I want to be a superhero.
I want to be a superhero on a team of superheroes.

Why a team?

Because I like working with others who have similar goals. I like the feeling of accomplishing something with a group of collaborators. I like the inspiration you get from your teammates, the challenge to rise to new levels.

I also like the fact that you can cover each other’s backs. I mean, face it – although we’ve all got a little hero in us, sometimes we need to just sit and enjoy a Starbucks.

Seriously, think about it: Superman’s NEVER got any free time. As soon as he’s put out the big fire and pulled the people out of the collapsing building, he’s zipping off to beat up Starro the Evil Giant Starfish. As soon as Starro’s been dispatched, some nutball who wants to get his name in the Evening News unleashes yet another “I wanna be the guy who gets famous by killing Superman” plan. Naturally, Supes takes him out quickly, but it’s still ONE MORE THING to add to the day! He’s really gotta work to carve out quality time with Lois Lane.

This is why the Justice League of America is a great organization. They can take turns. They’ve got their Justice League Headquarters in a big Watchtower on the moon, or on a satellite orbiting the planet, or hidden in a warehouse in Detroit. Wherever it is, there’s always somebody on Monitor Duty. That person sits and monitors the news and the internet, and waits for the big red phone to ring. When something comes up, they call in the troops.

They work as a team. They contribute to something bigger than themselves.

And since I’d be new at being a superhero, maybe I’d be the hero on monitor duty. I wouldn’t mind a bit.

”Superman, this is Tony at the Watchtower – we’ve got a report of a Giant Clockwork Bumblebee attacking Seattle.”

”Sorry, Tony” says Supes, “Can’t right now – is anyone else available? There’s been a volcanic eruption, and I’m tunneling thru the Earth’s core to direct a flow of molten lava away from a village of children and into a nearby river where, upon hitting the water, it will cool and form a natural levee, creating a new reservoir of usable water for everyone in this region.”

“Wow. Cool. Okay, I’ll call Flash.”

“Well, okay.” says Flash. “But only because it’s only gonna take me a second. I’m in Paris, with my wife, it’s our anniversary. It’ll just take me about 6 seconds to get to Seattle and rip out some key components from the Clockwork Bee…there, in fact, I did it while we were talking. Take my name off the list for the rest of the night, though, will ya? I may be the world’s fastest man, but there are a couple of things I’d like to spend the whole night doing with my wife, if you know what I mean. Flash out.”

“Wow,” I would say, “Cool.”

And so it would go. A crisis, a call, crisis averted. People taking turns. People working together. People with a common goal, and common sensibilities, banding together to pursue that goal.

Come to think of it, maybe I don’t even need to be a superhero for this to work.

Maybe I just need to really look around and find the teams I’m on already.

I mean, we’re all on teams of one kind or another, aren’t we? And they change. What teams was I on 3 years ago? 2? How about 6 months ago? How about now?

And the thing is; they’re all teams we either create, help create, or allow to happen.

Some of them we even let form by mistake, or negligence. These are the teams that DON’T function the way we want them to, or that we don’t really want to be a part of.

So it’s inventory time for me.
I’m checking my calendars and rosters.
What teams am I on? Which ones do I really WANT to be on?
Time to start eliminating, creating, focusing.

Time for some team management, Superhero or not!

Still…

Being able to fly would be pretty sweet.