Usually when we think about the term superpower we are referring to someone being able to fly or withstand bullets, walk through walls or even travel back and forth through times, all things impossible in real life, but brought to life via the magic of the silver screen.

However if we analyse what a superpower actually is, then perhaps it can be best summed up like so:

A superpower is a distinct and unique ability that an individual or group of individuals posses, which allows them some kind of advantage over the rest of the population.

So going by that definition, the ability to read is not a superpower, the ability to calculate complex mathematical abstractions in your head, is.

The thing is we can't all be like Raymond, the character so brilliantly played by Dustin Hoffman in the film that brought autism to the spotlight, Rainman.

For those of you who haven't seen it, the film depicts Raymond a man with severe autism, which effects his social interactions with his brother and the public. It also leaves him with a photographic memory and an ability to calculate large numbers on the spot, in his head. Two very useful skills in Las Vegas.

While it is nice to learn about people who have abilities that few others posses, it is not so functional and knowing about these people doesn't help you increase your own ability.

Can I Learn To Fly?

Short answer no, of course a superpower that defies the laws of physics and commonsense is not what we're talking about here. But the thing is, you can learn superpowers, and guess what? It's getting easier!

Why? Well to answer that, we have to go back to our definition of what a superpower is, remember it's:

A distinct and unique ability that an individual or group of individuals posses, which allows them some kind of advantage over the rest of the population.

Let's begin by analysing the first line, a distinct and unique ability. Distinct is obvious, that simply means you can define it easily, for example, flipping bar mats and catching them with your hand before they hit the table is a distinct ability, however it is not very unique, and definitely won't turn you into a millionaire, or enrich your life in any meaningful way.

At the same time you might be able to strike a match using your eyelids, and somehow light a cigarette. This is definitely distinct and unique, though no advantage is gained over anyone who has arms and/or their sanity.

So are you stuck with trying to learn to be a genius? Perhaps I can give you techniques which will help you calculate 8298397497 x 38379273 faster than you can punch the buttons on a calculator?

No, you can't learn those superpowers, you either have them or you don't (or at least if multiplying huge numbers is teachable, it will take a lifetime of complete dedication), however there is a real honest-to-goodness superpower you can learn in a reasonable amount of time.

This particular power hasn't always been a superpower, loads of people used to be able to do this; the main reason it's a superpower now, is because in today's world less and less people are able to do this thing, yet it is becoming more and more important.

CONCENTRATION!

That's right folks, the ability that the average human being under a certain age, living amongst a particular level of technology, has to concentrate is zilch, zip, nada.

Seriously, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Email and before you get self-righteous, Steemit are all killing your concentration, average attention levels are falling year on year.

At the same time technology levels are rising, the amount of tech you have to master just to work in MacDonald's today, is higher by a significant amount than you would have had to learn working at a legal firm 20 years ago.

All of the highest paying jobs and businesses take huge amounts of concentration to pull off successfully.

It's not just in the corporate world either, it is the same in the creative world, whether you're writing a book, painting a mural, or sculpting a model, in order for that piece of art to be any good you will have to concentrate.

But here's the thing, most people can't concentrate on one thing for say, one hour. Take the figure up to two hours and you're perhaps cutting out 85% of the population.

Three hours, four? Forget it, you're talking top 1% here . . .

[A superpower is] a distinct and unique ability that an individual or group of individuals posses, which allows them some kind of advantage over the rest of the population.

Attention-Span Test

Do you find yourself taking out your phone in any spare moment?

Are you beginning to drift off right now and feel like you want to stop reading this?

Did you read the first couple of lines/paragraphs and have skipped to this bit?

Do you watch TV as you eat?

Have you touched your phone within the last 5 minutes for anything other than answering a phone call?

Have you checked your email in the last 15 minutes, even though you're not really expecting one?

Do you have a Facebook account?

Do you have more than one social media account which you visit at least once a day?

Do you have more than one active page open on your browser right now?

Do you ever just sit and stare into space and lose how much time you've been sitting there for?

Uh-oh, if you answered yes to any of the questions above and no to the last one, then I'm afraid that your ability to concentrate has been destroyed.

If you are in a high pressure job whereby you have to deliver, then you'll find that you can only really buckle down when you have a do-or-die deadline.

Otherwise it is unlikely you work on anything for more than 15 minutes before sending/checking emails, facebook et al.

Solution

I will teach you how to get it all back, if you've got this far, then check out Part 2 (I've split this up because I know you haven't got the ability to concentrate any longer!) and I'll start to tell you how.

HOW LONG IS YOUR ATTENTION SPAN? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TURNED OFF YOUR PHONE/INTERNET AND JUST SAT AND CONCENTRATED ON SOMETHING FOR 90 MINUTES PLUS?

AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!

Title image: Dave Contreras on Unsplash

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