Designing My Cape

by Brian Simper

For those of us that grew up reading comic books, this is a great time to attend movies. Well done superhero movies are increasingly common. While the 1977 Superman movie was a delight, it still was released in a landscape with no good competitors. At this point I am quite pleased with Iron Man, Bat Man, and Spiderman while still eagerly anticipating Captain America, Thor, the Avengers and subsequent sequels.

Good storytelling and great special effects have produced a renaissance in our modern version of ancient myths. We all want to have those superpowers in spite of the attendant problems. I'll gladly accept Batman's gadgets, mansion, and the batmobile even when I have to risk life and limb against his nightly challenges.

But I'm not a billionaire, I don't possess mutant powers, nor have I been bitten by a radioactive spider. Those are serious barriers to my super hero career. Let us instead consider one distinctly realistic power that any person could consciously develop. I would argue that in general terms it is the only superpower a person can develop within our mortal world.

The ability to influence and lead other people is a super power. I can feel your disappointment already, but let's look at an example. I cannot build a huge, Egyptian style pyramid. Superman could probably use his speed and strength to quarry the 2.3 million limestone blocks needed to build this edifice. But if I were to convince a couple thousand laborers and secure financing, within a few years I could probably accomplish my own personal pyramid through the power of leading and convincing people to accomplish this project.

I hope this does not make Egyptian pyramids sound trivial. Let's try a more difficult super ability such as crime fighting. I really want to make the streets of New York City safe to walk down even at midnight. Spiderman and Batman do their part to make the streets safe although clearly they have not entirely succeeded as continuing issues of their respective comic still show crimes being committed.

But with the right influence and leadership I could get elected mayor of New York City. Then I could appoint a capable police commissioner who would spearhead my Safe Streets Task Force and could arguably do just as well as Spiderman and Batman.

However, politics and massive architecture are not goals that I currently have. A few years ago I had the dream to manage my own business in IT consulting. I admittedly had no idea what I was doing but I have been able to convince some businesses to hire me and I have successfully led numerous really interesting projects. And, as the IT guy for some small businesses, some of my clients do believe I have some super powers.

A person who organizes a team of people and takes ownership of a project can then lead and influence in a way that a solitary person cannot. Find your business or cause, and you too will develop super powers.