The Pepper Potts Syndrome

I had a great opportunity to hang out with my younger son last Friday and we went to see the new Iron Man movie.  It was fun, both being with him, and the movie.  If you're at all familiar with the movie, or even any of the background story, a key character is Virginia "Pepper" Potts, the very able assistant to Tony Stark (Iron Man).

There were lots of things I liked about the movie, but that's not the point of this post.  Even naming this post "Syndrome" is probably misleading, but I can't think of a better word.

Here's my question (and since we're dealing with fiction, there's no wrong answer!): Could Tony Stark have been anywhere near as creative/successful if he didn't have Pepper Potts aiding him?

The Pepper Potts character fascinates me.   OK, sure, Gwyneth Paltrow is, um, "interesting," but that's not what I mean.  Think of the character, and the role.  Think of other highly successful, or productive, people -- how many of them have that super-assistant at their side?

Through the years, I've been very fortunate to have some excellent people around me who have made me look good.  I've known others, executive types, who have those excellent assistants, and I've always wondered -- could the executive operate without that assistant.  How much of the effectiveness would be lost in doing it "own your own?"

Let me make this personal now.  Do you have a Pepper Potts in your life?  Do you have someone you wish were a Pepper Potts for you?  Are you a Pepper Potts in somebody else's life?  (and forget gender issues for a moment)  And now the biggie question: As Church IT People, how can we be Pepper Potts for the rest of the church staff?

Yeah...having an Iron Man suit would make Church IT a lot more cool :-)

Afterthought: this reminds me a lot of the "would you do it again?" question.

Comments

[mestranscribe]

My son will love you for this. He has been asking to go see Ironman and I didn't want to see it, but now you've got me interested, so we will go see it this weekend. Since I am an assistant, you've got me intrigued with the Pepper Pots role. I don't think my boss would consider me super or excellent, and I'm certainly no Gwynneth Paltrow, but it would be interesting to get his perspective...
To answer your questions - I hope I am or can be a Pepper Potts to someone or more than one someones. And yes, there is a someone I wish I could be a Pepper Potts for...
Looking forward to the movie now, thanks!

[Tony Dye]

Warning, there are a few scenes that may not be appropriate for a 13-year old. Of course, it depends on your 13-year old.