Lessons from Marvel father✨
Start | Be unique | Stan Lee
A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the clothes that we wear and those we leave in the cupboard and don’t dare to put on. The clothes of the superhero that we could be.
This week, I would like to share with you some of the lessons of Stan Lee’s life. The father of Marvel.
I am not a comic geek. Nothing wrong with those who are, we have our own special interests. Mine are really about music, scuba diving, investment, and personal growth.
For those in the know, Stan Lee is considered a legend and the father of modern Marvel, which today seems to cover about 50% of the movie produced! I am exaggerating obviously but Marvel is quite a machine.
What many don’t know is that when it began Marvel was far from what it is today, and Stan Lee was not front and centre…well at the beginning.
There was a before and an after Stan Lee.
So, as I learned about the man, I thought I would share a couple of his lessons for success, some are related to business but others can apply to life in general.
Stan’s lesson #1: If things are not working for you, try something new
For 20 years, Stan Lee produced what his boss wanted. Until one day when he was ready to quit he produced a very different book, the one he wanted. He got it out of its system. What was the worst that could happen? Getting fired? He wanted to quit anyway… the book was out, and the legend began…
Stan’s lesson #2: Be unique
Marvel was the underdog, by far. The major company was DC with Superman and his gang. Lee produced unique characters and stories, which unfortunately were copied. But to be really clever and totally different he created new words, which if copied were obvious cases of plagiarism! Lee ended all his letters with the word “excelsior”. Unique. Brilliant.
Stan’s lesson #3: Build strong relationships with your customers
Lee wrote directly to his clients, got feedback from them and built close relationships with them. He didn’t defer to them but sought to serve them, while the competition took a very different approach. When Marvel “fucked it up” he apologised and took it on the chin. He was open, he was honest, and his readers trusted him.
Stan’s lesson #4: Sell, sell, sell
Whatever you do, whatever your job is, whoever you interact with, it is important that you sell yourself, your ideas, or your products. Stan Lee’s approach? Create demand, be bold, make outrageous claims, repeat and don’t be apologetic.
Stan’s lesson #5: Use your competition to drive you
DC or Marvel? Superman or Spiderman? Pepsi or Coke? iPhone or Galaxy? Your competition is an opportunity to define who you are (and are not), what you do, the value you bring and who your clients are.
Stan’s lesson #6: Don’t be afraid to use humour
Humour is a very powerful tool. Laugh about a situation or yourself to alleviate tension. Lee used a lot of this. It is important to not take ourselves too seriously and crack jokes when we can. A laugh goes a loooong way!
Stan’s lesson #7: Beat the writer block by writing fast
As Lee’s flow was constant, he never had the problem of “writer’s block”. All artists and practitioners start with a blank page and might fear the block pushing things into procrastination mode. Lee’s lessons “produce”, or in other words, “do”. Not everything will be good, some will actually be shit probably. But it is out rather than in (your system).
In summary:
Pivot
Be unique
Be intimate
Sell
Emulate
Laugh
Do!
With those seven simple rules, Stan Lee transformed a company sold to Disney for $4 billion in 2009 into one that has so far produced $22 billion in revenue for Disney.
Food for thought…
QUESTION…
What lies on the other side of fear?