The Hero's Journey
The last few weeks I’ve been posting about the stages of an ‘Entrepreneur’s Journey’; a useful roadmap if you are starting your own business especially in tourism....
Have you ever watched a movie and thought, "There's just gonna be one more thing that happens to the main character, that can't be the end...."
Originally coined the ‘Hero’s Journey’ this concept was developed by the American scholar Joseph Campbell. It outlines the common trials and rewards a hero goes through in a classic storyline. Christopher Vogler is a film writer and adapted Campbell’s Hero’s Journey for hundreds of Hollywood scripts, so well that that it’s now a common structure. But we all still love it and mostly, we are not aware it’s even there.
These stages also relate to the adventure of building a business, travelling your career path, or learning new things in any part of your life!
1. THE ORDINARY WORLD
The hero (budding entrepreneur) is introduced in ‘situation normal’ and presented with their foibles, characteristics, and personal history. Some sort of tension is introduced and pulls our hero into different directions creating tension and conflict. Our hero is happily minding their own buiness, when suddenly....
2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE
Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or something rising from deep within, so our hero must face the beginnings of change.
3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL
Our hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may talk of the uncertainty and danger ahead, heeding a warning.
4. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR
The hero comes across a seasoned traveller of the worlds, a mentor or coach who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice to help on the journey. The mentor unlocks a source of courage and provides wisdom to go forward.
5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
The hero commits to leaving their ‘Ordinary World’ and enters a new world, mental space or condition with unfamiliar rules and values. This is a new industry sector meeting, opening a new office, the new beginning has started. The end of Act One.
6. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES
The hero is tested and sorts out allies in the ‘new world’ of business, be it an industry conference or event. They build networks, meet new people, have early tests with implementing new websites, new budgeting skills, being pushed out of their comfort zone in small but important ways. (Remember learning Xero and how to update your website?)
7. THE APPROACH
The hero and their allies prepare for a major challenge. This may be building and launching a new product or service, entering a market, launching a marketing campaign, scaling up, securing capital, winning a large regional tourism grant and starting a new project build.
8. THE ORDEAL
Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space and confronts death or faces their greatest fear. Out of the moment of death – not literal but something’s going to die - comes a new life. Perhaps a competitor has taken market share, or there's been a natural disaster ending the season early.
9. THE REWARD
The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing the ordeal. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again. The hero is battle worn and weary. You’ve won the contract, got the doors open, now you need to do the work to stabilize the business, consolidate foundations and deliver the goods.
10. THE ROAD BACK
About three-quarters through the story, the hero leaves – not literally, but maybe – the new world to bring treasure home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission. This is like to returning home from a business trip where you’ve won contracts, and now you need to fit out a new premises, recruit and onboard staff and reassure them that everything is going to be ok.
11. THE RESURRECTION
At the climax, the hero is tested once more on the threshold of returning ‘home’. She is purified by one last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. They may see it coming. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning of the journey are finally resolved.
12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR
The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure gained that has the power to transform the world/industry/community as the hero has been transformed. They could become a speaker or a Chairperson, a leader in some regard.
The Hero’s Journey was adapted to reflect the Tour Operator’s Journey in Susan's book Booked Out! How to Start and Grow A Successful Tourism Business
