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December 12, 2024 • 1hr 18min
#876 - Michael Gelb - How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci
Modern Wisdom
Michael Gelb is an executive coach, speaker and author who has extensively studied Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and thinking methods. In this episode, he shares insights from his research into how we can apply Leonardo's principles to enhance our own creativity, learning and development. The discussion explores Leonardo's unique approach to understanding the world, his personality and working style, and the seven key principles he embodied that we can learn from.
#876 - Michael Gelb - How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci
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Key Takeaways
- Leonardo da Vinci's 7 Principles for Thinking:
- Curiosità - Maintain an insatiably curious approach to life and learning
- Dimostrazione - Test knowledge through experience and critical thinking
- Sensazione - Continually refine the senses, especially sight
- Sfumato - Embrace ambiguity and paradox
- Arte/Scienza - Balance art and science, logic and imagination
- Corporalità - Cultivate grace, ambidexterity, fitness and poise
- Connessione - Recognize and appreciate interconnectedness
- Leonardo was both highly accomplished and well-rounded - renowned not just for his art and science but also his physical capabilities, charm, and grace
- The importance of balancing intense work with rest and reflection - Leonardo believed "men of genius sometimes work best when they work least"
- Integration of art and science was key to Leonardo's approach - he saw them as complementary ways of exploring truth
- Cultivating sensory awareness through conscious attention and comparative experiences enhances both pleasure and capability
Introduction
Michael Gelb is an executive coach, speaker and author who has extensively studied Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and thinking methods. In this episode, he shares insights from his research into how we can apply Leonardo's principles to enhance our own creativity, learning and development. The discussion explores Leonardo's unique approach to understanding the world, his personality and working style, and the seven key principles he embodied that we can learn from.
Topics Discussed
Leonardo's Character and Personality (5:17)
Leonardo da Vinci was known for being:
- Charming and socially adept - able to connect well with others and secure patronage
- Elegant in appearance and manner - wore fine clothes and moved with notable grace
- Multi-talented - musician, artist, scientist, and more
- Strategic in managing relationships with patrons while pursuing his interests
The First Principle: Curiosità (27:32)
The foundation of Leonardo's approach was insatiable curiosity about everything.
- Childlike wonder - maintaining an open, questioning mindset
- Asking deeper questions - never taking yes for an answer
- Practical exercise: Write 100 questions in one sitting
- First 30 questions tend to be surface level
- Middle questions often express frustration
- Final questions access deeper insights
- Review and highlight 10 most powerful questions
- "Our birthright is curiosity. Who are the most imaginative people? Little children. Who's got the most energy? Little kids." - Michael Gelb
The Second Principle: Dimostrazione (34:11)
Critical thinking and testing knowledge through experience.
- Balance between openness and skepticism
- Testing ideas through direct experience rather than accepting authority
- Moving from cynicism to skepticism to enthusiasm
- Importance of periodizing between open curiosity and critical analysis
The Third Principle: Sensazione (54:35)
Continually refining and sharpening the senses.
- Conscious sensory training like an athlete trains their body
- Comparative experiences to develop nuanced appreciation
- Comparing different chocolates, wines, or musical interpretations
- No wrong answers in describing experiences
- Business application: Better at reading situations and people
- "The average person looks without seeing, eats without tasting, breathes without awareness" - Leonardo da Vinci
The Fourth Principle: Sfumato (1:00:15)
Embracing ambiguity and paradox.
- Ability to embrace uncertainty and the unknown
- The Mona Lisa example:
- Blurred lines create mystery
- Represents harmony of opposites
- Hundreds of gossamer-thin paint layers
- Maintaining emotional intelligence during uncertainty
- Keeping sense of humor while facing challenges
The Fifth Principle: Arte/Scienza (1:06:31)
Integration of art and science, logic and imagination.
- Synergetic thinking - combining convergent and divergent thought
- Mind mapping as a practical tool
- Start with paper and colored pens
- Later move to digital tools
- Activates multiple brain circuits
- Balance between analytical and creative thinking
The Sixth Principle: Corporalità (1:11:02)
Cultivation of grace, fitness, and poise.
- Physical capabilities:
- Renowned strength
- Master equestrian
- Skilled fencer and juggler
- Health recommendations:
- Eat fresh, wholesome foods
- Dine with friends
- Moderate exercise daily
- Maintain cheerful mind
- Grace in movement - right amount of energy in right place at right time
The Seventh Principle: Connessione (1:15:22)
Recognition of interconnectedness of everything.
- Systems thinking - seeing relationships between seemingly unrelated things
- Alignment of purpose, values, and actions
- Understanding consequences and effects
- Regular review and adjustment of life direction
Conclusion
Leonardo da Vinci's principles offer a comprehensive framework for developing both mind and body while maintaining balance between analytical and creative thinking. His approach emphasizes the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, sensory awareness, comfort with ambiguity, integration of art and science, physical cultivation, and systems thinking. These principles remain remarkably relevant for modern life and can be applied to enhance both personal development and professional success.
The key to applying these principles is regular practice and integration into daily life, whether through specific exercises like the 100 questions technique or mind mapping, or through general approaches like maintaining curiosity and refining sensory awareness. As Michael Gelb emphasizes, these principles are not just theoretical concepts but practical tools that can help us navigate life's challenges while continuing to grow and develop.