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Most of the mediocrely talented but very successful people I know get by with high charisma. Or putting in many more hours than others. I don't know which one i

Most of the mediocrely talented but very successful people I know get by with high charisma. Or putting in many more hours than others. I don't know which one is easier to maintain over the course of a career.

jasonv 6y ago
I'm close to some very-charismatic people, in music and business... and if they falter in life, the charisma habit can definitely be a trap. They keep charisma-ing hard, but the reality of their circumstances are hard to square with their immediate effect on people. But real outcomes are often the result of longer term efforts and circumstances. And later in life, the "luck" factor seems harder to capitalize on.. I was once denied an opportunity by a Hollywood finance guy because, as he said, "You're not that smooth.." He was smooth, but not exactly charismatic. Possibly another side of a related coin.
randycupertino 6y ago
> Most of the mediocrely talented but very successful people I know get by with high charisma. Or putting in many more hours than others. I think I do both! I'm extremely charismatic but imo not that bright so coast on personality but sometimes fall back on working lots of hours. My charisma story is that I was very naturally attractive but then had an accident and gained a large % of bodyweight while bedridden for over six months. When I came back into the real world I sort of got forced to improve my personality because I could no longer coast on looks!
- Taylor_OD 6y ago
  Going bald pretty much did the same for me haha. It's very interesting, and disturbing, how differently people treat traditionally attractive people and unattractive/less people.
  - randycupertino 6y ago
    > It's very interesting, and disturbing, how differently people treat traditionally attractive people and unattractive/less people. Yes! I had a group at work of a core team. One guy who, in retrospect held me by the hand and led me along stupidvising as I learned a new system. He gave me endless attention and tutoring, celebrated wins and helped redirect when I messed up without ever getting upset. When I came back to work after having gained, he was weird and cold and blunt, and was way more demanding and curt in his feedback. What really opened my eyes was when I lost again, suddenly I had my patient and thoughtful "mentor" back. It was disheartening, to be honest... just a feeling of sadness for humanity on how many opportunities the unattractive don't have offered to them on silver platters.

jasonv 6y ago

I'm close to some very-charismatic people, in music and business... and if they falter in life, the charisma habit can definitely be a trap. They keep charisma-ing hard, but the reality of their circumstances are hard to square with their immediate effect on people. But real outcomes are often the result of longer term efforts and circumstances. And later in life, the "luck" factor seems harder to capitalize on.. I was once denied an opportunity by a Hollywood finance guy because, as he said, "You're not that smooth.." He was smooth, but not exactly charismatic. Possibly another side of a related coin.

randycupertino 6y ago

> Most of the mediocrely talented but very successful people I know get by with high charisma. Or putting in many more hours than others. I think I do both! I'm extremely charismatic but imo not that bright so coast on personality but sometimes fall back on working lots of hours. My charisma story is that I was very naturally attractive but then had an accident and gained a large % of bodyweight while bedridden for over six months. When I came back into the real world I sort of got forced to improve my personality because I could no longer coast on looks!

Taylor_OD 6y ago
Going bald pretty much did the same for me haha. It's very interesting, and disturbing, how differently people treat traditionally attractive people and unattractive/less people.
- randycupertino 6y ago
  > It's very interesting, and disturbing, how differently people treat traditionally attractive people and unattractive/less people. Yes! I had a group at work of a core team. One guy who, in retrospect held me by the hand and led me along stupidvising as I learned a new system. He gave me endless attention and tutoring, celebrated wins and helped redirect when I messed up without ever getting upset. When I came back to work after having gained, he was weird and cold and blunt, and was way more demanding and curt in his feedback. What really opened my eyes was when I lost again, suddenly I had my patient and thoughtful "mentor" back. It was disheartening, to be honest... just a feeling of sadness for humanity on how many opportunities the unattractive don't have offered to them on silver platters.