Searching for the Leonardo in Each of Us

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I’m currently in the midst of Walter Isaacson’s fascinating new biography of Leonardo da Vinci and I’m truly enjoying learning about this genius of the ages, a man of innumerable talents and interests. Isaacson points out several of Leonardo’s characteristics that I think may be applicable, in varying degrees, to us mere mortals.

 

  • An unquenchable curiosity about the world. Leonardo was fascinated by everything, from human anatomy to the waves on the sea, and this curiosity led him to investigate every aspect of his world, both natural phenomena and things of human origin. He was an artist but also a scientist, and he felt it incredibly natural that these two disciplines should comprise and complement each other. We too should foster and expand our levels of curiosity, because that’s what ultimately drives learning, and creativity too. Just take a look at where Leonardo’s curiosity led him.

 

  • A supreme observer. Leonardo would observe seemingly simple activities with incredible attention to detail, and make extensive notes for further thought and analysis. Isaacson cites the example of Leonardo’s notes about a bird in flight, and how Leonardo recorded in his notebooks detailed accounts of a bird’s flight, from the flapping of the wings to gain forward thrust to the delicate maneuvers made at landing. Such observations skills would suit us well today when we tend to take so much for granted.

 

  • An infusion of creativity and fantasy with reality. Isaacson points out how fantasy is evident in many of Leonardo’s painting, especially in his paintings with outdoors backgrounds that depict gardens and scenery of almost unworldly beauty. I find it interesting how this same sort of reality/imagination blending is happening today in virtual and augmented reality applications. Leonardo was obviously ahead of his time; almost 500 years ahead it would seem.

 

The other thing I’m gaining from the book is a sense of Leonardo’s humanness and accompanying shortcomings.   He was perfectionist to the point of counter-productivity,  (Did you ever meet someone like that? I have.) constantly reworking his paintings and ideas for years at a time, never satisfied that they were done. He spent years working out the design and casting of a monumental equestrian bronze for one of his clients and the project never proceeded past the clay model stage (that model was unfortunately used for target practice by some rowdy soldiers and was destroyed). Several of his other paintings were left unfinished, and the number of paintings definitely attributed to him is a meager 20 or so, (which nonetheless earned him his place as one of the greatest painters of all time).   Leonardo also tended to procrastinate (at least I have one attribute in common with him) and he had a tendency not to finish what he started. I reckon that when someone has so many interests it’s impossible to maintain focus on any one thing for long before moving on to something else.

 

We all can’t be a Leonardo da Vinci, in fact none of us can. But we can certainly take some of Leonardo’s admirable qualities of unbounded curiosity, keen observation, and a creative approach to reality to make our world a better and more satisfying place. I’d be interested in your thoughts along these lines, especially if you’re reading Isaacson’s book right now like I am.

 

RB

Please Don’t Lance the Freelancer!

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Someone once told me that freelancers are so-called because they usually wind up working for free and they’re often “lanced” by clients for reasons beyond their control. From my experience as a freelancer that might be an exaggeration, but there are some elements of truth in there.   Perhaps if people hiring freelancers better understood what it’s like to be a part of the “gig economy” they might treat us freelancers with a bit more respect, empathy, and consideration. Here are a few of my suggestions in that vein.

  1. Yes, we do tend to charge more than your staff person for similar work. But remember you don’t have to pay our benefits or salary when we’re not needed. When you hire a freelancer you’re not only paying for their expertise and experience, but also for the cost-saving flexibility that comes with hiring someone on an as-needed basis. When the job’s done, the clock stops. So please don’t criticize or resent our higher rates. It’s necessary if we’re to make a living.
  1. RSVP. I’m often presented with tight deadlines on writing projects that I work hard to meet. Then, after sending off the draft, weeks can go by without any client feedback. I know that everyone is overloaded these days, but please respond to work in a timely manner so the freelancer knows how he or she is doing and when to expect the project to wrap.
  1. Timely payment is always appreciated, and necessary. When you’re freelancing you don’t have a weekly or bi-weekly paycheck. Cash flow is always a challenge so please pay in a reasonable and timely manner (say net 15 days for established clients).
  1. Communication is key. Tell us what you like, what you expect, what you need, and we’ll work to satisfy those objectives. The more you can tell a freelancer and the better you communicate with that person, the better the outcome. Honesty is always appreciated too. Phrases like “I think this is a good start,” or “I can see you put a lot of work into this” usually mean that things aren’t going well. Just tell it like it is.
  1. Consider the value of cultivating and training your freelancer team. The more we know about your company, products, and culture, the more effective we’ll be on current or future projects. Consider investing in your freelance pool and you’ll reap significant returns in the long run.
  1. Help us market our services via referrals, bon mots on Linkedin, Yelp, and similar sites, and website testimonials. Referrals and networking are essential to growing a freelance business, and if you’re happy with a freelancer’s work, please help that person with a complimentary review or testimonial statement. As a freelancer I deeply appreciate all positive referrals, and it’s good business for you too because I’m inclined to say positive things about you and recommend your firm.
  1. Don’t micro-manage. If your underlying feeling is that it can’t possibly be any good unless you do it yourself, then it makes little sense to hire a freelancer, or even assign a task to a staff person. Just do the work yourself and everyone will be happier.

Over 40 million workers in this country are part of the “gig economy,” and that number will only grow as the economy hims and haws through boom and recession. I’m happy to be a freelancer and the only thing that makes me happier is plunging headfirst, full-steam-ahead, into your next project.

RB