gonna help people” attitude that lets you know they will have the success and influence eventually.

Sometimes, the HERO is invisible… but their work is on proud display and you know there is a HERO behind it somewhere…. you can recognize them by nothing more than their work.

But the success… the influence… those are not born qualities. They are symptoms. Symptoms of being a producer. Symptoms of being the kind of person who wakes up every day and passionately pursues their mission to make this world a better place. To make their mark on this world by creating something of value and putting it in the hands of those who need it most.

Our world needs more of this type of HERO. Our only hope of survival as a species and as a great society are to build up more HEROs whose production out stripes their consumption.

You must recognize the HERO inside of you that’s ready to break free and bring massive value to this world. You need to discover your super power and use it help people. You won’t be happy and fulfilled until you do. This world needs what you have to offer.

You may think right now that you don’t have anything of value to offer.

I get it. Back in ’07 I thought the same thing. I thought I had nothing of value to offer and it was that limiting belief that led me to create a couple of businesses that ultimately failed.

Well, let me give you a quick piece of advice on that… STOP TELLING YOURSELF THAT LIE!

You have a unique set of skills, experiences, and memories that define who you are right now. Those are only going to grow each day. When put together they weave a unique story that only you can tell. There is value in your story.

Maybe it’s a product. Maybe it’s a service. Maybe it’s a book. Maybe it’s a message. Maybe it’s leadership. Maybe it’s a vision. Maybe it’s all of that wrapped up into one giant ball of amazing. Whatever it is… the world needs it.

Oh, and that influence and success we talked about… that’ll come. Its and inevitable symptom of living passionately to help solve other people’s problems with your own unique super powers. It’s a symptom of being a HERO.

So join me on this journey as we identify modern day HEROs who produce value and get it out into the world. As we interview those HEROs and learn their origin stories, their missions, their super powers and the principles actions that have led them to where they are now. And finally as we work to integrate those principles into our own lives to become better HEROs and help others do the same.

Welcome To The HERO Show.

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