Find Your Superpower

Be the hero you are meant to be.

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‘A jack of all trades is a master of none’ is an age-old saying that highlights those who are fine in multiple things, usually end up being not particularly good at anything. I think it has to do with the way we are always told to concentrate on our weaknesses and get rid of them, often leading us to take our strengths for granted. I think the right approach should be to realize your strength and capitalize on it, making what you are good at your ‘Superpower’.

Identifying your Superpower

I have always believed I am a good problem solver. May it be the technical problems at work, or coordinating with others in my personal life to get to a solution of an issue faced. It has largely got to do with my knack for doing good unbiased research. You could be someone similar, be a great speaker, listener, etc. It is easy to identify your superpower if you know where to look. Just imagine a typical day and try to notice what kind of issues people usually approach you with. Do people easily share their concerns with you, or are you someone they seek when they get into some kind of financial trouble, or are you called upon to negotiate a tricky situation with other individuals? These minor things that you might take for granted could actually be your superpower on which others depend.

Nurturing You Superpower

Just identifying your superpower is not enough. There is a likelihood that on your journey to identify your superpower, you might end up finding multiple things you are good at depending on the situation. The next step is to find which of them are you passionate about. There are certain things that you are more than willing to do for free, may it be for yourself or others. These are the skills that come naturally to you, these don't drain you but motivate you further. Nurture these skills, and try to gather more information that helps you to hone these skills. This is an essential step in your journey to being a ‘Brand’.

Identify Your Weakness

In your journey to success and leadership, another important thing to know is your weakness, and also identifying the people around you who can help you overcome the weakness by working with you. In Avengers Hulk is not expected to aim a perfect shot with a bow and arrows, nor is Hawkeye expected to punch Leviathan to oblivion. Both of them have a role in the team, and it is very important to identify such people and keep them close. If you cannot do something make sure you can get someone else to do it for you, it can be for money or exposure, whatever you can offer.

Strategise Your Long Game

Now that you have identified your Superpower and your Kryptonite, the next step is to identify where can your skill be best used. Narrow down your focus to the best utilization of said skill and identify what you are meant to do with it.

Next, create a plan to market your skill to those around you, so much so that your name becomes synonymous with the skill in question. You should build towards becoming an authority as far as your superpower is concerned, the go-to guy. This will not happen overnight, it is a long game. Slowly prove your mettle. Stay aware of what is happening around you, and look for every opportunity where your skill can be put to the test. Every time you test yourself, you get better than before.

Be A Brand In Service Of Others

This whole exercise is to create a ‘Brand’, an authority in the skill of your choosing. But what use is the power you command if it is not being used to solve problems? The final goal of a brand is creating an influence, an influence that can make the world a better place, an influence that is ready to help people out of a tough situation. Since you have identified your superpower, help others to identify theirs. Not everyone would be as blessed as you in being able to identify it, that is where you need to become the guide, be Yoda to Luke, and help others realize their true potential. Being a brand is not the end, but a beginning. If the said steps are successfully followed the superpower you gain will be nothing like you have ever had.

Someone once said ‘With Great Powers, Comes Great Responsibilities’. In this case, your responsibility is to help others reach the same heights.

Check out my thoughts about being a brand.

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