"Sculptor Vs. Painter: A Framework for Learning, Leadership, and Success. Let's Explore!

In the creative journey, we can draw parallels between being a painter and a sculptor.

Painting, an additive process, begins with a blank canvas, and every brushstroke and layer of paint contributes to the final masterpiece.

It represents the early stages of our learning journey, where we start with a clean slate and gradually add new skills and knowledge to our repertoire.

On the other hand, sculpting is a subtractive process. Imagine starting with a block of stone and chipping away at it until you unveil the hidden beauty within.

As Michelangelo eloquently put it, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set her free."

The transition from painter to sculptor is the most difficult part.

Some need to control everything and micromanage and that is the equivalent of holding on to the original marble block.

You become more efficient by cutting things away and entrusting them to other people.  Otherwise, you cannot let go of things, you were never going to get any deeper than starting block of marble.

Leaders have the courage to cut deeper than others and carve it out and be comfortable with it.

We all have to be lifelong painters and sculptors but the ability to pivot between painter and sculptor at will is key to sustainable success and happiness.

What do you think?

Take it easy until next time.

"Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind."

- Leonardo da Vinci (Master painter and Sculptor)

Note: Views are personal and certainly not investment advice.

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I have written about the Michelangelo story before, the painter analogy credit goes to Chris Paik.

Image credit: The Knowledge Archivist.

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