To learn our superhuman powers, we need to take an inventory of our strengths. Then we identify specific strengths that tie to our unique experiences and knowledge to be exceptional. We will need a partner to complete the identification. This could be a Guide you have chosen to help you on your career journey, or someone else you trust.
Use the list of Strengths and Talents to brainstorm ones that apply specifically to you. Try to choose at most five or six, but ideally three.
Identify unique experiences and knowledge areas that very few or only you have. List at most five or six, but ideally three.
Pair each of the strengths with each of the experience and knowledge items. Develop these into superhuman powers.
Pick those superhuman powers that most stand out. One is fine, but avoid having more than three. You should focus on the few that are the most unique and significant. Also ask can AI replicate this? Why or why not?
Choose a listener. Ask someone whom you trust will listen carefully and without judgment. Tell them to listen to your story completely without trying to help you fix it. Tell them to watch for when your body language shows your passion. Meeting in person is ideal, but Zoom, FaceTime, or something similar can be used if meeting in person is not possible.
Tell the listener each of your superhuman powers, but frame them in a specific story where they were demonstrated. It should explain why you chose the strengths you did and the connections you made with your unique experiences and knowledge.
Take a break. Let both you and the listener absorb what you shared. Think about what superhuman power stood out the most. You and the listener should do this individually and then come back together to share.
Share your top superhuman power. Discuss if the others complement or compete with your top superhuman power. Integrate your two perspectives, even if they disagree, into something cohesive.
Strengths and Talents
Acting – Improvised or scripted performance.
Analytical – An ability to perform technical analysis to solve complex problems.
Appreciation – Noticing and appreciating excellence, beauty, or skilled performance in various aspects of life.
Artistic – An ability to draw, paint, sculpt, dance, or perform other arts.
Athletic – An ability to excel at sports.
Attention to Detail – An ability to identify errors and their corrections, no matter how small.
Courage – Not afraid of threats, challenges, or difficulties.
Creativity – Thinking of new and productive solutions.
Curious – Always open to learning and new experiences.
Debate – Can argue persuasively
Fairness – Treating people equally with a sense of justice for all.
Focused – Able to keep attention on one thing for an extended period.
Forgiveness – An ability to forgive those who have done wrong.
Gratitude – Similar to Appreciation, but noticing when a special experience occurs, or you benefit from the effort of others.
Humor - Liking to laugh and joke by bringing laughter to others.
Integrity – Speaking the truth and being genuine.
Kindness – Doing favors and good deeds for others.
Leadership – The capacity to influence, inspire, or guide others towards a shared goal.
Math – An affinity for working with numbers and formulas.
Memory – An ability to recall words, numbers, phrases, pictures, or dates.
Modesty – Letting your accomplishments speak for themselves.
Musical – Singing or playing an instrument at an exceptional level
Neat – Keeping surroundings orderly and clean.
Open-minded – Able to examine and think things through from all perspectives.
Optimism – Expecting the best and working to achieve it.
Organized – Able to easily find and keep track of things, dates, and information.
Perseverance – Finding a way to finish what you start.
Public speaking – An ability to stand in front of a group of people and share your ideas.
Risk Assessment – An ability to identify and compare risks to a project’s success.
Self-control – An ability to regulate your emotions to control what you say and do.
Social – An ability to connect well with others.
Spiritual – Believing in a higher purpose and meaning of life.
Systems Level Thinking - An ability to understand the whole as well as the parts and how they fit together.
Team Player – Able to work well with others in a group.
Technical Communication – An ability to communicate complex topics to non-experts.
Writing – An ability to work with words in various forms, like poetry, fiction, or nonfiction.
Zeal - Approaching life with excitement and energy. Passion or enthusiasm are alternatives.
Worksheet
Strengths and Talents Experiences and Knowledge Areas
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Superhuman Powers
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Your Top Superhuman Power _________________________________________________________
Your Listener’s Top Superhuman Power ________________________________________________
Integrated Top Superhuman Power ____________________________________________________
Example Superhuman Powers
My systems-level thinking, combined with my aerospace experience on launch vehicles and satellites, helps me envision unique architecture-level solutions considering both.
My curiosity about the state-of-the-art thermal analytical tools in my undergraduate studies led me to develop an expertise in an experimental package that few companies are using.
My writing ability, combined with experience writing government proposals that have resulted in awards worth millions of dollars, helps me write proposal responses that successfully win contracts.
My perseverance, combined with my entrepreneurial experience with three successful start-up exits, helps new ventures realize their acquisition strategy.