How You Can Think Like Leonardo da Vinci and Unlock Your Creative Potential

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Whenever I’m in a slump or needing an inspirational boost I turn to people who are smarter or more skilled than me for good advice.

I’ve done the same with qualities I’ve wanted to develop, like patience. “What would Mother Theresa do now?” I asked many years ago. Mother Theresa wouldn’t shout! She wouldn’t lose her cool. She’d send loving kindness and smile. And that’s what I did whenever I got frustrated.

Leonardo da Vinci was super smart! As I wrote The Art of Success: How Extraordinary Artists Can Help You Succeed in Business and Life, I applied the strategies I’m sharing with you to help me finish this book and make progress with my historical novel, Mona Lisa’s Secret.

If you’ve been procrastinating, experiencing self-doubt, feeling fearful, or just getting in your own way, you’re in good company, Leonardo’s been there. I’ve been there too—as have many successful people. Guess what, getting in your own way is normal!

I promise there are solutions to the problems you’re currently facing—and you’ll find them in the pages of this book.

Dig into The Art of Success and let Leonardo da Vinci be your mentor, inspiration, and guide as he calls forth your passions, purpose and potential.

Through the teachings of Leonardo, extensive research into the mysteries of motivation, success, and fulfillment, and my own personal experience and professional success with clients as a holistic psychologist, The Art of Success will help you accelerate success. Together, Leonardo and I will guide you to where you need to go next and give you practical steps to achieve success.

I was once told that I had the soul of an artist. Actively discouraged in childhood, for a long time, I’d closed off that side of me. I began my career as a bank teller, then as an accountant, then as a recruitment consultant, and later pursued more ‘business-minded’ careers. I even spent time in prison—on a work assignment.

Each time, I went further and further away from who I truly was and the things that gave me joy. Leonardo was luckier—he was encouraged to pursue his natural inclination. My hope is that after reading The Art of Success you will too.

Whether your calling is the world of commerce or seeking answers in the stars, it’s never too late to be yourself.

Step into this ride joyfully and start creating your best life today.

Here are just a few of Leonardo’s success strategies:

THE POWER OF PASSION

If there’s no love, what then?

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Without love, you don’t have energy. Without energy, you have nothing.

When people pursue something they are passionate about, their drive and determination are boundless. They become like pieces of elastic, able to stretch to anything and accommodate any setback. People immobilized by fear and passivity snap like a twig. They lack resilience.

Passion gives people a reason for living and the confidence and drive to pursue their dreams. Leonardo was a man of many loves and deep obsessions. These passions imbued him with infinite energy—powering his creativity, courage, resolve, and tenacity.

As Leonardo once said, “No labor is sufficient to tire me”. Even when he was exhausted by life, his passion sustained him.

Your Challenge

What will passion do for you?

The really important stuff is not in my résumé. It’s what has gone on almost unnoticed in the secret chambers of the heart

~ Isabel Allende, author

YOUR SOUL’S DESIRE

Men who desire nothing but material riches are absolutely devoid of that wisdom which is the food and the only true riches of the mind. So much worthier is the soul than the body, so much nobler are the possessions of the soul than those of the body

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo described himself as an inventor—it was fundamental to his success. He was a visionary, always searching to understand what was and what could be. In his quest to create and invent, he sought knowledge and wisdom above all else. He sought to fill his soul, and he sought to be of service to the world, advancing science and other realms in the process.

Acquiring material riches wasn’t high on his list of priorities. In life as in chess, forethought wins. Decide what you really want, what you are prepared to give up for it, and what your priorities will be.

Your Challenge

If you’re struggling to clarify what you really want, notice the times when your soul comes alive. Notice what excites and interests you, and keep these clues to passion in an inspirational journal.

Passion, love, bliss, or joy—whatever name it goes by—is hard to define but easy to see and feel. Your body will change quickly when the richness of your soul finds you.

Here are just a few of her clues:

A burning desire, hunger, sense of excitement or feeling of inspiration
A state of arousal—a racing heart, light-headedness, sweaty palms, butterflies, breathlessness
A feeling of limitless energy
A clarity of vision
A sense of purpose and caring deeply
A feeling of contentment

I don’t believe you can ever really cook unless you love eating

~ Nigella Lawson, celebrity chef

LEAD DON’T FOLLOW

Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo combined what he loved with his vision and talent for fulfilling future needs. The threat of war made him design things that would protect cities. The desire for faster travel propelled his quest to find a way for man to fly. Illness and death drove him to understand the human body.

He once said, “The painter will produce pictures of little merit if he takes the works of others as his standard.”

His creations were original, and many artists of the time copied him—including Raphael. Many of Leonardo’s designs were spectacularly ahead of his time. So many of his ideas were impossible to build during the 15th and 16th centuries with the tools available and Leonardo’s financial constraints. However, 500-plus years later, he’s still regarded as a leader.

Your Challenge

Don’t chase the market. Create a need, or fulfil anticipated ones. Don’t be deterred if at first you don’t succeed. Do what you dream about and wait for the world to catch up. No one really knows what, or who, be the next hot thing.

Persevere with your vision. Let the beauty and imagineering you love be the work that you do. Cocoon yourself in the protective magic and power of creative, lateral, blue-skies thinking. Read and learn about other leaders and pioneers. And become the lead character in your own book of life.

You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your own legend, or not

~ Isabel Allende, author

This is an edited extract from The Art of Success: How Extraordinary Artists Can Help You Succeed in Business and Life (Book One: Leonardo da Vinci) by Cassandra Gaisford.

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Reader Reviews

a delightful guide with simple, life-affirming messages

“This book is a work of art. Art with words. The headings alone got me all jazzed up. The author is a word artist in the best possible way. This is a delightful guide with simple, life-affirming messages that will help anyone succeed in business and in life. I was down in the dumps about something in my life and reading just a few pages of this book lifted me completely out of it. LOVE it!”

~ Amazon Review

This is a brilliant, inspiring resource that you can pick up when you need some encouragement.

“This book is indeed like a shot of espresso… a brilliant, inspiring resource that you can pick up when you need some encouragement to keep you moving forward on your journey to success!”

Mary Buckham, USA Today Best-Selling Author and Writing Coach

challenge the way you think about success

The Art of Success will challenge the way you think about success and broaden your mind to a holistic perspective on achievement
Olivia Gamber, Occupational Psychologist

this beautiful book wraps art around business and life and makes each hum with energy and creativity

“This beautiful book wraps art around business and life and makes each hum with energy and creativity and brings the reader new vitality. This little book is a gem to have in the office and the home bookcase, and for me, because it is so beautiful, I will have it in my handbag – always at hand and safe in the knowledge that wisdom, plain good business sense and creativity are close at hand. ”

Catherine Sloan, Therapist