Why Michelangelo Didn't Think Small

Masterpiece Makers,

You may know Michelangelo for his legendary works, like the Sistine Chapel, but to become the artist and sculptor he was, Michelangelo had to embody a different way of thinking: the 10x principle. 

This week’s newsletter dives into the benefits we can gain from embodying this 10x principle, with Michelangelo as our case study.

The 10x Principle in Action

Back in the 15th century, people started working young.

Having already completed his apprenticeship, a 17-year-old Michelangelo set a huge goal for himself: to sculpt a life-sized version of Hercules that truly captured the human form.

This was a remarkable act of ambition for two reasons:

• It was highly uncommon for a sculptor to self-commission a project.

• He had only ever sculpted a statue out of snow before.

Michelangelo spent most of his apprenticeship savings on an 8-foot block of marble, demonstrating his commitment.

He was confident in his sculpting skills, but the lifelike quality was the biggest challenge.

To master it, he secretly performed personal dissections on cadavers at a local convent.

It was these self-driven anatomical studies that allowed him to portray the human form with perfect proportion and complex muscular forms.

As a result, Michelangelo's work was always revered for its lifelike quality.

On top of this, he built a reputation for astonishing accomplishments, culminating in people trusting him with increasingly larger projects, and eventually the Sistine Chapel.

Though the Hercules sculpture was sadly lost as it made its way to Francis I of France, we can still learn from the principles that guided its creation.

Three Lessons from Michelangelo

Michelangelo's story offers valuable insights. Here are three key principles we can draw from his example:

1. Constraint Theory

Our brains don't seem to recognise the difference between a 2x and a 10x goal.

Thinking big forces our minds to find innovative solutions that lead to masterpieces.

For Michelangelo, that meant sneaking into a convent.

The bigger the constraint, the more creative the solution.

2. Complementary Skill Stacking

We can make our work unique by bringing in knowledge from other areas.

Steve Jobs famously applied his calligraphy course knowledge to his work at Apple.

Similarly, great public speakers often take improvisation classes.

I've heard of runners who apply their knowledge of yoga to improve their form and prevent injuries .

You possess unique skills you may not even realise you have.

When you combine them, they make your craft special and give your work a unique edge.

3. Identity

When we pursue big goals, we begin to identify as someone who achieves them.

This identity shift impacts our sense of freedom, time, money, and purpose as we elevate ourselves to our next level.

I recommend that everyone gets good at something.

It doesn't matter what.

For me, it's running and public speaking.

For you, it might be something different.

Cultivating a feeling of competence has a powerful compounding effect across all areas of your life.

The Code: The 10x Spark

The 10x mindset starts with a single spark.

Think of it as a prompt.

Just like Michelangelo, who asked himself

“How can I sculpt a perfectly lifelike human form”

You too, can ask yourself a question that forces you to think bigger.

Here a 3 prompts to spark that 10x idea and unlock your creative brain:

• What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?

• What is the most audacious goal I could set for myself for the rest of the year?

• If I could 10x my output in one area, what would it be?

I answered this question myself.

The answer is: this. The newsletter and the content that I’m delivering.

I’ll share more on this further down the line!

Remember to pass it on and share these prompts with someone else.

We learn best when we share.

Your 10x Statue,

Dan x