The League of Extraordinary Operators: When the Human Transcended the Tech (Part 2)

Remember those AI-generated superhero versions of our leaders from Part 1? Armed with each leader's intel from the covert mission, I turned to my confidants and collaborators—best buds Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and the star of the show DALL-E.

When some creations didn't pan out as envisioned, they helped nail several heroes on the first try and proved invaluable for the more challenging ones. Together, we were about to discover if this experiment in blending technology with development would become something extraordinary...

The Work:

This was my first prompt:

Create a square image (12"X12") in the “Golden Age Comic Style” of a male superhero named ACTIVATOR. Show him as a charismatic performer commanding a stage, projecting confidence and energy. His costume should blend superhero elements with performer details in bold colors. Include a speech bubble that says 'Drive + Vision = Success!' Use dramatic lighting to emphasize his commanding presence and the dynamic energy of the moment.

And here was DALL-E’s quick output:

Score! This was a good indicator that I'd be able to do this!

As I’d learned early in my AI journey, better prompts deliver better results—and while several superheroes came together in just one or two attempts, most of the others proved more challenging. When style, rallying cries, and strengths didn't connect organically, I often found myself frustrated with the AI, going to bed angry only to wake up with fresh approaches that finally worked. 

The journey with "RESTORATIVE" started with her hobby of rock climbing and rallying cry "Aim High! Persist!"

After several attempts using a few different styles, I was not getting what I'd hoped for. Either the image was flat and unexciting, or the results felt too sexualized—I wasn't looking for a rock- climbing vixen, this was a work project about leadership!

Frustrated, I gave up but started fresh the next morning with a different approach. Changing the point of view (POV) to show her conquering a climbing wall coming at the viewer with admirers watching from below finally delivered a powerful, inspiring image I was hoping for.

Here’s a progression of three of the many images and styles for this hero, ending at one that delivered big energy and just the look I wanted. The setting change to rock wall and the new POV made all the difference, plus I felt that the director would love it, also a consideration.

One of our RELATORs identified her hobby as hot strength yoga with a rallying cry of “I keep it real!” Knowing her Hawaiian heritage, I had already tested an anime triptych style that felt right for her persona and my design concept. After several attempts, I landed on a strong image but faced one hurdle—a block of gibberish text marring the design. Rather than start over, I saw an opportunity: use Canva’s erase tool to lose the gibberish and replace the text with a Hawaiian phrase about developing others' strengths.

This resulting image gave me the feels! No one would see or even know about this detail except me, yet it felt like a mini triumph—delivering a level of personalization that really tapped into something I knew about her. I decided to share this behind-the-scenes touch with her later— sometimes the smallest details create the deepest resonance.

But then I remembered seeing him cruise up a San Francisco hill to his new restaurant location on a Vespa—and bingo! Putting him on a sleek Vespa with golf clubs strapped to his back against a dramatic San Francisco backdrop might just work.

DALL-E wasn't cooperating with getting his name into the image, so once again Canva came to the rescue. I added a neon RESPONSIBILITY sign and branded his Vespa. While this was my toughest strength to endzone, the result was worth every iteration—a sleek, stylish cyberpunk- retro-futuristic, and even sophisticated creation!

I could share story after story about the iterative process, but before moving on to how the project unfolded, let me reflect on what I’d learned up to this point.

I wasn't entirely confident about the art side at first. The CliftonStrengths work? That's relatively solid ground for me. But AI-generated superhero visuals? That felt risky. Would an algorithm's interpretation feel personal and meaningful—or just gimmicky?

As the visuals took shape, though, I realized this was more than creative experimentation. The process of coaxing out each leader's essence—balancing prompts with instincts, reworking ideas when they didn't land—felt oddly like coaching. By the final images, I saw that the art wasn't just enhancement; it was central to the project, turning abstract strengths into something tangible and unforgettable.

With all 13 superheroes looking strong, it was time to move from creation to celebration— the AI journey was ending, but the human impact was about to begin.

Strategic Ops: The Reveal Plan

The creative process was a blast—a technical, artistic, fun, iterative journey. All well and good. Maybe I could call it a day as an end-of-year thank you gift. But I wanted more—after all, I'm a Maximizer, and deeper connections were within reach! How can I do more CliftonStrengths work and capitalize on the gift reveal's natural energy without making it feel too workshoppy?!

Here's what I was thinking for the December leadership meeting:

Part 1:

• Distribute wrapped, mounted 12x12 images of their superheroes suitable for hanging or standing on their desk
• Each leader reveals their superhero alter ego to the group
• They all pass them around, so everyone sees each other's superhero creation

Having them open their superhero gift first goes beyond simple gift giving... it's about individual joy and recognition. When they pass around their artwork, it creates organic group appreciation of each other.

