Legend tells us that when the 29 year old Michelangelo was asked how he sculpted his exquisite David, he replied, “I removed everything that wasn’t David.”
For that, Michelangelo had to see the perfection of David within the marble.
Did you know that there were two other renowned Italian artists of the era that were commissioned to complete the David before Michelangelo?
They barely started the work. They complained about the marble. It had too many flaws. It wasn’t perfect enough. It wouldn’t hold up. The David was unveiled in 1504.
Our own authenticity comes from chipping away everything that is not us.
Then what about us as leaders, coaches, mentors or co-workers? Do we see the other person as they can be – to realize the highest and most perfect vision of them?
What if our workplace becomes a center of immense harmony and excellence because the potential of ourselves and others is consistently realized and upheld? What might that create?
“When all was finished, it cannot be denied that this work has carried off the palm from all other statues, modern or ancient, Greek or Latin; no other artwork is equal to it in any respect, with such just proportion, beauty and excellence did Michelagnolo finish it”.
Giorgio Vasari, in 1550 about the marvel of one of the greatest masterpieces ever created by mankind.
http://www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-david/
Thank you to my coach, Don Giberson, for retelling this story to me.
