Can you be a Genius?

What is a Genius?

Thanks to the FT this week for reminding me about a great book - on how to be a Genius. Or, how to be more like Leonardo da Vinci.

Now Genius, is one of the classic Brand archetypes. This is where a product or service shows the characteristics of a person. Examples of a Genius archetype might be:

• Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard universities,
• Stephen Hawking (yes he's a Brand, think of all the books and documentaries he's published),
• Reuters News Agency
• Dyson, the inventor & entrepreneur
• Dr Brian Cox, the broadcaster and scientist

What made Leonardo a genius?

The book - How to think like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael Gelb - identifies seven attributes of the Genius:

• Curiosity
• Commitment to test knowledge, admit mistakes
• Saturates the senses with beauty
• Embraces ambiguity
• Sees art and science as two sides of the same coin
• Cultivates grace
• See connections everywhere between things

How do you score?

How many of these do you have?

Mmm, not that many. Nor me!

Never mind, keep plugging away at your strengths. As Thomas Alva Edison, the US inventor said, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."

Wow, let's hope we can sweat enough! Note the strangely Leonardo like device shown in the picture to keep you cool.

The original of this article appeared in Brand Thoughts - my weekly Newsletter about all things Branding. If you'd like to be one of the first to receive a copy, subscribe for free at www.livinginsidethebrand.com