I heard a discussion on the radio recently about a study that asked kids to pick the superhero power they would most like to have. The study had compiled a list ranking the twenty-five most common answers, and the disc jockeys were discussing the top five responses.
As a former morning show disc jockey, I can attest from personal experience that lists like this make for some of the best on-air discussions. They polarize listeners and compel them to chime in with their opinions. There is usually no right or wrong answer, just a lot of opining.
The top answer on this list was super-speed, followed by the ability to fly.
The hosts passionately—albeit comedically—debated over the absurdity of super-speed being a better choice than the ability to fly. Why run when you can just…fly?
As lists go, the content of this one was pretty benign. There wasn’t anything on it more controversial than the debate over super-speed versus the ability to fly.
However, nestled in between super-speed, the ability to fly, super strength, and invisibility was a response that caught me by surprise—the ability to make the world a better place.
I’d like to meet the kids that gave that answer, and I’d like to ask them why they think that is a superhero power. And, more importantly, why do they feel they don’t already have this ability?
Superhero powers are things that we, as humans, can’t naturally do.
Interestingly, our society has found a way to artificially replicate almost every superhero power on the list. Airplanes and helicopters allow us to fly. Motorcycles and bullet trains allow us to have super-speed. Hidden cameras and bugging devices allow us to be invisible. Etc. Etc. Etc.
I find it even more interesting that the most impactful ability on the list is something we don’t need to artificially replicate, because we can do it naturally.
Every one of us is born with the ability to make the world the better place. Unfortunately, we often fail to recognize this reality.
If you want to make the world a better place, be a good teammate.
We are all part of a team in some capacity—our circle of friends, our place of employment, the community we live in, our family. When we commit to being a better teammate on any of those teams, the world becomes a better place.
The really amazing thing is that our choice to be a better teammate inevitably inspires other members of our team to want to do the same. Our willingness to care is contagious.
“If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make the change.”
-Michael Jackson
Man in the Mirror
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a superhero.
