Spider Man. Career Consultant.

A radioactive spider bites Peter Parker, and he wakes up the next morning with special powers. For the rest of us, our powers aren’t instant transformations - they come after years of education, hard work, experience, and practice. But regardless of how we acquire our talents, we all find ourselves at the same crossroads. Where will we choose to go? What will we do with the powers we have? And a majority of us want to explore something new, but are uncertain about how to start…  

Author Herminia Ibarra’s theory of “Working Identity” helps explain how we can answer these questions. Ibarra says, contrary to belief, we don’t determine our identities in a revelation, but through a process of experimentation. We experiment with different identities and paths until we find the identity that works for us. Only by testing ourselves can we determine if we are interested, comfortable, qualified and capable of taking on this new identity. Ibarra breaks this process down into four steps:

1. Explore possible identities. For Peter Parker, like so many other superheroes, this meant designing a cool costume. The first identity Peter imagined was “The Human Spider”. He saw himself putting on his costume and stepping into the ring … literally. With his newly acquired superpowers, Peter’s first test of his identity was to become a professional wrestler. 

2. Conduct experiments - starting small. Peter found a local pro wrestling tournament and entered his first match. He climbed into the ring, and after one bodyslam Peter knew “The Human Spider - Pro Wrestler” was a bad choice. So it was back to Step 1 to explore other possibilities. For superheroes and mortals, the process of selecting and testing identities continues until each of us finds an identity that is a good fit based on personality and abilities. Peter eventually found his identity - the friendly neighborhood Spider Man, masked champion of the common citizen.

3. New peer group and role models. A new perspective is important to successfully test potential identities. Good friends, peers, and role models are essential. The strangeness of Peter’s transformation left him isolated and uncertain, so he needed friends he could trust. Friends who would understand his superpowers, who could relate to the changes going on for him. When Peter teams up with superheroes who care for him, like the Avengers, he has the guidance and support he needs to make good decisions. Having others who have been there and done that helps us see the path more clearly, which lessens anxiety. Research has also shown that peers sticking together in career change make more money.

4. Changing the script. As Peter Parker “wrestled” with his identity, he learned more about himself, and his identity evolved. “The Human Spider” became “Spider Man”, and eventually Peter took on this new identity with pride. As his confidence and comfort increased, Peter must begin to define who he has become. This next step is “changing the script”, when you describe your new identity as an affirmation of who you have become and how you have chosen to use your superpowers. Your new identity becomes what you introduce to the world.

For Peter Parker, the process is complete, and he has found his true identity in Spider Man. But we know Spider Man is fiction, and most of us will not settle on one “true identity”. We will continue to evolve, and enter into this process of self discovery time and time again. Over time finding our next identity will become as comfortable as slipping on a mask.

“At their best superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths, and using them for good purpose.”    - Robin Rosenberg

Michele Mamet is the founder of SkyRocket LLC. SkyRocket fosters creativity and play in career development and executive coaching, by inspiring positive change through storytelling and comic books. Learn more about using comic book superheroes in career development and coaching at www.skyrocketcoaching.com.

Bonus throwback video for those of you still reading...