“A man can be looked upon as truly great, when he is no longer compared to anyone else.”
Without question, he was one of the most brilliant visionaries of his time. He was incredibly gifted in many arts and given to genius level insight in matters of math, science and engineering. Yet he wrote in his journal, “I have offended God and mankind because my work didn’t reach the quality it should have.” His name was Leonardo da Vinci.
In another self-admission he wrote, “I have wasted my hours.”
Born April 15, 1452, in Florence, Italy, da Vinci lived 67 years. Few would assess his accomplishments as anything other than greatness of the highest magnitude. Yet da Vinci felt that his work fell short of Divine expectations and societal approval. While his portfolio was overwhelmingly impressive, in his mind it was always one project shy of acceptable.
Finding a measure of success, small or great, after striving for a period of time against various levels of difficulty can be euphoric. It brings with it reasons to rejoice and should be celebrated. But, it also brings entrapments that can lead to setbacks and downward spirals.
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The Take-Away
Success can make you Lazy
In the late 60’s Eastern Airlines built their marketing pitch around the catch phrase, “We’ll be your wings.” In the early 70’s the company combated a lackadaisical, carefree pop-culture swoon by announcing that they were making their vast employee base part owners in the company and launching their new slogan, “We earn our wings every day.”
Success can make you Over Confident
Thomas Edison said, “The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.” I find it interesting that Edison didn’t say the failing person couldn’t do those things, only that they really didn’t like doing them. Just because you’ve arrived, doesn’t mean that consistent hard work is no longer required.
Success can make you Careless
In 1989 DC Comics signed off on the production of a series of movies, featuring their ever popular creation: Batman. Tim Burton directed. Michael Keaton was an amazingly dapper Bruce Wayne and mysterious Batman. Jack Nicholson won acclaim for his role as the arch-villain, Joker. The solid script and quality cast was a hit at the box office. The movie was followed in 1992 by Batman Returns. Tim Burton and Michael Keaton returned as well. Joined by Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer, the movie theme once again drew an audience.
Sequels: Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) played out with shoddy scripts, poor direction and actors who most likely wish they had skipped the opportunity. Both films soundly bombed at the box office. The writers and producers had gotten careless with the storyline and development of characters. Comic Book success became comical flop.
In 2005, Director Christopher Nolan took over the storyline with Batman Begins. Deep character development was revived with the help of Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. In 2008 the late Heath Ledger played mind games with a riveted audience with a masterful portrayal of a psychotic Joker in The Dark Knight. The detail that led to the original success had returned, and success followed closely on its heel.
Success can make you Despondent
It is said that once Alexander the Great had achieved ruler ship over the ancient world he often wept bitterly and wrestled with depression. It seems that he no longer felt a dynamic sense of purpose when there were no battles left to fight and no worlds left to conquer. In his later years he is attributed with the quote: “A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient.”
Is that all? Is that all there is? Sometimes success can do that.
So what then of our dear, underachieving Leonardo? His final assessment:
“You can have no dominion greater or less
than that over yourself.”
Originally posted on January 30, 2011
Shared as a “Way Back When’s Day” flashback on January 4, 2012
It is true that sometimes when one reaches their idea of true success, they feel they have achieved…but they really have only just begun. Love this info!
What’s the old saying regarding getting to the next rung on the ladder and maintaining your hunger?
Congrats on in this article! Thank you for sharing and preparing this post!
This song shares a similar sentiment….by the Goo Goo Dolls.
http://youtu.be/3oF0iY0z_Bs
I am a fan of the Goo Goo Dolls and know that they found the largest commercial success with songs they did not have much prior experience. Their initial giant successes were NOT songs they normally played or listened to and created challenges for them personally.
Artists are forced to deal with this issue of commercial success and self constantly in the creation of their work. Interesting.
Tim
Thanks Tim!
I think you’ve given a great example with the Goo Goo Dolls and how artists struggle to remain true to their own inner voice when trying to keep pace with past accolades.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.