An Incredible ‘What If': A Fictional Tale of Edna Mode Inspiring Donald Clifton
Living in a community with an HOA is... well, let's call it an experience. When my family first moved in, the president lived just two houses down. Imagine Evelyn Harper, Charlie Sheen’s no-nonsense, semi-retired real estate agent mom from Two and a Half Men, running the show. Got it? Great—now you’re right on target!
But here’s where it gets funny: our three kids, with two of them around seven and the youngest about five, couldn’t help but notice something else about her. To them, she wasn’t Evelyn Harper—she was a dead ringer for Edna Mode from The Incredibles. And after watching that movie about a bazillion times (because, well, kids), the resemblance didn’t take long to spot. Every time we passed her house, they’d whisper, 'There goes Edna!'
A couple of years ago, she and her husband moved away. The other night, while walking the dogs past her old house, I found myself thinking, "I wonder how 'Edna' is doing." That simple thought triggered a cascade of connections in my mind. Connectedness is my fourth highest strength, so making associations is second nature to me.
And it’s no surprise I’d make that connection—I’ve been diving even deeper into CliftonStrengths® and coaching lately, spending most of my time helping others who feel stuck in a rut. You know how when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail? That’s me right now, seeing everything through a strengths-based lens and noticing how these themes pop up everywhere I look!
Thinking about Edna from The Incredibles, I realized she wasn’t just designing supersuits—she was creating tools that amplified each hero’s strengths. Dash needed a suit that wouldn’t catch fire at high speed. Violet’s had to disappear with her, and Elastigirl’s needed to stretch. Bob, though, wanted a cape because it looked heroic. But Edna famously refused—capes were a disaster waiting to happen. Too many heroes had fallen because they were focused on appearances instead of performance.
That’s the lesson. We spend too much time trying to fit the mold of what we think success looks like, and not enough time leaning into what makes us uniquely capable. Just like Edna designed suits to maximize strengths and avoid pitfalls, we need to understand where we excel and where we get in our own way. When we do, we stop chasing someone else’s vision and start realizing our own potential.
Then I had a little chuckle at the thought—what if Edna Mode, with all her snappy wisdom, was the spark that set Donald Clifton on his strengths-based path? Sure, it's completely made up, but every good hero story has a lesson to teach. So let’s have some fun with this 'what if' and see where our imaginations take us.
The Incredible ‘What If’: The Super Symposium at Metroville University, 1959
In the summer of 1959, Metroville University hosted a symposium on human potential and superhuman capabilities. Donald Clifton, a professor of educational psychology, attended with the hope of gaining new insights into maximizing human performance.
During a session featuring Supers discussing their challenges, Dr. Clifton noticed a young man sitting apart from the others—a despondent figure named Echo. Known for his ability to perfectly mimic any sound, Echo seemed lost in his own world.
Unable to contain his frustration, Echo finally spoke up. "I can imitate any sound, but what's the point?" he lamented. "I can't fly, I can't lift cars, I can't shoot lasers. I'm not a real hero."
Dr. Clifton observed as Echo's peers tried to reassure him. "Your power is really unique," one said. "You just need to find the right way to use it."
Echo shook his head. "I've tried. But without the right powers, I'm useless in real fights."
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the murmurs. "Enough!" Edna Mode stepped forward, her presence commanding immediate attention.
"Dahling, you are blind to your own brilliance!" she exclaimed, fixing Echo with an intense gaze.
He looked up, startled. "What do you mean?"
"You waste time longing for abilities you don't have," Edna declared. "Your mimicry isn't a parlor trick—it's a powerful tool! Imagine disorienting enemies with deafening noises, creating diversions with unexpected sounds, or intercepting communications by replicating voices. The possibilities are endless if you stop moping and start exploring your own strength!"
The room fell silent as her words sank in. She turned to address everyone. "This obsession with what you lack is nonsense! True greatness comes from embracing your unique strengths, not from fixating on your weaknesses."
She gestured around the room. "Each of you has something exceptional. Focus on that! Enhance it! That's the key to becoming truly incredible."