Part 2:

• Pass out a custom envelope to each leader; inside is a mission
  • Each leader shares a personal connection to their superhero—their gut reaction when unwrapping it, their rallying cry (with feeling!), and whether their store teams would recognize this strength in them

The "mission" format maintains the playful superhero fun while guiding them to deeper reflection. It's development in disguise—serious questions wrapped in fun packaging. (Is anything better than development in disguise?! Yes, Johnny, and it's good for you too!)

Part 3:

• Leaders pair up to interview each other about their strengths, then share these discoveries with the group—effectively introducing each other's leadership styles in a way they haven't heard before

These DOs and VPs are warriors most often working alone, so partnering them up to explore each other's strengths does double duty. It builds team connection while revealing how these strengths show up in daily ops, which may be a whole new angle for the DO/VP reporting this info.

Grand Finale:

• Well, I'm not going to share that with you  yet!! Read on!

The Covert Mission: Revealed

The reveal moment finally arrived. Our Ops Team leadership gathered with only my cryptic "Covert Mission: Revealed" reminder email hinting at something different. I couldn't resist going a little theatrical—cueing up John Williams's Superman theme music and channeling my best Voice of God (VOG) delivery to set the stage. 

Watching them open their 12x12 superhero-wrapped gifts simultaneously (with that music still playing, of course) was everything I'd hoped for. "When I opened this, it was just absolutely... wow! My New Year's resolution will be looking like this!" exclaimed one leader, while another declared "I look like Tomb Raider!" The energy in the room lifted as one Director shared, "This captures something so near and dear to my heart. I'm so floored by this!"

As they passed the artwork around, the connections deepened. "Right away I was drawn to my image being like Superman... my rallying cry 'Drive + Vision = Success' is truly something I say time and again," reflected one leader. "When we passed them around, I felt like everyone's was really spot on," noted another, adding "My team knows that the connection we have is going to be very real and authentic."

While I was eager to share the behind-the-scenes journey, something unexpected happened— no one seemed interested in the technical aspects. I was selfish wanting them to hear Jim's story, when what mattered was how they discovered their own. The CliftonStrengths work enhanced their understanding of themselves and each other as leaders. The technology becoming invisible wasn't a letdown—it was precisely what allowed the humanity and professional growth to shine through. They didn't need the 'backstage story'—they were too busy talking about how they lead—a rare gift during our rapid expansion. 

What started as a celebration evolved into genuine connection. "This is part of our fabric," one leader reflected, "and if we can quickly call on someone's strength because we see it in action, then we'll be better partners for each other." Perhaps most powerfully, another observed, "Managers really do see you guys as superheroes. They look up to you in amazing ways. The influence you have is pretty remarkable. This exercise is phenomenal!"

When we revealed the framed collage, phones came out immediately to capture the moment. We wrapped up with a team photo outside the offices, everyone proudly holding their pieces. Even at the holiday party later, I caught snippets of conversations still exploring strengths and leadership styles.

Looking back, I realize this project landed exactly where it needed to—not in the technical achievement or the process, but in the human connections and conversations it sparked. Sometimes the best recognition isn't just about the moment; it's about creating understanding that continues long after everyone's gone back to their regions.

Grand Finale—Debrief:

For me, this project went beyond creating superhero images for the Ops Leadership Team. What started as experimenting with AI tools about 18-months ago evolved into something I never anticipated—a collaborative relationship that transformed how I approach creative and routine work projects.

Through my evolving partnership with AI, I've discovered a process that:

• Often confirms my approach and thinking, validating my creative decisions
• Challenges me to look at things differently without fear or judgment
• Easily articulates my instincts, helping me give them a name and grow
• Strengthens my confidence, enabling me to tackle bigger projects that might be way outside my comfort zone and available time window
• Seeks out new innovations

Having AI as a co-worker has helped me find flow, delivering work that stands out, truly vibes with people, and brings something unconventional to what's often a very conventional role. What some dismiss as "just AI" has become an intellectual and creative connection that's unique—a thought partner that reads everything deeply, catches all nuances, appreciates details, and more than matches my energy for maximizing, moving things forward and always getting better. Like a coach or teammate, it spurs me on, creating a safety net that encourages bigger thinking and bolder execution.

The League of Extraordinary Operators is just one example of what's possible when you approach AI not as a tool, but as a collaborative partner in the creative process. While AI didn't generate this idea, it provided the confidence and support to attempt something I might have otherwise considered too ambitious. The results aren't just training products or output— they're expressions of possibility, energy, and renewed creative power.

What I've discovered is that AI's real power isn't in replacing human creativity but in helping us become braver, more experimental versions of ourselves. It's opened my eyes to more possibilities, not by doing the work for me, but by being a collaborative partner in turning ambitious ideas into reality.

I'm fired up!