Welcome to NextLetter, where Frederik Pferdt helps you become one step closer to your next opportunity.

Your Secret Superpower: Dimension X

Through years of observing patterns—both in my life and lives of others—I noticed something crucial to understanding how you can shape your future:

Everybody has unique personality traits that consistently surface during pivotal moments in their lives—especially during extreme ups and downs.

These traits guide our decisions, they guide our actions, they guide how we react—and they communicate something very powerful to the rest of the world.

This is you.

This is your superpower.

This is your Dimension X.

We all have a Dimension X that shapes how we navigate life—and how we propel forward. Becoming aware of your Dimension X (I’ll show you how in a moment) is the first step to using it. Dimension X can come in a variety of forms that perhaps can be defined using simple adjectives—gritty, funny, selfless, creative. But Dimension X is more than a generic word.

It’s more likely a string of a few words that others—and you—have seen in action. And it’s not a one-time thing. It’s your signature trait that define what you do and who you are, especially as you navigate the highs and lows of life. Mine, for example, is “a bias for action,” which informs so much of my thinking about creativity, innovation, and the future. 

Instinctively, you likely know the Dimension X of the people around you who you admire—your partner, your kids, your MVP colleagues. You feel what makes them different, and that’s why they hold so much of your respect and love. You—and every other human—have a Dimension X, even if you can’t articulate what yours may be just yet.

Why is this so important? Your Dimension X is the lens through which you see your world (not the world, your world). If you cultivate it, it can act like a strong, confident rudder in your day-to-day decisions and in your overarching narrative.

To that end (with my bias toward action), scroll down for an exercise that can help you define and tap into your Dimension X.

Quote I Love

What Makes You You?

A key to harnessing your Dimension X is simply being aware of it—so then you can then acknowledge it and think about ways you can leverage it during key times in your life. You may have some sense of it already, but it’s worth trying to define it in a few words. Here’s how:

Step 1: Reflect on Your Journey

Think about the key moments in your life. These are not the “big deal” moments, like graduation or marriage, but rather a subtle realization related to a personal relationship or event in your life, like the moment you knew your partner was “the one” or a career setback when you showed resilience. Draw a simple timeline on a piece of paper. Mark 5 to 10 important events that have shaped who you are. Ask yourself:

· How did I respond in these moments?

· What inner strength helped me through?

Step 2: Get an Outside Perspective

Ask three friends, colleagues, or family members who play different roles in your life to share a story about you—specifically a time when they saw you at your best and worst. Listen for any traits they highlight. 

Step 3: Identify Your Dimension X

Look for common themes in your timeline and the stories you’ve heard. What traits keep coming up? This recurring trait is likely your Dimension X—the strength that guides you.

Step 4: Put It Into Action

Now that you’ve identified your Dimension X, think about how you can use it in your life this week. Whether it’s embracing curiosity, acting decisively, or showing empathy, let this trait guide your decisions.

Bonus exercise: Remember, your Dimension X is a dynamic force. Use it to shape your future with intention and confidence. As an additional exercise, think about this question: Are there times or situations when your Dimension X could work against you?

Dimension X is fluid, and it’s important to box yourself into “one thing.” At times, Dimension X may not align with the context of a situation. In fact, you may even need to do the opposite of your Dimension X in some situations. Be adaptable to situations and people.

For example, if your Dimension X is curiosity and you find yourself in a scenario that requires immediate action rather than exploration, leaning too heavily on curiosity could delay necessary decisions.

Understanding the context and being able to switch gears is vital to ensure that your Dimension X works for you, not against you. While Dimension X is a powerful tool, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The key to maximizing its usefulness lies in balance and self-awareness.

What Do They Think of You?

My friend and former colleague, Laura Jones, the chief marketing officer of Instacart, always knew she needed creative outlets. She was also an economics major and understood that her career path may not always have the creative activities she craved.

Her first assignment in an early-career job was to create a report. Her coworkers expected graphs, charts, and the usual business-type presentation.

What did Laura do? She created an immersive POV video with music.

Her colleagues were stunned. In a great way.

She later went onto Google and Uber, where she cultivated her talent and really defined her Dimension X—the ability to see unexpected connections between people and ideas that might lead to unique opportunities.

“It’s like having a palette with lots of colors in front of me and being able to see combinations that others might not,” she says. By connecting creatives with data scientists, for example, new ideas can be born. One of her ideas led to an ad campaign that debuted on the MTV Music Awards.

Defining her Dimension X allows her to use it every day to do her job, to solve problems, and to develop ideas—all crucial to creating her future now.

Make Their Day

You can make a difference in someone’s life with one simple gift: Help them define their Dimension X. 

Next time you’re inclined to thank or compliment someone, see if you can go one step further. Really define what you see as the gift that makes them unique. It’s likely a variation of a compliment but with more specificity:

I notice that in pivotal moments, you really show up by…

Coming up with creative ideas… Using humor to make others feel comfortable in difficult situations… Ask the questions that nobody else thinks of.

Maybe it’s something they haven’t seen in themselves, or maybe it reinforces what they subconsciously believe to be their Dimension X. Either way, you’re doing something super powerful for superpowers: Giving others a permission slip to use their uniqueness in new ways.

Try telling someone what their Dimension X is. Let me know what you said, their reaction, and how you felt. Respond to this email, and I may share your experience in a future NextLetter. My new book, What’s Next is Now, is available now.

Don’t Just Predict the Future—Create It: Partner with Me to Unlock Your Team’s Full Potential

In a world that's constantly evolving, simply anticipating the future isn't enough—you have the power to shape it. With experience in training the brightest minds at Google and Stanford University, I want to offer you an inspiring and practical approach to future-making. My sessions are designed to guide you and your team in developing the mindstate needed to create the future you envision.

When you work with me for your next event, you’re not just booking a speaker—you’re engaging with a partner committed to helping you and your organization unlock its full potential. 

Send me a message!