Role Models as Analogs and Antilogs

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I just finished reading the book Dear Theo: ... (I found it via Scott Berkun) and it is as inspirational as motivational. It illustrates that even Vincent Van Gogh had to practice like anybody else and that he was not born a perfect painter. He even went trough phases of melancholy and depression, but he kept on doing. It is one thing to have good ideas and good intentions, but a completely different thing to invest in them (time, money, etc). At the end of the day it is all about going out there and dedicating oneself to something.
Additionally, he was a modest man, not daring to compare himself to other great painters of his time. In contrary, he chose them as role models.
At the same time I read the book Getting to Plan B where the authors recommend to find analogs and antilogs for your product's or company's vision. That means to find out what has worked for other people or not, so you do not have to reinvent the wheel or to make the same mistakes.

I think role models can be used as analogs and anitlogs for your career's vision. It is not about becoming those persons, but about using practices that worked for them and/or combining those with your own.
Therefore it is a good thing to seek people that stand for values you admire and to get to know their lives. Copying Einstein's sleeping habits or having a personal reviewer like Vincent Van Gogh  (his brother); maybe it will work for you as well.