Donald Clifton's Epiphany
At the back of the room, Dr. Clifton felt a profound realization unfolding. For years, his work had centered on identifying and correcting weaknesses, helping individuals overcome their deficiencies. But Edna's impassioned speech illuminated a different path.
He approached her after the session. "Ms. Mode, your perspective is revolutionary," he began.
She glanced up from her sketches. "Is that so, dahling?"
"Yes," Clifton affirmed. "I've been so focused on helping people fix what's 'wrong' with them that I've overlooked the potential of building on what's right."
Edna nodded thoughtfully. "It's a common approach. Supers often believe that to improve, they must become something they're not. But real progress comes from honing what they already are."
Clifton's mind raced. "This could help transform not just Supers but everyone! If we help people discover and develop their innate strengths, they could achieve far more than by merely correcting weaknesses!"
Edna smiled. "Now you're thinking, dahling. It's the ‘why’ behind everything I do— to enhance what's already exceptional, so the world is a safer place."
Echo's Transformation
Inspired by Edna's words, Echo began to experiment with his abilities. Instead of lamenting what he couldn't do, he explored the depths of what he could. He learned to generate sonic booms to stun villains, mimic the sounds of an entire battalion to intimidate foes, and even replicate frequencies to interfere with enemy equipment.
Echo's newfound confidence and effectiveness didn't go unnoticed. Edna designed a specialized suit for him, equipped with audio amplifiers and frequency modulators, allowing him to utilize his powers even more…well, powerfully!
"Thank you, Edna," Echo said, gratitude evident in his voice.
She waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, dahling. You had it in you all along. I simply showed you how to unleash it."
The Strengths Revolution Begins
Dr. Clifton returned to his university with a renewed sense of purpose. Edna's insights had ignited a spark that transformed his approach to psychology. He began developing an assessment to identify individuals' innate talents—the foundation of what would become the CliftonStrengths® Assessment.
Dr. Clifton proposed that by focusing on and developing people's natural strengths, they could achieve greater fulfillment and success than by attempting to fix their weaknesses. This strengths-based approach revolutionized organizational development, education, and personal growth.
Conclusion
This little story shines a spotlight on the power of embracing what makes you unique—a truth Edna Mode and Dr. Clifton would both stand behind. For Edna, it was never about making Supers fit into some ideal mold. No, it was about taking their strengths and making them, well, incredible.
Echo’s transformation shows us that when you stop obsessing over what you can’t do and start focusing on what you can, amazing things happen. It reminds us that our potential doesn’t come from being like everyone else—it comes from owning what makes us different.
Whether you're a Super or just trying to get through the day, the lesson’s the same: greatness isn’t about being ideal. It’s about being true to your strengths.
Key Takeaways
Embrace Your Unique Strengths: Supers didn’t become great by copying others—they excelled by building on what made them special. The same goes for us. Focus on your natural talents, and greatness will follow.
Focus on What You Have, Not What You’re Missing: Echo’s story proves that when you stop worrying about weaknesses and lean into your strengths, you unlock real power.
Start with Strengths, Build from There: Clifton’s philosophy teaches that investing in what you do best will always yield greater success than constantly trying to fix what you lack.
Strengths Are Your Superpower: When you harness what makes you unique, you don’t just improve—you elevate your life and the lives of those around you.
If this got you thinking about your own potential, don’t miss The Incredibles on Amazon Prime Video. It’s not just about superheroes—it’s about realizing that what makes you different is what makes you incredible. Go on, see for yourself!
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This is a work of fiction created for educational and entertainment purposes. The characters and events depicted are imaginary and used fictitiously. "The Incredibles," Edna Mode, and related characters are trademarks of Disney and Pixar. All rights belong to their respective owners. "CliftonStrengths®" is a registered trademark of Gallup, Inc. Donald Clifton is a real historical figure; however, this story is a fictionalized account and should not be considered a factual representation of his life or work. This story is not intended to infringe upon any copyrights.