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.
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.
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.
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.
