Not everybody has charisma.
Charisma is a kind of shine. It’s natural magnetism.
Some people walk into a room, and people just gravitate toward them.
They’re witty, charming, and easy to like.
They don’t always have to explain themselves.
People want to help them and want to believe in them.
That’s not all of us.
Some people have to work harder just to be seen.
They aren’t exceptional in the eyes of others.
They’re not loud or charming.
They don’t walk in with energy; they walk in with effort.
They have to lean purely on their character.
The world tends to reward charisma first.
Charismatic people are often given the benefit of the doubt, even when they don’t show up consistently.
People with admirable character and no charisma sometimes show up anyway and get overlooked, questioned, or underestimated.
And yet… they’re the ones who stay the course.
The hare had charisma.
He was fast, flashy, and confident.
He thought his God-given talents were enough, so there was no need for effort.
He didn’t worry about the race; he knew he could win.
The tortoise had admirable character.
He took no shortcuts and needed no applause.
He just kept going. It was not because he thought he’d win,
but because he knew not showing up wasn’t an option. He knew the odds were against him, but he showed up anyway. He didn’t throw in the towel, and he didn’t underestimate himself.
Charisma will open doors, but admirable character is what keeps you in the room.
Charisma can get you noticed, but admirable character is what gets things done when no one’s looking.
If you have charisma and character? Great, that’s a gift.
But if you don’t have charisma, and if you’re not the loudest or the most liked, don’t count yourself out.
You might just be the tortoise.
And people forget… the tortoise won.