How to Become a Superhero in 5 Easy Steps

So you’re not more powerful than a locomotive? Who cares?

Just saw the superhero movie, Kick-Ass, and it raised an intriguing question: just because we’re not superhuman, can we lead superheroic lives? I believe the answer is yes, and I believe we can do it in five easy steps! (Okay, they’re not super easy, but anyone can do it.) No rippling muscles, awesome brain power, or fancy gadgets needed.

1. Create a super identity

In the original Superman movie, young Clark Kent’s father tells him, “There’s one thing that I do know, son, and that is, you are here for a reason.” So, Clark might ask himself: Who am I? Why am I here? What good am I doing? That’s our identity. A parent, a friend, a daughter, a student, an employee, a citizen, an artist, a whatever … they’re all part of it.

To create a super identity, just imagine yourself as you want to be … your ideal self. I’m not just a parent, I’m a super parent. What does that look like? I’m not just a friend, I’m a super friend. What does that look like?

That’s not to say we can dip into a phone booth (Do they still exist?) and emerge as Captain Perfect Person. No one’s perfect, not even superheroes. We merely want to take an honest look at who we are and who we aspire to be. Then work at moving from here to there. We don’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, either. Just get in the habit of asking ourselves in everyday situations: “How would my superheroic self handle this?” And go from there.

2. Activate our super powers

A cool thing about superheroes: they’re all good at different things. Lot’s and lot’s of diversity. Some are really flexible, some are really fast, some can see things others can’t, some are technical whizzes, some can move things with their mind. It’s the same for us. We all have special talents and passions. We just have to know what they are and develop them.

Try this. List several things you’re especially good at (or things you’d like to be especially good at): math, cooking, computers, comic book trivia, relating to people, making people laugh, making your dog laugh, whatever. We’ll say these are your core super powers. Next, write down what makes each of your core super powers special: why it’s valuable to you and rest of the world. Math, for example is the language of the universe; without it, we wouldn’t even know where the Martian Manhunter comes from. Last, keep your core super powers in mind and look for opportunities to use them and improve them, every day. It’s that simple. Know your strengths. Try to excel at the things you do best and like doing. Make the most of what you got.

3. Get a sidekick or two

Superheroing can be a lonely business. We’re out there all day (or all night), fighting the good fight, taking on all the supervillainous things that threaten our world. And who’s there to help? Who’s got our back? Every superhero in the history of comic books has teamed up with someone else to defeat some monstrous threat they couldn’t handle alone: think Justice League and the Avengers.

We need a support team: one or more trustworthy people who get us, get what we’re trying to do, and will pull us up by the cape when we need it. Diversity, again, is good. Our team members should bring different, constructive perspectives and a variety of super powers to the mix. But we must choose wisely: Blank Slate Man and Eternal Pessimist Girl might need to stay behind.

4. Be brave and bold

Riddle me this: What are the chilliest 12 inches in the world? Cold feet.

Does it take more courage to venture down a dark alley on occasion or to face a life of no ventures at all? Both can be pretty scary. The truth is, our super identity is just a vision … a bold vision. It stays secreted up in the attic until we choose to take it down and make it a reality, which might require us to step into a few dark alleys; that’s the nature of living a superheroic life.

Steve Jobs (whose black mock turtleneck and Levi’s 501s are as iconic as any spandex super-costume out there) offered the following advice: “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” That’s good counsel. He also suggested we check out Marvel Comic’s new iPad app.

5. Live the code

The superhero code is pretty simple, though it trips a lot of us up. It basically tells us to not be bad guys. Superheroes sacrifice to protect others. They use their powers for good. They don’t cheat or lie (maliciously) or steal or take advantage of people. They are good role models, and they do the right things, even when no one is watching.

Again, nobody’s perfect, but our choices in life become far simpler when we set the standards for our own character and engage the daily struggle not to violate them. Gossip about my neighbor? I don’t think so. Let a friend down who’s counting on me? I’d have to have a very good reason. Cheat on my taxes? Of course not. Leave a cat in a tree? (How tall is the tree?) No … wait … heck, no! I’d at least call somebody.

There are, obviously, other superheroic steps we can take, but these are the fantastic five you might start with. Take them out for a spin and see how high you can fly.