Word is that Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other. All at the same time.

Productivity gurus fawn over this piece of historical trivia. They tell us that thanks to this type of "balancing act," da Vinci was the first real multi-tasker in history. Could be, but doubtful.

Yet, if someone asks you if you're a good multi-tasker, please say no. If for no other reason than that it's true. Humans aren't good at multitasking.

Comes the refrain: "But Leonardo…"

Tell these people to stuff it. Sure, we can all walk and chew gum at the same time. I've seen big leaguers blow a bubble of Big League Chew and hit a dinger at the same time. Complex and remarkably "satisfying," but not a multi-task.

What about driving and listening to music? Okay, I may give you that one. Super difficult…

Our modern-day talent show feats aside, we can all probably stipulate that da Vinci was multi-talented. It takes talent to write and draw at the same time. It's a little more advanced than patting your head and rubbing your tummy.

But still…

Leonardo needed time to paint. He needed time to invent.

Rumor has it that he invented scissors. Guaranteed he wasn't painting the Mona Lisa at the same time.

The point is, da Vinci didn't do all these things at once. He did a lot of things, but he made time for them. Little by little, he completed masterpieces and finalized inventions.

A great deal of his art and science, though, he left unfinished. Watch the great documentary Hudson Hawk with Bruce Willis for more on that front.

Dedicate your time. Create forward motion. Build momentum.

As the Sage of Wapato once implored me, "Keep going!"

As for balance? ... well, balance is either a fallacy or a myth. I haven't figured that out yet.

By the way, it took Leonardo da Vinci 10 years just to paint Mona Lisa's lips.

As always,

Brian

P.S. — As part of the drive to get more subscribers to our YouTube, three more people subscribed yesterday.  "Baby Steps" as Dr. Leo Marvin might say.

I told my 6-year old son, the one who is encouraging me to up the subscriber count, how successful I'd been since yesterday's email.

He was intrigued.

"Did you improve the content?"

"No, I just asked people to subscribe."

"Well, do it again. You need more subscribers … Have you created anything lately?"

"No."

"That's okay... we need merch. Shirts and hoodies and stuff. I can write you a tutorial if you need."

Out of the mouths of babes…

Challenge accepted.

To start the ball rolling, how about a trailer for one of the last podcasts we released, an interview with Henry Bingaman? For more on Henry and his story:

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