Why we love hero stories

Hope and inspiration

People are drawn to exceptional stories—heroes, prodigies, underdogs—because they offer something beyond the ordinary grind. They give us hope, a glimpse of what’s possible when someone faces impossible odds and somehow comes out on top. There’s something raw and human about seeing others rise, whether it’s through sheer talent or the grit to keep going when everything’s falling apart. We project ourselves onto these characters, their struggles and victories echoing our own unspoken dreams. And in a way, their stories become blueprints, showing us that courage, perseverance, or just plain belief in something can carve a path forward.

Cultural archetypes and imagination

But it’s more than just inspiration. These stories tap into something universal—archetypes we’ve been telling for centuries, ever since the first myths. Heroes and exceptional individuals are woven into the fabric of our cultures, reflecting the constant tension between who we are and who we want to be. They let us step outside our everyday lives, giving us a chance to feel something bigger, while at the same time guiding us through the messiness of real life with lessons on morality, struggle, and growth. Ultimately, these stories remind us that no matter how ordinary we feel, there’s always a bigger narrative at play, and we’re all part of it.

Genius is 1 percent talent and 99 percent hard work.

– Albert Einstein

Hero stories allow us to make sense of our own journeys and outcomes

There is a comfort in believing that the child prodigies (Tiger Woods, Marie Curie, Duke Ellington, Wolfgang Mozart, Albert Einstein, etc.) of the world are successful because they were born to be successful at their chosen craft. They were the chosen ones, not us. This is the very foundation of a fixed mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence are static traits that cannot be significantly changed.

To believe that some people are born with exceptional abilities and destined for success can alleviate any anxiety that our own failures are no fault of our own. That we simply weren’t born with the ability to be great. Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to steer clear of challenges because they’re afraid of failure. Instead of seeing setbacks as a chance to learn, they see them as proof of their own limitations. They’re more focused on getting validation for what they already know than pushing themselves to grow.

Linear versus exploratory paths

How do we distinguish between the heroes who followed a traditional, linear path to success and those who took a more exploratory, gradient approach to life, trying their hand at various trades and crafts? Which path is more common? As David Epstein points out in Range, Tiger Woods is the poster child for early specialization—picking up a golf club as a toddler and spending his entire life perfecting his swing. In contrast, Roger Federer dabbled in multiple sports throughout his childhood before eventually settling on tennis much later than his peers. When Epstein looked at successful people across different fields, he noticed more resembled Federer’s journey than Tiger’s. The takeaway? In a world filled with unpredictable, “wicked” problems, focusing too early on one skill might limit your ability to adapt and thrive.

Epstein expands on this by arguing that while early specialization works well in closed, predictable environments like chess or classical music, the modern world demands flexibility and broader thinking. Success often comes from weaving together diverse experiences, not just perfecting one skill. This is reflected in the stories of many famous figures like jazz legend Duke Ellington and painter Vincent van Gogh, who experimented with various careers before finding their niche. Epstein shows that a non-linear, exploratory path is often key to achieving long-term success, particularly in a rapidly changing world.

Todd Rose and Ogi Ogas add to this idea in Dark Horse with their concept of gradient ascent, which describes a path to success that isn’t fixed but iterative. Instead of sticking to a rigid plan, people take incremental steps, adjusting as they go based on what they learn and where their passions lead them. This is clearly seen in Federer’s story—he didn’t follow a set path but instead took small, exploratory steps before eventually discovering tennis as his calling. Rose and Ogas argue that most successful people don’t follow a straight line to the top; instead, they experiment, adapt, and grow, often achieving greatness in unexpected ways.

A natural fixation on outcomes

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning.

– Carol Dweck, Psychologist at Stanford University

How can you use hero stories to cultivate a growth mindset rather than reinforce a fixed mindset?

You can start by embracing a growth mindset. Welcoming challenges, diversifying your skills, and overcoming the fear of failure. And when you look to your heroes, remember that their paths were likely much messier than they seem at first glance. Know that you are likely missing the full journey—the failures, the pivots, the gradual build—that led to their success. You can use their stories not as proof that some people are simply “meant” to succeed, but as motivation to keep evolving, experimenting, and moving forward in your own unique way. Success isn’t about sticking to a rigid plan; it’s about being flexible, curious, and open to new experiences, allowing you to grow and thrive along the way.

Click here to learn more about how to incorporate a growth mindset.