For the first 100 years of making movies, Hollywood looked to literature, current books of the time, and great plays for many of its productions.

Those sources resulted in many Oscar-winning films, and the box office receipts fueled a movie-making industry that continues today. However, many of today's biggest movies and franchises use comic book heroes as their inspiration. The focus is usually on a central figure or hero/heroine in almost every film made, but now the emphasis is on those with powers beyond what we mere mortals possess. With the multiple issues facing the world today, we seem to desire superheroes when we shut off the world for a couple of hours to get lost in the movie theater.

This desire to find a hero seems to transcend most of life, including business and commerce. A company looks for its hero to either maintain its strength or to bring it out of the doldrums. Within an organization, the opportunities are vast for a hero to arise from any of the departments to lead that section of the business to new heights. Many entrepreneurs look to be a hero who can put together various companies or organizations that can make a difference in their industry. A smart entrepreneur wants heroes to be part of multiple enterprises so that they can excel.

In a way, this mindset that is out there has reshaped how people need to perform in the workplace. Yes, you can do your job well and receive appropriate compensation for your work, but getting ahead in your company or start your own business takes that extra perception of being a hero. So, aside from being bitten by a radioactive spider or being a billionaire industrialist who has more Iron Man suits than Bayer has aspirin, how do you become a hero in the business world?

Mother Teresa's quote, "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples,” shows how to be a hero or an influencer in crisis. When your motivation is to give, you often have insights into helping others. Creative ideas will pop into your head to reach out to a specific person. You will share your knowledge, ideas, and motivation so that the audience or community you have assembled can further spread it. What it comes down to is that you have to be good at what you do but be able to communicate your success in a manner that others want to learn from, not from the point of arrogance. As you contribute more, people will trust you and want to follow you. You will become more impactful and inspire others to make an impact themselves. The ripple effect becomes massive.

People are going to see through inauthentic or false heroes. It might not be right away, but soon, others get fed up with those who are style over substance. While that could work for a celebrity whose primary credential is their celebrity status, a professional who wants recognition in their industry is not going to have the same advantage. If you are a tech or marketing guru, you have to be able to give solid examples of success in your field. If you manage a nonprofit, your accomplishments are what people are going to latch onto as to why they want to listen to you.

So, let's assume that you are great at what you do. The next step to being perceived as a hero is to have the desire to help people with your success. The genuinely great influencers dotting the landscape are those who operate from the desire to help others in what they know and do. Somebody who has a "look what I did" mentality is going to flame out faster than a meteor hitting the atmosphere. You have to want to share your knowledge with others because you believe that you can make a difference. Then you have to get your message out.

Here we have a sticking point for some. Some people have no qualms about using whatever methods are at their disposal to tell others about what they do. These were the boys and girls who were leaders in kindergarten! As men and women, they still have that "it" that some have to be natural leaders and communicators. The critical point here is not to get discouraged if you were never like that. If you look at the comic book heroes, more than a few were reluctant at the beginning of their hero careers. However, they realized they had gifts that could help others, and they made themselves get out and use those gifts.

The same goes for anyone who believes they have it in them to be a hero in their profession, even if they are hesitant to share it with others. There is a process anyone can follow to become comfortable with being a better communicator and leader. We have so many channels to use to get our message out and reach the masses. With a little effort, you can begin to cultivate followers who will also carry your message and let others know who you are and what you have to say.

Some heroes are born; some have it thrust upon them, and many others develop their hero status. Whatever your profession is or your dreams for the future, if you feel you have something that can benefit others, don't keep it under the bushel basket. More than ever, the world needs heroes. Others are looking for someone to guide them. You can be that hero.