The Edge was a movie I saw 10 years ago. Alec Baldwin was in it. He is a brilliant performer and his presence dominated the screen from the very beginning. Right until the moment Anthony Hopkins appeared on screen, where his overwhelming presence seemed to overshadowed everyone, including Baldwin.
What does Hopkins, 60, has over Baldwin, who was 39 when he made that movie? Alec is younger, good looking and had a good physique yet something Hopkins has sets him apart.
Both have the inner confidence. The knowingness of how good they are. This personal magnetism or charm is known as charisma. It’s the X factor that sets someone apart. It’s the ability to attract, inspire, and influence people. Just that Anthony Hopkins’ charismatic aura is stronger.
This is charisma, an inner directed confidence that money cannot buy. Something that needs to be cultivated over time.
Derived from the ancient Greek, the word ‘charisma’ means ‘the gift of grace or favor’. When you diligently manage you inner resources, your ability to inspire and lead and communicate, your charismatic personality will appear.
Then you will find that ‘grace or favor’ is bestowed upon you, as a result or a response to your presence, the way you communicate and the confidence that you exude.
Who Has It and Who Doesn’t?
Ronald Reagan has it. George W Bush doesn’t.
JFK has it. LBJ doesn’t.
MJ (basketballer) has it. MJ (Wacko Jacko) doesn’t.
Kevin Spacey, balding and doesn’t have the looks of an A-list movie star, has it. You can feel so much confidence and ‘sureness’ in his smile. Kevin Costner is losing his.
Denzel Washington is getting there. Brad Pitt is not there yet.
Jacky Chan exudes it. Jay Chou, will never. (Sorry, Jay fans. Facts are facts).
The next time you think of impressing a lady or making your presence felt in a meeting, think charisma. You need not highlight your hair color, or wear designer clothes. Nor do you need to show up in a Beemer.
I know a guy who drives a Beemer, have a steroid-induced body, behaves as if he is God’s gift to women, have a big title under his name and wear designer clothes. Sorry, charisma doesn’t work that way. It just makes him a jerk with a steroid induced body that drives a Beemer and wears designer clothes.
Just bring on that inner confidence. That knowingness. That ‘sureness’.
Think about it….what can you learn from a charismatic 70 year old Welsh thespian?
Filed under: He Says
Anthony Hopkins turns 70 on New Year’s Eve this year and yup….he still has charisma that has women who could be his grandkids swooning over him. I’ve been a fan since I saw him in “Magic” back in 1978 when I was 17.