In honor of Comic-Con International, here are ten motivational quotes from superheroes to give you the power boost you need for your day.
In 1970, Comic-Con began as a way to fund a larger convention in the near future.
With 145 attendees and two famous guest speakers, the first Comic-Con or San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon, as it was called, was considered a success.
In 2014, there were over 130,000 people in attendance over the massive four-day event—its exponential growth coming from recent years. There are many lessons entrepreneurs can take from Comic-Con, but even more so from the superheroes that are the inspiration behind the ever-popular convention.
Here are ten motivational quotes from superheroes to give you the power boost you need for your day.
Captain America
"The strength of this country isn’t in buildings of brick and steel. It’s in the hearts of those who have sworn to fight for its freedom." – Captain America
Same goes for the strength of your company. A great product and creative marketing campaign can get you to a certain point, but it is the passion of the founder and the employees that is the driving force behind any business. From the ideation stage of your startup to a booming empire; a business is as stong as one's personal belief in it.
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Superman
"You are much stronger than you think you are. Trust me." – Superman
There is a trait that makes successful entrepreneurs stand out from the rest, and that is their passion. Staying focused on the end result can keep you optimistic in the darkest of times. You have endured many challenges before, and will continue to not only get through them, but to thrive. Realizing one's own power is the key to success.
"I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." – Superman
In life, you will run into obstacles. It's absolutely the same in business. What makes superheroes and entrepreneurs unique is their ability to pursue their goal for the good of many. Just as Superman does not give in to super villain Lex Luthor, entrepreneurs do not waiver when their idea is rejected. Both find their success through being able to endure the challenge.
Batman
"Why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up." – Alfred Pennyworth
Great entrepreneurs know that mistakes are a reality check. They give us the feedback we need to see what went wrong and what efforts are working. How would you learn about your business, your strategy and yourself without being taken off course along the way? Successful entrepreneurs see mistakes as a blessing and take responsibility for what occurred so they can succeed in the future.
Wonder Woman
"In a world of ordinary mortals, you are a wonder woman." – Queen Hippolyta (Wonder Woman’s Mom)
Much like the comic book world, the business world is dominated by men, especially in executive and C-level positions. The Original Justice League was made up by a total of seven superheroes, six of them being men. This means women represent roughly 14.3 percent of the Justice League, which is representative of the United States, where women make up 14.6 percent of executive officers. Wonder Woman is no ordinary mortal—she is not only powerful but also a powerful role model. Just as Queen Hippolyta did, women, remind yourself that you are not ordinary, you too are a wonder woman.
Thor
"Our ancestors called it magic but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one and the same." - Thor
This quote can trace back to many scientific revelations that has occurred throughout history. In business, I think of this quote as the “lucky” companies, whose success is attributed to chance or luck rather than hard work. To quote a man even more philosophical than Thor, “luck is where opportunity meets preparation.”
Fantastic 4
"I stayed in and studied like a good little nerd. And fifteen years later, I'm one of the greatest minds of the 21st century." – Mister Fantastic
There are many success stories of college, or even high school, drop outs that found their education in experience. However, a good education teaches you discipline. Although not as widely spoken of, there are even more stories of successful entrepreneurs who stayed in on their Friday and Saturday nights to pursue their degree in order to become the thought leaders and innovators of the 21st century. Not the sexiest underdog story, but one that matters just as much.
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Spiderman
"With great power comes great responsibility." – Uncle Ben
A lesson learned time and time again throughout comic books and corporate America. With power comes the ability to control others, and take advantage of your surroundings. However, what makes heroes and leaders remarkable, is their ability to use their power to inspire those around them.
Green Hornet
“It’s not dying that you need to be afraid of, it’s never having lived in the first place.” – The Green Hornet
In your personal life, business life or secret hero life, it is easy to get into a routine that does not break from the ordinary. Outside of your business and sleep schedule, take the time to enjoy your surrounding and experience your community. You do not need to travel the world or dabble in extreme sports to “live.” Rather, relish the little things that make you happy and give you the extra motivational boost you need to enjoy yourself.
The Flash
"Life doesn’t give us purpose. We give life purpose." – The Flash
Finally, do everything with purpose. The most successful companies are not motivated by money, or dominating their industry. Just as superheroes do, these companies set their goal to solve a problem, make people’s lives better and do it with passion. Each action has a purpose. You get to make the decision of what that that purpose is.