Marvel or DC? Marvel or DC? I … I don’t know!
“The things that make us different, those are our superpowers.”
— Lena Waithe
When it comes to superheroes, there’s one big question: are you Marvel or DC? Rarely will you find someone on the fence, and if they are there, they’re probably not in a very comfortable position (which isn’t surprising, since fences aren’t for sitting, and many of them are pointy). Since this question is really that important for a lot of people, I’m obligated to pose that self-same question to you:
Marvel or DC?
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But, before you answer, let me give you some context that could help. You see, I don’t really mind if you prefer the dark spectra of justice that is Batman to the witty and arrogant Iron Man. Yes, despite the importance of the question, I don’t have a particular preference. I don’t even bother taking Superman into consideration. It’s not about these characters, or movies, or comics for me. When I think Marvel or DC, I think about them on a different level altogether, because I’m talking about your attitude toward yourself and the opinions of others.
I carry a level of self-assurance that could rival Iron Man’s if it were not so humble. As a matter of fact, I consider humility to be the greatest of all my amazingly wonderful and truly magnificent attributes. Anyway, my incredible modesty aside, the conflict between Marvel and DC is a conflict that rages deep within each person — whether you know it or not. Let me break down these personalities for you:
Marvel is, quite simply, the tendency to do whatever people marvel at. You see what other people do, discovering what has been proven to work. Then, you adopt the methods of those who have gone before, employing traditional techniques to attain the same old goals. Marvel is approved and approval-based — it does what has done the job before, and provides what people want now. Marvel people, however, lack the courage to stand for themselves.
DC is a little bit more complicated. In our case, it stands for Differentiation Constant. It is made up of a combination of the wholly original attributes within you. It is shaped by your personality and principles. It guides you through your life story, and it is expressed in your unique idiosyncrasies. Your quirky mannerisms aren’t something to be ashamed of, but rather, they are something to capitalize on! Even if you have the same job as someone else, you are not defined by your position.
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Having multiples of the same thing does not confine us, as iterations are enacted with small changes for the purposes of improvement and innovation. If we copy other people, then all we will end up with is identical iterations and results. DC people recognize the disparities between themselves and others, exercising those differences to ensure that they stand out. In the name, Differentiation speaks of their determination to highlight their distinctiveness in word, action, and interaction, while Constant relates to their consistency to themselves.
When it comes to who you are and how you express that, there is no one answer, and you can never be wrong. Everyone is unique, and we need to act boldly on that, under the fundamentally paramount leadership of our IQ and our EQ. Only then will it shift from a unique property to a unique proposition — and a valuable one at that.
So, again, I ask you:
Marvel or DC?
Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.