Inside the Mind of a Genius

Greetings.  If you're planning to be anywhere near Philadelphia during the next three and a half months, you might really enjoy the Franklin Institute's latest show on the life and genius of Leonardo da Vinci.  It's titled "Leonard da Vinci's Workshop" and it opens this Saturday, February 5th.  The exhibit, developed in Milan, Italy, by a team of scholars, engineers and designers, uses full-size three-dimensional models to bring some of his most remarkable ideas to life.  Included are his "Aerial Screw"–a predecessor to the helicopter, "Great Kite," "Mechanical Lion," "Harpsicord-Viola," and "Self-Propelled Cart."  You'll also be able to see and explore Leonardo's "Codices" (manuscripts and drawings) detailing human anatomy, all aspects of flight as well as designs for a submarine and hundreds of other machines that were centuries ahead of their time.  And, you'll even gain new insight about one of his most famous paintings–The Last Supper.   

Widely viewed as the most brilliant mind of the Renaissance, da Vinci's was not only a scientist and inventor, but also a renowned artist.  In fact, the very notion of someone being a "Renaissance" person–i.e., someone who has great interest and talent in many disciplines–is probably tied to our sense of Leonardo.  And he was also a great singer, exceptionally strong and fit, and a devout vegetarian.  But most importantly, his sense of curiosity, vision and creativity will astound you even 600 years after his death.  In the process, you're likely to find fertile ground for letting your own imagination and genius take flight.

So find a way to the center of Philadelphia some time between now and May 22nd. And if you can't get there, plan to visit your nearest science museum to discover a world filled with ideas and possibilities.  Or get lost in one of many great books about the curious mind of Leonardo da Vinci.

We win in business and in life when we never stop imagining a world filled with possibilities.  And when we are slightly or sometimes wildly ahead of our time.

Cheers!