Perhaps it’s because of today’s divided political climate. Sometimes it seems that true heroes are difficult to find.

Yes, we see stories of individual acts of incomprehensible bravery. However, it’s exceedingly rare to observe someone display the type of consistent courage and persistent performance of excellence that one must in order to be considered as an enduring HERO.

In the past few days, Tammy and I have had the privilege of spending a few moments with General Chuck Yeager. The General is a big fan of the Oak Ridge Boys, who are also great friends of ours. The Oaks connected us during a weekend concert in Laughlin, Nevada. We sat with General Yeager and his wonderful wife, Victoria at the show, and we joined them with members of the Oaks for dinner afterwards.

In all candor, we didn’t speak much with him, as he was naturally focused on his good friends. This post is not to suggest that he knows what I speak and write about, or to imply anything other than relating to you the honor we had to share a couple brief, passing moments with the General and his wife. (And, we certainly appreciate Victoria’s kindness in the conversations we had with her!)

However, this encounter certainly has me thinking about the meaning of heroism. For example: is there a difference between heroism and bravery?

As I’ve pondered it — and it may just be simple “hair-splitting” semantics — but, it occurs to me that bravery can be displayed in a single act.

Heroism, on the other hand, is a bit more complex. It’s found in someone who has been consistently brave, despite the potential consequences, in a manner that is profoundly inspiring.

And, while you and I can never aspire to shoot down enemy aircraft, be first to break the sound barrier, or be called the “greatest pilot to ever fly a plane,” we can set a goal to be consistently, dependably brave at what we do. Perhaps we could even achieve a small level of heroism.

In the research for “ICONIC,” one of the five factors my research discovered is that those individuals and organizations who have attained the highest level of distinction were willing to “play offense.” In other words, while they knew what competitors were doing, they were committed to charting their own course.

Consistently, these iconic performers were willing to be brave enough to follow what their gut, research, and data told them was the path to success. They weren’t choosing to play the game just like all the others.

At High Point University, I serve on the “in residence faculty” with Steve Wozniak, who not only was brave in building a “personal” computer, unlike those of the time…but continues to inspire with visionary, “out of the box” thinking. And, another of our group, Marc Randolph, co-founded a little business called Netflix…and continues to motivate with his investment of his resources in future disruptive organizations and thinking.

My great pal, Sage Steele of ESPN, has overcome significant professional and personal challenges to become one of our nation’s most highly-respected sportscasters and serves as a role model to all in her industry.

I consider all of these colleagues to be heroic in their own right.

And, that’s what YOU can become, too. I certainly grant that you and I may not receive the universal acclaim of General Yeager, Wozniak, Randolph, or Steele.

However, each of us can reliably display our bravery in how we stand up for what’s right, break the mold of traditional thinking as we play offense, expand the experience that we create for customers and colleagues, and inspire others to perform at their highest level. If we are willing to consistently do this, it might be considered heroic.

• For what I’ve discovered is that the opposite of heroism isn’t cowardice. 

• It’s conformity.