Inspirational People Make Strong Role Models
What are some qualities that inspire you?
Trustworthiness, a sense of humor, thoughtfulness? Build a repertoire of strength and stability while learning from positive role models. Surround yourself with inspirational people! Keep reading to discover how inspirational people make strong role models!
By investing time being a great listener to other people, our lives have become much more enriched. For example, by meeting Wilhelm (Bill) Fuchs we have discussed decades of experiences and gone on outings together that are invaluable. The best way to learn from other people’s lives is to listen to their stories, enjoy, and emulate their best qualities.
Older & Wiser: Our Inspiration
Brian introduced me to Wilhelm ‘Bill’ Fuchs at the Vinton, Iowa Izaak Walton League around 1995. I found out quickly that he was clearly focused on the loves of his life: wife, Barbara; conservation; hunting with friends; sharing stories; and whiskey—not necessarily in that order.
While Bill has seen a lot in his 94 years. He is very young at heart. I love to listen to his stories because it is very evident that he is certainly wiser than me. Thus, our time together has always taught me that I have lessons to learn from all of Bill’s escapades.
While I have helped Bill publish some of those adventures in “Duck Fuzz,” I decided to interview him on the topic of relationships and communication. After all he and Barbara were married for over 60 years!
Here are the questions and responses from our dear friend, Bill:
Part 1–Role Models1
- 1. Who were your greatest role models and what attributes did you admire the most? Judge John Tobin was a local attorney was also a skilled sportsman. He used to take me fishing from 6th grade through high school. He also bought me my first fly rod. We fished Bear Creek and Lime Creek. His brother, Hamilton, was also my role model though he was more notorious. He shared interesting stories of moose hunting in Maine and Nova Scotia. He also had a big gun collection. Once he wore his cowboy hat and six shooters into Jeff’s, a local store with candy in the front and a bar in the back. Another guy gave him grief asking, what time the circus started. Ham said, “Right now!” and proceeded to shoot up the backboard of the bar! He then whipped out a roll of cash and paid the bartender for damages.
- 2. As you got older, how did your choices in role models affect your life? The things I admired about Judge Tobin gave me inspiration. He was a great lawyer, a WWI veteran, and a dedicated conservationist, who became the National President of the Izaak Walton League. He was a real straight arrow–clean cut guy. He donated to causes and became an author of several books. Two titles include ‘With No Intention’ and ‘Tobin Tales.’ One of which he mailed to me, which made me feel special that he would remember the tailor’s son.
Couple’s hunting gifts available here https://amzn.to/3AQ16GL
Part 2: Being Influencial
- How do you feel you have affected other people or influenced their lives? “Well, as a fish and game warden, I’ve always said I didn’t make a lot of friends!” Bill laughs. “When one tries to be a fair and square warden, it just goes that way. I wrote about 150 tickets each year. Now I can say I don’t have an enemy in the world because I have outlived them all! Sometimes as a warden, I was viewed as the outsider or someone you just don’t associate with because I enforced the law. You’ve heard of familiarity breeds contempt. It’s easy to find fault in you once they know you. You can’t play favorites. I have dealt with people from many places. Michigan was my favorite because it is just a beautiful state and has a great road system. I liked California. Oregon had the craziest people because the Klamath Basin brought people from all over the place to waterfowl hunt.”
- What is your best advice for people regarding being a good person? Follow the 10 commandments. Use your willpower for good. Always work on forgive and forget–the first is easier to do sometimes.
- And regarding building strong relationships? Be pleasant–not too much of an SOB! (Bill chuckles and grins).
Find inspirational people Who Make Strong role models
Influential people are where you might least expect them so be alert and open.
- Watch how they interact with others.
- Listen to great conversationalists and the ways they speak to others and how they listen.
- Become invested by asking great questions.
We love this article about networking and discovering role models. Discover how strong role models inspire us!
