How to Be a Magnetic Introvert
Marlon Brando was a legendary actor.
His acting techniques were so good that he became an inspiration for the next whole generation of actors, such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
He was an introvert, a genius actor, but a big pain in the ass.
He was infamous for being one of the most difficult actors to work with. All geniuses have a little bit of crazy in them. He was no different.
He never followed the script, improvised in every scene, added his own lines, and basically did whatever the heck he wanted to do.
I’m personally a big fan of Brando’s acting. ‘Godfather’ was a class act. He just melted into the role of Don Corleone. Like he was born to play it.
Anyways, Brando was once asked in an interview, What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with new actors?
And here’s what he said:
"Take your time. When you deliver a dialogue, don’t let the audience know when it’s gonna come. Surprise them with timing and your range of intensity."
And that was what made him so magnetic. You never know when he’s going to say it, what he’s going to say, or how he’s going to say it.
If he had not listened to his soul, if he felt pressured by the rolling camera, the actors waiting for him to deliver the dialogue, or the director waiting to finish the scene,
He wouldn’t be the Marlon Brando we know today.
He was honest with his inner voice. He was fearless. And he just didn’t give a shit.
He was absolutely certain about what he was capable of, and he delivered it. Every single time.
The Secret of Magnetic Attraction
Let me ask you a question.
What draws you towards your favourite celebrities, singers, influencers, spiritual gurus, or anybody that you admire?
They are humans, just like you. They walk and talk and eat and sleep just like you.
Then what makes people go crazy over them?
We copy their style, the way they walk, the way they dress, and the way they carry themselves.
And if you’re thinking it’s just their personality, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Personality, body language, clothes, hair and makeup can be imitated, but there’s something inside that is impossible to replicate.
And that ‘something’ is called an INNER-CERTAINTY.
To believe in your heart that whatever you’re doing and however you’re doing it is the best way to do it.
Whether you’re singing, dancing, talking, giving a presentation, or in a job interview.
And when you believe it inside, people believe it outside.
When Marlon Bardo was playing a character, he was one hundred percent certain that the emotions of the character he was portraying would also be felt by the audience.
He was certain that if he delayed the delivery of dialogue for a few seconds, it would have a much stronger effect on the audience.
And he was certain that whatever the hell he was doing, it was going to work.
To be rooted in that certainty is what makes you magnetic.
And throughout history, it has been proven over and over again. All attractive people with magnetic personalities are rooted in this inner-certainty.
Steve Jobs launching a new product.
Marlon Brando on the screen.
Rihanna performing on the stage.
Kevin Hart doing stand-up comedy.
As an introvert, you’re a natural at it.
You don’t just say shit, you’ve researched, studied, thought about, and obsessed about it for weeks or even months before you open your mouth. And when you do, people listen. Because behind your words is this inner-certainty.
But, it doesn’t work because it’s missing the most important ingredient.
That ingredient is AWARENESS.
And when you add awareness to this inner-certainty, people will be hypnotised by your personality.
Here's how:
The Magic Formula
Inner-certainty + Awareness = Magnetic Personality
I’ve already explained inner-certainty, let me explain how to add awareness to the picture.
Imagine you’ve been invited on the Oprah Show to talk about some topic you’re really passionate about.
Let’s suppose that topic is ‘how being alone helps introverts to refuel’.
Oprah asks you,
"Why do introverts need alone time?"
Now, before you answer, I want you to imagine that you’re looking at yourself on TV or your smartphone.
Here are two ways to answer:
You instantly start talking. It’s so important because… Blah blah blah
You listen, you nod, you take a few seconds pause, scratch your chin while thinking and looking at the ground, you look at Oprah, and then you start talking.
Which one of the two do you think looks more attractive? More Charismatic? More intellectual?
Of course. The second one.
Now, what you did before answering the question is ‘Awareness’ of action. You were not doing it unconsciously, you were doing it on purpose.
You were doing it to have the desired effect on the audience in the studio, on Oprah, and on the whole world looking at you on TV.
And the desired effect was that whatever you were going to say was important. By taking a pause, you pulled their attention to what you were going to say. In a way, you primed your audience in advance that what you’re going to say has taken deep thinking and is therefore to be taken seriously.
This is awareness. Knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
And with this awareness of your action, and the inner-certainty of what you’re going to speak about, people will pay attention.
Stay Blessed,
- Master
I've been in many business meetings where the group decides to go with the option proposed by the most confident person in the room. I think a lot of bad decisions were made that way, but it taught me how powerful confidence can be. Much of the world runs on it.
Very helpful piece. I've been an introvert my entire life, and I find myself pausing at times before I respond. However, it's inconsistent and done unconsciously.