CHARISMA - VALUES OF LIFE

The Power of Charisma
by Brian Tracy

Charisma is a special quality that, to some degree, every person has. You have charisma to the people who look up to you, who respect and admire you - the members of your family and your friends and coworkers. Whenever and wherever one person feels a positive emotion toward another, he imbues that person with the power of charisma.

If you're in sales, charisma can have a major impact on the way your prospects and customers deal with you.
If you're in business, charisma can help you tremendously in working with your staff, your suppliers, your bankers, your customers, and everyone else upon whom you depend.
In your personal relationships, the quality of charisma can make your life more joyous. People will naturally want to be around you because you make them happy. Your influence on them makes them feel better about themselves and want to do better at the important things in their lives.
There is a close association between personal charisma and success in life. The more positively others respond to you, the easier it will be for you to get the things you want.


You were born with certain qualities that make you naturally more or less charismatic. Nevertheless, you can enhance those qualities by developing the 10 great powers of personality that seem to have a major impact on the way people think and feel about you.

1. The power of purpose.
People with charisma and personal magnetism almost invariably have a clear vision of who they are, of where they're going, and of what they're trying to achieve. They're focused on accomplishing some great purpose. They're decisive about every aspect of their lives. They know exactly what they want and what they have to do to get it. They plan their work and work their plan.

2. The power of self-confidence.

People with charisma have an intense belief in themselves and in what they are doing. They are usually calm, cool, and composed about themselves and their work. Your level of self-confidence is often demonstrated in your courage, your willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve a purpose that you believe in.

3. The power of enthusiasm.
The more excited you are about accomplishing something that is important to you, the more excited others will be about helping you do it. The fact is that emotions are contagious. The more passion you have for your life and your activities, the more charisma you will possess and the more cooperation you will gain from others. Every great man or woman has been totally committed to a noble cause and, as a result, has attracted the support and encouragement of others - in many cases, thousands or millions of others.

4. The power of expertise.
The more knowledgeable you are perceived to be in your field, the more charisma you will have among those who respect and admire that knowledge. This is also the power of excellence, of being recognized by others as an outstanding performer. People who do their jobs extremely well and who are recognized for the quality of their work are those who naturally attract the help and support of others.

5. The power of thorough preparation.
Whether you are calling on a prospect, meeting with your boss, giving a public talk, or making any other kind of presentation, when you are well-prepared, it becomes clear to everyone. The careers of many young people are put onto the fast track as a result of their coming to an important meeting after having done all their homework.

6. The power of self-reliance.
The most successful people are intensely self-reliant. They look to themselves for the answers to their questions and problems. They never complain, and they never explain. They take complete ownership of projects. They volunteer for duties and step forward to accept accountability when things go wrong.

7. The power of image.
There is both interpersonal image and intrapersonal image. Intrapersonal image, or self-image, is the way you see yourself and think about yourself in any situation. This has an impact on the way you perform and on the way others see you and think about you. Interpersonal image is the appearance that you convey. Successful people are very aware of how they are coming across to others. They take a good deal of time to think through every aspect of their external appearance to assure that it is helping them rather than hurting them.

8. The power of character.
People who possess the kind of charisma that arouses the enthusiastic support of others are invariably those with integrity. They are extremely realistic and honest with themselves and others. They have very clear ideals, and they continually aspire to live up to the highest that is in them. They speak well of people, knowing that everything they say is being remembered and recorded. They are aware that everything they do adds to or detracts from the way they are perceived.

9. The power of self-discipline.
Charismatic people are highly controlled. They have a tremendous sense of inner calm and outer resolve. They are well-organized, and they always demonstrate willpower and determination.

10. The power of result-orientation - which underlies all of the other personality powers.
In the final analysis, people ascribe charisma to those men and women that they can count on to help them achieve important goals or objectives. Great salespeople, for example, are spoken about in the most positive way by their coworkers and superiors. So are people who are responsible for companies or departments that achieve high levels of profitability. They are perceived by others to be extraordinary men and women who are capable of great things. Their shortcomings are often overlooked, while their strong points are overemphasized. In other words, they become charismatic.
Charisma comes from working on yourself. It comes from liking and accepting yourself unconditionally as you do and say the specific things that develop within you a powerful, attractive personality.

You can develop the kind of charisma that opens doors for you by going to work on yourself, consistently and persistently, and becoming the kind of person everyone can admire and look up to. That's what charisma is all about.