If you had asked me this question twenty years ago, my answer would have been immediate, and, looking back, a little superficial.
When I was young and perhaps a bit naive, I admired performers. I looked up to the people who could stand in front of a crowded room and command attention. I admired the speakers who could think on their feet, the debaters who could win any argument, and the “strong” personalities who never seemed to back down.
To my younger self, that was leadership. It was about the spotlight. It was about volume. It was about winning.
But as I’ve gotten older, my definition of “admirable” has shifted entirely. I’ve realized that what I was admiring wasn’t leadership; it was just charisma.
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johnro 