Step 1.4: Kryptonite
The opposite of your Superpowers is your Kryptonite.
The (non-superhero) definition of Kryptonite is “something that can seriously weaken or harm a person or thing.”
Reaching the next level is not just about knowing what you’re great at - it’s equally important to be honest with yourself and know what you suck at.
Superman had Kryptonite. You? You've probably got blind spots that'll kill your career faster than a speeding bullet. The trick isn't just playing to your strengths – it's knowing when to stay the fuck away from your weaknesses.
Here's the truth bomb: Success makes people stupid. It does the same to companies too. They win big in one arena and suddenly think they can crush it everywhere.
Spoiler alert: They can't.
We’ve all seen great people and great companies fail spectacularly at things they weren’t great at.
Look at Michael Jordan. The GOAT on the court and the sneaker business, but absolute dog shit in the front office of an NBA team. To quote Suits, his record in the front office was “185 wins to 291 losses. Almost twice as many losses as wins.” The exact opposite of his playing career.
Amazon? One of the world’s great companies. Yet some (likely former) Amazon people probably still wake up in cold sweats thinking about their Fire Phone disaster. Probably made all the sense in the world on an Amazon 6-pager, but in practice…not so much.
Remember Google+? Another great company. As Facebook use became ubiquitous, the Google team couldn’t stand by and watch someone else create a tech business they didn’t control so they tried to start their own social network. Which was something that no one needed or wanted. Or used.
And the Microsoft Zune. You probably don’t remember it, but when Apple’s iPod was taking over the world, Microsoft thought they could easily do the same thing with music and created their own MP3 player. You probably never had one. And you probably never knew anyone that did.
Bottom line: We all have Kryptonite. Even the greatest. Understand what yours is. Double down on your Superpowers. Because when you try to be everything to everyone, you end up being nothing to anyone.
Your Playbook:
What is your Kryptonite? Identifying your Kryptonite requires honest introspection.
What areas weaken your effectiveness and greatness?
Where do you consistently struggle?