You look at role models as competitors. Which ultimately while they may one day become. The purpose of a role model is not to compete with you but to give you a different lens which you may view a problem.<p>The ultimate failure of these people is irrelevant, nor implies a glass ceiling. Since as with most error checking models. The more agreement between yourself and your role models, the greater the chance you'll execute that decision.<p>What I'm saying is who you set up as a role model, should be somebody who academically and morally challenges your opinions. Makes you question your own convictions and yourself. Ultimately a role model doesn't have to exist in this role.<p>The role model, simply exists as a unit test on your decisions. To check if your reasoning is sound enough. Your emotional relation to a unit test is irrelevant.