Why We Are All Superheroes
Posted by TCEC on 07/15/11 in Blog
Guest post provided by Lee Silber
Which superhero do you most identify with? It doesn’t matter whether you said Superman or Wonder Woman, the key is you see yourself in that role. We all know budget cuts are creating trying times and causing us to find new ways to do more with less. In order to survive and thrive in these tough times we will need to tap into our superpowers. These powers include strength, power, and vision.
1. Strength. To increase our strength (and resolve) all we need to do is reconnect with why we went into this field in the first place—to help others reach their career goals. When we take the focus off of our own needs and wants and instead think about ways to make sure we ready students for the real world, we will see that what matters most is not so much what we don’t have, but what we do have to offer (despite a lack of support from above.) Superheroes almost always have to overcome long odds to save the world, why should it be any different for us? When we are passionate about our role as difference makers (which we are) we will be able to persevere.
ACTION ITEM: To help you reflect and realize all you have going for you, make a list of your past accomplishments. Now, using your non-writing hand make a list of why you love what you do.
2. Power. Power is a common theme that runs through superheroes. For us, power comes from not being a victim. There is the way we want things to be, and the way they are. Usually there is a big divide between the two. To bridge the gap we need to use brainpower to see solutions, come up with new and improved ways to reach students and operate under budget constraints, and above all stop complaining about the way things are, we wish they were, (or the way they used to be.) When we can focus on possibilities instead of problems, our whole outlook changes—for the better.
ACTION ITEM: Start an idea journal and force yourself to think of one new idea a day—even if you never plan to use it.
3. Vision. Superheroes aren’t known for being afraid. Why is that? In part it’s because they are confident they will win no matter what. For us, fear comes from the unknown and nothing is as big a mystery as the future—unless you have a vision and a plan for it. When we know what we want, can articulate it clearly and concisely, and have a plan to attain it we take away some of the unknown and much of the fear. Having a vision means we are deciding what we want in the future and making better choices in the present.
ACTION ITEM: Write down key words that describe what you want your future to look like, feel like, and be like. Then go to Google’s “Image Search” and using your key words, see what comes up. Keep the pictures that speak to you and create a slide show of where you see yourself in a year, two years, and beyond.
Lee Silber is the closing keynote speaker at this year’s Texas Career Education Conference. Silber is the best-selling author of 15 books and an award-winning speaker. Visit his website to for more information and free resources.
