“With Great Power…”
5 Lessons In Success From Peter Parker
I remember the most important purchase I made as a 6 year old. I walked down the stairs to the second floor of Woolworths in Binghamton, New York to where the toy section was with my mother. The amazing thing about this place is that as you walked down the stairs, you could see down a wall lined with action figures, and pinpoint where you might find that one special figure that you were on the hunt for. This day was very special. Spider-Man had been given a Black Costume and the Secret Wars action figures had a classic Red and Blue web-slinger, but also the new Black Costume. I saved enough money to buy both.
Spider-Man was a unique character for me. I related to the somewhat geeky sensibilities of the not so popular but also not invisible kid in school. The one who seemed to bat just a bit out of his league with a number of things including the ladies. I also felt like having taken on early jobs in service as well as in creative spaces that Peter Parker and I were kindred spirits. This relationship between myself and the character seemed to jump off the pages of that pictorial literature and grew stronger and stronger. It helped that there were also Spider-Man spots on the Electric Company where I could envision what a real life Spider-man looked like, and also watch him on Spider-man and his amazing friends. He was more than just a cool comic book hero.
As I became a young man, there were life lessons that I learned from Peter Parker that I realized I held dear. No, not Spider-Man… Peter Parker. I was learning from the guy under the mask. In recent weeks grief and loss have hit home for our family, as well as inside the Prime Movers Family. One of Peter Parker’s earliest lessons in his life came back to mind as I supported others as well as myself through recent loss.
- With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.
You may have heard that phrase repeated in the early 2000’s Spider-Man films from Sony. These were the words uttered to Peter from his Uncle Ben, the man who would raise him. You see Peter suffered the loss of both of his parents at a young age and the story is told that he lived with his Aunt May Parker and Uncle Ben — until his Uncle Ben was tragically stuck down by a street thug that Peter had let go earlier. The loss of so many important figures in Peter’s life shaped who he became. Again he suffered the loss of his first love, Gwen Stacy to the hands of the Green Goblin.
Peter remembered Uncle Ben’s words. When we are given a gift, a talent, a power beyond what is normal, it is our responsibility to use it. While loss and grief are real, we have to process that grief in a way that honors those we have lost but also the very talents and skills they likely contributed to. I recently read an article that mentioned the loss of a loved one being like losing our breath. If we keep holding our breath we too will perish… thus it is important to breathe. We will all face the challenges that loss and death can bring. So many people faced this with the various challenges and degrees of harm that came with COVID-19, and yet we also witnessed the human spirit fight for freedom. We have a responsibility when we are given power to do great things with it, even when it’s hard. That is how we honor those we have lost.
2. Family must come first.
In the Marvel Universe there are a number of heroes who do Family well. Reed Richards is the patriarch of the Fantastic Four, Marvel’s first family! Yet with the whole group having powers there is little to think about in terms of safety and care. Peter always thought about how his Progress and Power affect those around him and closest to him. Family is his driving value and he makes every decision based on this. From concealing himself to protect Aunt May and Mary Jane from danger, to mentoring Miles Morales and at times his family on navigating his secret once it was out. I was always dumbfounded that even in the middle of a fight, Stan Lee would write in Peter’s concern for Aunt May if anything adverse were to happen to him. Appreciation for the family he had in his life drove him to place this as his highest value and make life decisions that honored just that.
3. Seek Mentors — Always.
New York City is a big place, and no matter how many webs you sling there’s no way you can cover a city on your own. As a teenager with some amazing superpowers and ZERO fighting skills, you could land yourself in some big trouble. Enter Daredevil and Mr. Fantastic as well as the Human Torch. These three heroes took special interest in “Spider-Man” early on and showed him the ropes of what being a hero is about. And while opportunity is generally out there for anyone, you must have open eyes and a humble heart to accept the mentorship. When I opened my first comic book store I quickly found out what I didn’t know about owning a business. I was barely 20. I was encouraged to join the chamber of commerce at the time, and found some mentors who directed me to an even more structured opportunity through SCORE. If you’ve ever seen the muppets and remember the two older men in the balcony — Statler and Waldorf — well that was basically who stepped in to mentor me. They gave me wings and taught me how to survive the battleground of starting up a retail store. If you want to hone your powers and be more effective in using them, finding a mentor or a coach to give you that experienced outside perspective is key.
4. Never allow the seriousness of the world to make you too serious.
The endearing quality of Spider-Man was that at the end of the day, the young man under those tights was just a goofy kid. No matter how big or bad the challenge was in life, Peter always made it a game. FUN was to be had even in the most challenging moments. Through the pages of the comic books, as well as the other forms of entertainment that helped us interact with Peter Parker we came to know the funny, humorous, almost cheesy side of Peter Parker. He would enjoy the moment, taking in the unique vantage point he was able to have swinging from the tops of the New York City skyline. As he would web up the bad guys there was always something funny to be said. While he accomplished serious things, he remembered to not allow them to harden him, and he reminded us all to laugh a bit.
5. Utilize the Moment.
From web slinger to photographer for the Daily Bugle (The Daily Planet is where BIG BLUE worked over in that other Universe) Peter Parker clumsily navigated and negotiated selling his exclusive photos of none other than… Spider-Man. He showed a level of resourcefulness in being able to take care of himself as well as Aunt May all while saving the day. This reminds me that if you give thought to your mission in life, there are always opportunities to find the funding you need to keep going. Peter figured it out and managed to do so for some time. He wasn’t seeking resources but rather took the situation he was blessed with and Utilized it to the fullest both as a hero and in his civilian form. I believe that we live in the greatest country in the world, full of opportunity. I recently met a young man from India who moved here and started his own service based business. Five years in he has done a half million in revenue as a one man show! He utilizes every ounce of every moment and sees possibility. I learned from Peter Parker that your next round of support or funding might already be in your hands, you just have to see it through new filters, and go broad and deep in every experience utilizing every bit of that moment.
We all have the responsibility to make the most of our superpowers. I see Founders, especially our serial entrepreneurs doing this over and over again. They realize that all 5 of these points are a critical component of their success. Maybe they read some of these pointers in Business School, or learned that at a personal development seminar. I would give credit to both of those places for deepening these learnings, but I must give credit where credit is due. That’s not just Stan Lee, he only wrote early issues of Spider-Man. It’s also not to the writers who came after him, although they all contributed to the stories that shaped who Peter Parker became. At some point though, Peter Parker became a real influence in my life. The culmination of all the gifts that each writer left behind became the presence of Peter Parker — at least in my life. He’s right up there with Prince Adam (He-Man), as well as Gordon from Sesame Street, as one of the most influential forces in my early life. Peter just managed to hang on a little longer.
Prime Movers Lab invests in breakthrough scientific startups founded by Prime Movers, the inventors who transform billions of lives. We invest in companies reinventing energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, human augmentation, and agriculture.
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