used with permission http://superredundant.com/?comic=131-physics

Isaiah O’Connor

a 7 minute read

In one of my very first blog posts I wrote for the Atheoz shared blog, I started a series exploring the concept of "required secondary powers," originating from the website TV Tropes. and their full article can be found here.

The reason I am revisiting this series is threefold. First of all, it has been nearly 5 years since I first addressed this, and seeing how I am starting back up, with likely a largely new audience, I think it is a very important concept for Bootstrappers to understand. Second, I have added a few more “powers” to this series that I did not understand were part of this at first, and time and experience have shown me otherwise. Lastly, it gives me a way to save a bit of time as for the next couple of months I will be very busy with a seasonal job, taxes, and other tasks that are taking a lot of my time and energy. Not needing to do as much research on a subject as I normally would use on a new subject is a much-needed help as I go into a busy time, as I try to avoid biting off more than I can chew.

This concept of “Required secondary powers” Sheds light on the additional abilities necessary to complement primary superpowers, a principle that applies not only to superheroes but also to the realm of entrepreneurship. Most superpowers you see in movies or comics only work if they have other secondary powers to go with them.

"That's the problem with any individual superpower: without the whole suite, it just sucks. The Flash would liquefy from sheer Gs, and without super agility and strength, Spider-Man's just a guy with sticky ropes."
— Soren, The Best Super Power (Is Not What You Think) | After Hours”

An Amusing Example

If you refer to the opening image of this blog: it starts with 2 characters engaged in conversation against the backdrop of a bustling city skyline under a giant robot attack. One character, known as “Bulk,” exudes confidence in his ability to throw anything into space. However, a clever twist in the webcomic reveals the practical considerations behind such claims. Bulk, depicted as an Expy of the Marvel character the Hulk, being a large, muscular figure, struggles to lift an enormous robot leg, not due to his power, but rather because the ground beneath him collapses. This humorous subversion of expectations exemplifies the Required Secondary Powers trope.

This is the comic that is used by TVtropes.org to illustrate their article about the Required Secondary Power trope. It highlights the often-overlooked practical considerations behind superpowers. Bulk’s struggle isn’t due to his power but rather the inadequacy of the ground beneath him. This clever twist exemplifies the Required Secondary Powers trope, which refers to the additional abilities or attributes that a character must possess to effectively use a specific superpower.

Real-life Examples

By Muhammad Mahdi Karim - Own work, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6861278

As fun as this fictional example is, we have real-life instances, such as the Australian Tiger beetle. It is the fastest insect on earth, covering about 8 feet in one second. At first, this might not sound impressive, until considering their size — less than half an inch long. When you adjust for their size, they run the equivalent of 10x faster than the fastest human sprinter. In other words, they are like super-speedsters. However, they do have a vision problem. When they reach their top speed, their eyes are not capable of receiving enough photons to see clearly, causing blurred vision. They often run in short bursts to compensate for this lack of clear vision.

The Power of Secondary Skills in Entrepreneurship

Curious about how this applies to entrepreneurship? Let me give you an example of my journey: turning my balloon-twisting hobby into a business. When I started my balloon business, my core skill was making balloons – that was my 'Superpower,' as it were. However, I needed to have other attributes to succeed; some came naturally through my experience and passion, and others I needed to develop as I went. Things like integrity, a giving spirit, humility, determination, self-discipline, confidence, creativity, and a willingness to learn are vital to success.

Unlocking Success with Secondary Powers

So, in my analogy of Required Secondary Powers, your core product or service becomes your primary 'superpower.’ However, your success will hinge on more than your primary skill set. With these extra attributes, you can succeed even if you only have an average product or service. I started out as an average balloon twister, and I gained skills over time. These 'secondary Powers' I had and learned helped me succeed so I could increase my primary offering. You could have an amazing product or service but not have these 'Powers' and fail.

A Case Study in Secondary Powers: The Story of John P. Thompson

As a prime example, have you ever heard of John P. Thompson? The odds are you have not. However, the odds are very high you have used his world-changing invention, multiple times. He is the inventor of the Phillips screw and driver system. He had an amazing world-changing product, but he lacked the determination to push through and sell or license it to major manufacturers. Instead, he sold the patent to a businessman named Henry F. Phillips, who did have that determination. This is why we call it a Phillips head Screw, not a Thompson Head screw. Great product but not a great success for him. History is replete with examples like this.

Developing Secondary Powers: A Path to Success

Now you may be worried because you were not born with these qualities. That is okay; not everyone is. The good news is that as long as you have a passion for your business you can use this passion to develop the qualities you lack. You do have the ability to grow and gain skills that you never imagined you could. That is part of why I am rebooting this series. That is in order to help you start taking the steps to gain the extra attributes you need for success. The other part is to help me sharpen these attributes in myself, as I am not perfect and I do not always succeed in doing what I know.

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Your Friendly Neighborhood Entrepreneur
Isaiah O’Connor.

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Until next time, I have been,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Entrepreneur,
Isaiah O’Connor