Think, Laugh, Cry #7
Sophia Loren’s spectacle or The Young Pope’s mystery—which approach truly captivates? One dazzles, the other withholds. Which magic spell would you cast?
THINK
Richard Levy is a visionary inventor and entrepreneur, best known for co-creating the Furby, the wildly popular interactive toy that became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1990s. With a career spanning innovation and storytelling, Levy has a knack for blending technology with creativity to capture the imaginations of millions.
He once shared a memorable story about picking up Sophia Loren at the airport. She arrived with an entourage of photographers and numerous bags, creating a scene befitting a movie star.
Intrigued, Levy asked her why she had so many bags. Loren laughed and revealed that most of them were empty. She explained that it wasn’t about practicality—it was about perception.
“I’m a star,” she said. “The public expects this of me.” She went on to share a profound lesson: “It’s 50% what you are and 50% what they think you are. There has to be magic.”
Loren’s insight underscores the importance of creating an aura, a sense of wonder that captivates and inspires others. The “magic” she referred to isn’t about deception or being inauthentic—it’s about elevating reality into something extraordinary.
Whether in art, leadership, or personal life, the ability to blend who you genuinely are with how you present yourself creates a lasting impression. Loren’s bags may have been empty, but they symbolized a larger-than-life image people expected & admired.
His story (you can listen at the link below) reminds us that success often lies in the balance between substance and style, reality and imagination, and the tangible and the enchanting.
However, this is only one school of thought.
The opposite can be found in a scene from one of my all-time favorite TV shows, The Young Pope. In this provocative drama, we witness the fictional rise of Lenny Belardo, the first American pope, who takes the name Pius XIII.
Played by Jude Law, the series explores themes of faith, power, and identity as the enigmatic and controversial pope challenges Vatican traditions while grappling with his own spiritual doubts.
Lenny is also interested in delivering some magic. But he has a different philosophy from Sofia.
He stuns his new communications directors by rejecting the modern trend of transparency and accessibility.
Instead, he explains that the common thread amongst many leading contemporary figures, was that they refused to let themselves be seen. He declares his intention to withhold access and remain out of sight, creating mystery and awe.
Lenny argues that scarcity and elusiveness will amplify the public's fascination and reverence for him, redefining his papacy with an air of divine enigma.
In his own words:
“The Vatican survives thanks to hyperbole. So, we shall generate hyperbole. But this time in reverse.”
The full scene can be viewed by clicking the link below.
As we have seen, delivering "magic" to the public can take two contrasting forms: giving them what they want or withholding what they desire.
Sophia Loren's approach involved creating a spectacle, meeting public expectations with grand gestures like her numerous (but mostly empty) bags. This method relies on fulfilling the audience's fantasies by amplifying reality to dazzle and enchant.
In contrast, The Young Pope's Lenny Belardo cultivates mystery by withholding his presence, leveraging scarcity to spark curiosity and elevate his status.
While Loren’s magic draws people in through opulence and visibility, Lenny’s thrives on absence, leaving people yearning for the unattainable. Both methods harness perception to create awe but diverge in how they manipulate access to the "magic."
So…what do you think?
What is the best formula for delivering magic?
Are you team Sofia?
Or are you team Lenny?