Every so often I read something that changes the way I see the world.
It happened again this week.
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Leonardo
I’m reading Walter Isaacson’s wonderful biography of Leonardo Da Vinci.
I’ll admit, it’s my second attempt. The first time I lost interest in his early days.
The more I read, the more I appreciate his view of the world.
He found delight in the inner workings of everything around him. This incredible breadth of interests contributed to his painting.
The result?
He painted what is, to this day, the most revered painting in the world: the Mona Lisa.
However, it wasn’t his relentless curiosity that inspired me.
No, it was his perception of machines.
Useful
I’ve never thought much about machines.
Leonardo, on the other hand, was obsessed.
Two insights stood out:
The key purpose of machinery, then as now, is to harness energy and turn it into movements that accomplish useful tasks.
Man is a machine, a bird is a machine, the whole universe is a machine.
One can deduce, then, that: the key purpose of a human is to harness energy and turn it into movements that accomplish useful tasks.
Which brings me to Unplugged and 2020.
Expending Energy
I’ve expended a lot of energy launching Unplugged, as has Ben.
It’s easy to lose sight of what it’s all for.
Really, it’s to create value.
Simple.
What is he on about- I’m sure you’re thinking.
Bear with me.
What I realise is that all energy expended is not equal. It doesn’t create equal value.
I expend a whole lot of energy creating nothing of use.
We’re all busy these days. But what are we busy with?
Are we as machines “accomplishing useful tasks” or just operating for the sake of it?
Reading about Leonardo this week has helped me refocus on the purpose of my work- whether I’m creating something of value when working, or just working to fill the time.
It’s the latter far too often.
I suspect I’m not the only one guilty.
A final thought:
“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”
― Henry David Thoreau
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Have a wonderful week,
Hector Hughes
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