Extended Renaissance

Legend has it that Michelangelo, the Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect and engineer, was commissioned to build a tomb for the newly elected Pope in Rome, the most powerful man in Europe of the times. The Pope was known to be a micro-manager and a man with a strong opinion on everything. Michelangelo went about the arduous process of managing his client with constant interruption and interference by the Pope himself.

As a matter of fact some would even go as far to say that, Michelangelo’s tenacity to deliver his creative vision, despite the Pope's constant meddling, made him worthy of his status as a genius, after all its not easy to have the Church for a primary client .

And so for those of you who think Customer Relationship management is a modern day management function would be relieved to know that managing customers is as relevant today as it was during the period of Renaissance. They could make or break your business in the 15th century and customers still hold the same power in the 21st.

Bench-marking and competition are factors that are underestimated in the history of art or rather even under-reported, probably owing to the lack of social media reporting! Between the 15th and 16th centuries, judging by the number of paintings and sculptures, my over-awed senses likes to believe that every other house must have had a hopeful artist or a genius in the making.

It was not only the gladiators who faced death but also the art contests could be visceral and deadly. Even the art critics would tend to talk in milder terms regarding shared styles and the social and environmental influences. Some of the historical battles during the Renaissance were on the walls of famous building like The Battle of Anghiari https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Anghiari_(painting) where the two master artists were pitted against each other on opposite walls.

In the present times, we may equate such a competitive scenario where two promising individuals are at each other's throat because there is space for only one at the top. If two extremely gifted minds of the Renaissance era are known to be consumed with envy in relation to the other's talent, the professional in today's day and age, is merely giving in to a basic human reflex out of fear of losing the much-coveted reward of having his name on the corner office. 

It seems from historical snippets I read on the internet, there was the greatest disdain between the two Florentine masters of art, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo is believed to be a secretive and psychotic competitor when it came to da Vinci. Thus we find no mention of da Vinci and his work in his authorised biography - The Life of Michelangelo. To many Michelangelo appeared to be jealous of his more celebrated adversary who was a supreme artist himself, was the life of a party and had a lot of goodwill in the upper echelons of the society.  

As we have progressed in terms of technology and industrial development, our emotional as well as rational conduct at the place of work are triggered by all the basic human emotions and reflexive reactions to our work pressure and social environment as was faced by the greatest minds of Renaissance. Both had issues with completing their paintings. Both had several instances of leaving projects mid-way and without any apology to those who commissioned them. In today's day and age,leaving big projects mid-way may even finish your career (with or without apology), the professionals would call it behaviour unbecoming of a true professional destined for great fame and success. 

Be that as it may, it is only by walking on the path of rediscovery of critical thought, logic based reasoning, experimentation, observation and analysis can there be an enlightened understanding of human behavior. Reading and talking about these perceived emotions may not cover the myriad emotions when such situations are faced as people even today respond to external stimulus in no different ways than what they did centuries ago.

Michelangelo depicted God separating light from darkness with his hands on the Sistine Chapel and all his detractors had to point was about the excess of nudity on the holy walls of their Chapel. In the present times, a harrowed professional is one who faces detractors who would prefer to gossip about the person's lack of talent or even good luck and not hard work, or if its a woman, such rumors of favors may even reach unbelievable proportions.

While there would be many detractors while one is climbing the corporate ladder, believing in one's own worth, rising above the occasional disappointment and sometimes even losing one's focus is a part and parcel of this ever evolving journey. Getting over the imaginary boundaries created by doubts, inadequacies and mistrust is easier said than done but great things await those who surpass such barriers.

After several rounds of disheartening interview or audition results, just when one is about to quit upon a long unrealized dream may one land into his or her dream project. After all it was a small side project assigned to Michelangelo that ended up becoming as one of the greatest works of art ever created - the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

One needs to believe that though centuries have passed, people have changed but the essential human character remains the same. While we need to condition ourselves and control our thoughts and emotions, learn from the virtues and fallacies of these legendary icons, hope and faith continue to rule in the minds of those who carry the courage to commit and have great passion for their mission and hold impossible dreams in their heart.