The Hero’s Journey as entrepreneurial model?

GITS reader and long-time friend Richard Rumble source this interesting site that uses Joseph Campbell’s theories re The Hero’s Journey as the basis for teaching entrepreneurship. At first, that might leave you scratching your head, but check out this outline from the website:

Artistic Entrepreneurship 101 Outline:
(Based on Joseph Campbell’s classic Hero With a Thousand Faces)

• 1 Structure (based on wikipedia’s monomyth): The executive summary of your artistic business venture.
• 1.1 Departure (or Separation): Taking that first step — blog your vision.
• 1.1.1 The Call to Adventure: Artistic passions & dreams
• 1.1.2 Refusal of the Call: Is it practical?
• 1.1.3 Supernatural Aid: Use the force, Luke. The harder you work, the luckier you get.
• 1.1.4 The Crossing of the First Threshold: Business structures / market research
• 1.1.5 The Belly of the Whale: The business plan, raising funds, intellectual property
• 1.2 Initiation: Building the team, incorporating
• 1.2.1 The Road of Trials: Striving toward profitablitity
• 1.2.2 The Meeting with the Goddess: First customers! Early success!
• 1.2.3 Temptation: Shifting marketplaces.
• 1.2.4 Atonement with the Father: Competing or collaborating with the big guys — the Microsofts and Apples, the Hollywood studios
• 1.2.5Realizing the core business Apotheosis
• 1.2.6 The Ultimate Boon: Newfound business acumen!
• 1.3 Return: It is all for naught without the road back!
• 1.3.1 Refusal of the Return: Don’t lose site of the core business!
• 1.3.2 The Magic Flight: Exit strategy! IPO or selling the company!
• 1.3.3 Rescue from Without: When business competition is your best friend.
• 1.3.4 The Crossing of the Return Threshold: The venture is a success!
• 1.3.5 Master of Two Worlds: You know what it takes — like Richard Branson you can do it again.
• 1.3.6 Freedom to Live: Financial freedom to pursue your dreams!!

With my students, I make the point that when we conceive of a story, in effect we become a Protagonist in our own story: The writing process. Stumbling upon that initial story concept is like The Call To Adventure. When we type FADE IN, we Cross The First Threshold. As we write, we confront Trials (lose our way, lose our confidence) and Temptations (to quit). And eventually as we get to FADE OUT, we emerge ‘victorious’ on our own hero’s journey.

Given that, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to find outfits like this using Campbell’s theories as business models.

What about you? What do you think about this application of The Hero’s Journey? And have you ever thought of yourself — in the writing process — to be your own Protagonist on your own hero’s journey?