3 Questions To Uncover Your Hidden Superpower

A few months ago, I had a meeting with a fellow marketer here in Salt Lake City. During our conversation she asked me, "What is your superpower?"

I'd never been asked that question before. I didn't know what to say. Do I pick something from my resume? I'm a decent writer. Is that my superpower? I haven't yelled at my children all week. Do I mention that? (In my opinion, that alone required super human strength.)

She told me my superpower had nothing to do with the skills on my resume. Hers was simply making things better. She said, "In every job and role I've held, I always look for opportunities to improve things--make them better. That's what I'm known for."

It sounded a lot like my favorite definition of branding: Branding is what people say about you when you're not in the room.

A person's superpower is their secret sauce and represents their personal brand. "It is not a skill but a perspective, a mindset, a way of working that enhances everything you touch. It's unique, like a thumbprint, part of your brand. It is that quality that causes others to say, 'You know who would be great for this'"(Forbes)?

Honestly, I didn't think I had some extraordinary talent that helped me do amazing things. Anything I had accomplished so far stemmed from good old fashioned hard work and student loans. To be amazing and excel in life, I just had to work harder and run faster than everyone else. I've come to realize that this flawed mindset set me up for failure--not to mention a lot of stress, self-doubt, and sleepless nights.

Finding your superpower isn't about being better than someone else or becoming the best mom, marketer, athlete, dog walker, or arm wrestler in the world. It's about uncovering your strengths, so you can focus more on cultivating those talents that suit you--and serve you.

Derrick Levasseur, author of The Undercover Edge: Find Your Hidden Strengths, Learn to Adapt, and Build the Confidence to Win Life’s Game writes this,

“Sometimes, in our society, we try and do what everyone else is doing to be successful when, in actuality, what we should be doing is using what’s successful to us.”

To assist me in uncovering my yet-to-be-identified superpowers, I answered these three questions from the article, "How To Find Your Superpower." I didn't just discover one superpower. I found three! I was also able to see how each of them played an important role in helping me achieve a few of my past successes.

What feels effortless to you?

Telling stories. I love to tell stories about real people and real things. Other times, I create ridiculous fictional stories with irreverent characters, who find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. I tell stories to shock and entertain people and also to make an emotional connection.

Superpower Uncovered: Storyteller

Its Impact: As a marketer, I've written dozens of "How To" and "Best of Articles" as a way to either drive more traffic to a website or find new leads. Although they usually perform well and achieve the desired goal, the ones that go viral, get lots of shares and attention, are those that appeal more to the emotional rather than logical side of the brain. They include personal and relatable stories that inspire, uplift, and entertain.

Written for different audiences, they reached thousands of people without me having to do much to promote them. All I did was share them on social media, and they took off. I didn't have to buy advertising or pay money to boost them on Facebook. It seems so simple, yet telling stories requires some vulnerability, a willingness to go off the script and be honest. I admit, my superpower of telling good stories is a work in progress. I still have lots to do to perfect and cultivate this talent, which is why I'm so excited that I was able to uncover it!

When are you fearless?

Being honest and up front. Not sugarcoating things. Saying it like it is. Being real. I guess I could be afraid that telling the truth would cause me to lose opportunities or experience more rejection, but I have found that the opposite is true. Not only does it pay to be honest, it's the right thing to do. And the world could definitely use more of it.

Superpower Uncovered: Honesty

Its Impact: Before I became a marketer, I was in the fitness industry for more than fifteen years. I worked as a fitness instructor, blogger, and personal trainer. I wasn't the fittest, most knowledgeable, or skilled professional out there--not even close. Yet, from day one, I had no problem attracting lots of new clients. I never had to sell a training package or talk anyone into working with me. I was one of two top-selling trainers for five straight years at a high-end club in my area. How did that happen?

At first I had no idea. I just thought it was pure luck or God granting me mercy and generosity for being a new single mom. But then my clients started to reveal why they were willing to pay me top dollar, refer their friends, and stick around year after year. (Literally, I had a hard time getting people to move on once they had hit their goals.) They appreciated my honesty. I didn't tell them things like, "If you work with me, you'll be in a bikini by summer. No problem!" or "You want to lose 40 pounds in two months? Sure thing dude!" If it wasn't true--or even a healthy goal for that matter--I wouldn't say it.

I even turned potential clients away, or referred them to another trainer, if I didn't feel I was the right fit for them. Because people knew they could trust me, they were more likely to listen to my advice and adhere to the recommendations and training programs I prescribed for them. My clients achieved phenomenal results because of that foundation of trust that was built long before they became a paying client.

How do you amaze others?

Being open about my imperfections and past mistakes. People are generally surprised that I'm as transparent as I am and don't mind candidly discussing my faults and failures. It's not that I'm self-deprecating. It's that I don't feel embarrassed or ashamed of them. I see my shortcomings as a way to bridge the communication gap, build more trust, and relate better with people.

Superpower: Vulnerability

Its Powerful Impact: When I was a young mom, and still in the fitness industry, I started my own business called, "Boot camp for Moms." I had no idea what I was doing in building a business, aside from my expertise in fitness. Although I became pretty efficient in marketing my new venture and attracting several new clients, the real growth came from word of mouth. My new clients became attached quickly because they saw I was one of them. I was a mom too and had experienced and felt a lot of the things they were experiencing and going through.

For these women, being a part of my boot camp was like being a part of a club. Stay-at-home moms, who had just dropped their kids off at school, were lining up to sign up. A month after I started, "my moms" brought their friends, their neighbors, their sisters, and mothers to join. They had heard that my boot camp was for real women, not a bunch of athletes and supermodels. When they called, they didn't even ask me the price. They just wanted to know when they could start.

Your Turn! What are your superpowers?

I've learned a lot about myself in asking these questions. I was able to alleviate a lot of self doubt and pressure to pursue things that weren't for me and see clearly the value I bring to the table. Now, it's your turn to discover your own superpowers. What say ye?!