The Secret to Michelangelo's Success: Taking Risks and Pursuing Mastery

Day -????Transformational Tuesday

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni is widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time, known for his masterpieces such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David. However, his journey to becoming a renowned artist was not an easy one. In the latest book "10x is Easier than 2x" by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan from the Strategic Coach, Michelangelo's story is highlighted as an example of how persistence, discipline, and a willingness to push past one's limits can lead to exceptional results. While the book (which is a must read) provides many more insights, this article explores Michelangelo's life and artistic achievements, and how his story can inspire us to strive for greatness in our own lives.

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?Did you know that at the age of 17 Michelangelo was desperate to learn anatomy, which was essential to his aim of creating life-sized, three-dimensional sculptures??He?became fixated with secretly obtaining and dissecting human cadavers? This was during a time when "violating a corpse" was a crime punishable by death in Florence, Italy, in 1493.

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He had just begun working on his first major project with a professional mindset, and he was no longer thinking or operating like a novice or an amateur. To achieve the level of mastery he desired, he knew he had to take risks and pursue his dream, no matter the consequences.

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Michelangelo is a perfect example of how a 10x mindset can transform one's life. Michelangelo's journey continued at the age of 21 when he moved to Rome and started working on his ambitious projects. One of his first projects, a Bacchus statue, was purchased by a wealthy banker who helped Michelangelo to get his next commission - carving a Pietà statue for St. Peter's Cathedral.

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Michelangelo wanted his Pietà to be perfect and unique, and he achieved this by depicting Mary, not Jesus, as the central figure. Mary was portrayed as a young and radiant virgin mother, mourning over her dead son. The beautiful body of Christ, mostly exposed, displayed Michelangelo's hard-earned mastery of human anatomy.

Michelangelo's skills, creativity, and confidence skyrocketed following the completion of the Pietà. He then began working on his next 10x jump, which was completing the David statue, a 17-foot marble statue that had been abandoned for over 40 years. Michelangelo saw it as a huge opportunity and convinced the Overseers of the Office of Works of Florence Cathedral that he was the sculptor to complete the David.

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Unlike the other David sculptures of his era, Michelangelo chose to depict David just before his great victory over the giant Goliath. He portrayed David with his left hand over his shoulder, holding his sling, and his right hand down by his side, holding a stone. David's face expressed apprehension yet resolution.

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For nearly three years, Michelangelo pored over David, and the final result was a masterpiece. David was immediately recognized as one of the greatest artistic masterpieces of all time, and Michelangelo's fame and reputation skyrocketed. David became the symbol of Florentine independence and liberty, renewing Florence's courage and pride.

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Michelangelo's journey is a perfect example of how taking risks and pursuing mastery?while adopting a 10x mindset can transform your life. We must be willing to go outside our comfort zones, take calculated risks, and do whatever it takes to achieve the level of mastery we desire. With the completion of the David, Michelangelo was not the same man who had left his hometown three years earlier. His confidence and skills had grown exponentially, and his works were an entirely different caliber of quality, depth, and impact. Remember, the road to success is not easy, but with a 10x mindset, it is always worth it.

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Throughout his life, Michelangelo continued to take on projects far beyond—impossibly beyond—his skill level. As Irving Stone writes in his book, "The Agony and the Ecstasy," Michelangelo's integrity as a man and an artist was the rock on which his life was built. He never compromised with quality and always gave the exhausting best of himself.?Remember, a sculptor has the power to transform a block of marble into a masterpiece. Similarly, in life, we also have the power to shape our own lives and transform them into a work of art.

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Michelangelo's approach embodies the 10x mindset, which is about living based on the most intrinsic and exciting future you can imagine. It means simplifying your focus down to the core essential and then removing everything else, as Steve Jobs did when designing the iPod. Going 10x is not about quantity, but quality. It's about achieving a qualitative difference from before and after, a wholesale innovation and upgrade.

Yet, most people are afraid to commit fully to the 10x process because it inevitably requires letting go of your current identity, circumstances, and comfort zone. As Leonardo DiCaprio said, "Every next level of your life will require a different you." But what got you here won't get you there.

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Many people reach for just a little bit more—a promotion, a little more money, a new personal record. Going for incremental progress is a 2x mindset, which is exhausting and soul-defeating. It means you're letting the past dictate what you do and how you do it. You're striving to double output by doubling effort, doing more of the same, just faster and harder. But you can't work 10x harder or longer to achieve the 10x goal.

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Just as Michelangelo had to have a clear vision and plan for his sculpture before he began chiseling away, we too must have a clear vision and plan for our lives. We need to identify our goals and map out a plan to achieve them.

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Going 10x is seemingly impossible and immediately forces you out of your current mindset and approach. It's a qualitative difference that requires wholesale innovation and upgrade. It is about starting with a 10x vision of the future and letting that shape the present. And it's simpler, easier, and better than you've been taught.

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So, whether it's improving your health, advancing in your career, or strengthening your relationships, remember that you have the power to shape your life into a work of art. By adopting the mindset of a sculptor and embracing the principles outlined in "10x is Easier Than 2x," you can achieve extraordinary results and transform your life in ways you never thought possible.

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So, what's holding you back from going 10x? Are you ready to remove everything that is not you and achieve a godly level of mastery and expression?

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?? Reflection Questions

• Here are some reflection questions to help you embrace the idea of mastery and working towards 10x in your own leadership journey:

• What are some areas in your life where you have settled for 2x results instead of striving for 10x results?
• In what ways can you use your unique strengths and talents to create something truly exceptional and achieve 10x results in your work or personal life??
• What do you need to strip away to create your 10x vision of your future self?
• What are some potential obstacles or challenges you may face while pursuing 10x results, and how can you prepare yourself for them?

??Look forward to helping you build the confidence and skills to excel as a leader.

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P.S.?I’d invite you to view this powerful video from Dr. Benjamin Hardy - Psychologist Explains Michelangelo's "Secret" Create the David Statue??Also, check out his forthcoming book with Dan Sullivan,?10x is Easier than 2x: How World Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less. This is a must read not only for Entrepreneurs but anyone looking to create a masterpiece of their life!

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