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I wonder if charisma is actually an anti-pattern. Paul Graham is an interesting example -- he's not a great speaker. He's not smooth. But he's obviously smar
by nostromo 7y ago
I wonder if charisma is actually an anti-pattern.
Paul Graham is an interesting example -- he's not a great speaker. He's not smooth. But he's obviously smart and interesting in a less polished way. In a way this makes me believe what he's saying more, because I don't think I'm being sold.
Have you ever heard Elon Musk speak? Or Mark Zuckerberg in the early days? They almost have the opposite of polished charisma. And yet they're extremely successful entrepreneurs.
- andrewstuart 7y agoYou don't need charisma for "success", but charisma can bring success to the charismatic. History is loaded with highly charismatic people and those who, for want of a more positive term, "fall under their spell". Steve Jobs is an obvious one. Google "reality distortion field".
- meowface 7y agoI think it's more that charisma (as traditionally understood) is sometimes inversely correlated with engineering ability. Also, there's more to charisma than just speaking ability. pg's an excellent, and I would say charismatic, writer. In the modern age where companies are more distributed and things are becoming less physical in general, there are other ways to spread ideas and inspire others than being magnetic in-person.