Leonardo da Vinci exemplifies applying creativity and learning skills productively. Though a genius, most people use just a fraction of their potential brainpower. By analyzing how da Vinci achieved so much across diverse fields, principles for personal and professional achievement emerge. This practical system sharpens the mind, liberates intelligence, sparks creative thinking and self-expression. Da Vinci lived during the Renaissance, an era of remarkable creativity marked by world-changing inventions. Like the Renaissance, the modern era also features constant technological change. Looking to da Vinci's approach to life and careers provides guidance on managing change creatively. Ultimately, da Vinci serves as a model of the heights the human spirit can reach.
Everyone has an innate sense of curiosity, but developing this trait over an entire career requires continually asking great questions and intensely searching for the answers. Curiosity is an intense desire to learn more – an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It functions by seeking answers to questions. Therefore, expanding curiosity relies on formulating good questions. In fact, history's greatest minds always pursued profound questions. A great question precisely targets the heart of a vital issue. How can curiosity be refined while formulating such great questions? Leonardo da Vinci's example suggests practical steps: Keep a journal or notebook. Da Vinci produced around 7,000 pages of notes during his lifetime, likely only half his actual output. He jotted down ideas, thoughts, sketches and impressions as they occurred. In November 1994, Bill Gates purchased 18 sheets of da Vinci's notebooks for $30.8 million. These included original concepts for a flying machine, helicopter, parachute, extendible ladder, three-speed gear shift, bicycle, adjustable spanners, snorkel, hydraulic jacks, canal locks, folding furniture, water-powered alarm clock and revolving stage. Use questions to structure thinking. Try listing 100 questions most important to you in one sitting. Identify themes in this list. What do most questions actually concern? Now rank your 10 most important questions by relevance to your quality of life. Sample questions: Which activities best express my natural character? What could I start or stop today that would most improve my life? What is my greatest talent? How can I get paid for what I love? Who inspires me most? How can I best serve others? What does my heart most desire? How do various people perceive me? What blessings do I have? What legacy would I most wish to leave? Next, develop 10 career or professional questions. Don't hesitate to ask simple yet profound questions: When did this issue start? Who is affected? How does this occur from different viewpoints? Where else does this happen? Why does this matter and to whom? Work on a theme. Pick a daily theme and record related observations and thoughts in your notebook. Reward yourself suitably. Set aside contemplation time. Busy schedules leave little space for reflection on what we should do. Offset this by dedicating quality solo contemplation periods with just you and your notebook. Set a daily goal. Try stream of consciousness writing. Spend 10 focused minutes writing down every thought on a topic without stopping to censor. This might produce some nonsense but could also yield profound insights. Da Vinci's life entailed constant creative problem-solving with great originality based on intense curiosity and an open mind posing questions from different angles. He always prioritized the right question over the right answer to the wrong one. Most business inventions spring from "What if?" questions. Silicon Valley's multi-billion dollar economy largely stemmed from, "What if we shrunk computer chips?" Rebate sales incentives were inspired by, "What if we paid customers to buy?" What if questions stimulate imagination and perspective. Consider any product or service and ask what if I: shrunk/enlarged it, changed its shape/weight/density, reversed/tightened/loosened it, added/subtracted something, interchanged parts, operated 24/7, guaranteed it, renamed it, made it recyclable/stronger/weaker/softer/harder/portable/immovable, doubled the price or paid customers to take it? The happiest people wonder, "What if I could get paid for my passions?" "I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand. These questions and other strange phenomena engage my thought throughout my life." - Leonardo da Vinci "Undoubtedly the most curious man who ever lived. He wouldn’t take Yes for an answer." - Kenneth Clark on Leonardo da Vinci
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