Expanding Inputs for Expansive Outputs

Oct 26, 2023

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Leonardo da Vinci didn't just paint. He wasn't just an engineer. He was a renaissance man in the truest sense.

But what does a 15th-century polymath have to do with today's entrepreneurial landscape?

Everything.

Leonardo didn’t just absorb facts. He collected puzzle pieces.

Art. Engineering. Anatomy. Astronomy. Botany. Geology.

Each, a different domain. Each, a piece of the puzzle. Together, they formed masterpieces like the Mona Lisa or the Vitruvian Man.

In our hyper-specialized world, this might seem counterintuitive.

We are often told: "Focus on one thing. Be the best at it."

But here's a thought: What if expanding our inputs is the key to expanding our impact?

Think about a puzzle. With more pieces, the picture gets more complex, more intricate, more fascinating.

That’s how creativity works.

It’s not a limited resource. It’s not just a series of facts. It's an ecosystem of ideas, experiences, and knowledge.

When we silo ourselves, we limit our pieces. When we broaden our horizons, we collect more.

A tech entrepreneur understanding behavioral psychology. A marketer delving into data science. An artist exploring technology.

Unexpected combinations. Unanticipated solutions.

Steve Jobs once said, "Creativity is just connecting things."

He connected calligraphy with computing. The result? The Mac's revolutionary typography.

So, here’s the modern-day challenge:

Don't just be a specialist. Be a polymath in training.

Collect puzzle pieces from everywhere. A book on philosophy. A course in coding. A podcast on ancient history.

You might find that the solution to a complex problem lies in the knowledge gleaned from a seemingly unrelated field.

And remember, it’s not just about hoarding these pieces. It's about seeing the connections, making the links.

Leonardo da Vinci didn't just accumulate knowledge; He wove it together into a tapestry of brilliance.

That’s your task.

Expand your inputs. Interconnect your knowledge. Watch as your outputs — your ideas, your solutions, your impact — grow exponentially.

Be like da Vinci. Your Mona Lisa awaits.

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