Through his book, How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day, Michael Gelb shares 7 axioms that will tickle your brain, what he consistently calls the seven Da Vincian principles. Call them steps to genius. The 7 steps to genius prepare your brain to take on arduous tasks and great challenges more positively and with profound creativity. In the book, Michael, a creativity and leadership expert, attempts to spell out how-to-guides that Leonardo—an archetype of creativity and human potential, never put on paper. He codifies the principles that he believes are implicit in Leonardo’s work. He says, “I feel very strongly that the genius of Leonardo resides not just in what he created but in what he can inspire us to create. Beyond all his stellar achievements, Leonardo Da Vinci serves as a global archetype of human potential, giving us intimations of what we ourselves may be capable of doing.”

1. 7 Da Vincian
Principles
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Applying
to tickle your inner genius daily
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452
– 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath,
painter, sculptor, architect, musician,
mathematician, engineer, inventor,
anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist,
and writer. He is widely considered to be
one of the greatest painters of all time and
perhaps the most diversely talented person
ever to have lived.
#genius
#painter
#renaissance
#engineer
#cartographer
#rebel
#anatomist
hepracticed
7 Da Vincian Principles
Why should you think like him?
It’s a good question that comes with a good answer!
Because you can tickle your everyday genius using those
simple and effective techniques that are rooted in the age
of enlightenment.
1Curiosity—Curiosità
Leonardo Da Vinci, just like a child, was unimpeachably curious. He was curious about
everything, trying to associate truths and beauty. With the energy and receptivity of a child,
you will easily develop natural curiosity and probably reawaken your genius.
Independent Thinking
Dimostrazione
We experience the world
around us through the 5
senses: sight, smell, touch,
sound and taste. Continual
refinement of your senses
helps to clarify your
experiences.
Dolce far niente
–Sensazione
Learn to savour your
senses and to be a
good listener. Always
appreciate the beauty
around you by listening
to music, writing poetry,
appreciating art, or
thoughtfully tasting your
wine as you sip on it.
Embrace Ambiguity—Sfumato4
Treat stress as a catalyst. Often ambiguous,
stressful or even traumatic events can have a
lasting effect on an individual.
5
Whole-brain
Thinking–
Scienza
7
To see your genius, you must be of both
brains. This brings us to mind mapping, an
approach used to organise ideas using the 2
hemispheres of the brain by blending logic
and imagination.
Cultivate Grace,
Fitness, and Poise
Corporalita
The greatest sensations in our history did not only cultivate their genius but enjoyed a
resplendent physique as well. They took care of their mind-body connections and worked
intensely to develop “grace, fitness, and poise.”
6
Discover your Life’s Vane of
Connections—Connessione
In your creative process, always keep in mind that
everything is affiliated to another. Have a sketch of
your dream; dig into your goals, clarify core values,
assess reality, look out for connections, and
strategise wisely for change.
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2
remember this guy?
3
Dimostrazione refers to a personal
commitment to acquire knowledge out of
experience, pertinacity, and readiness to
learn from your mistakes.