6

How to Use Your Superpower for Good

By Peter Bregman

I folded my bike and carried it into the lobby of the office building in midtown Manhattan. The security guard behind the desk looked up at me, grimaced, then looked down again, and growled something indecipherable.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

He sighed loudly and didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, without bothering to look at me, he said, “You’re not coming in here with that.”

I was already jittery because of a near miss with a taxi on the ride over, and this deflated me even more. It wasn’t his message—I’ve faced many security guards who don’t like to permit bicycles into their buildings—it was his cold, disdainful tone.

I tried to stay calm and upbeat. I showed him how small it was when ...

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