The Pit - IMI Trust

With all the popularity surrounded the Davinci Code, we thought this would be a post most would enjoy.

This has nothing to do with anything regarding the movie, but it is designed to guide you through what made Leonardo Da Vinci, a man that will be remembered throughout time.

I do not believe I have seen anyone refer to DaVinci as a businessman… and yet he was!

Leonardo was a genius in many different ways. He was an inventor, an artist, an exhibitionist, an engineer, a scientist and a brilliant sales person.

The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings on the planet, and is a priceless piece of art. There are so many things I could write about Leonardo Da Vinci, but I want to stick to his incredible ability to sell and market himself.

To fund his work, Leonard had to generate an income which would be able to pay for himself, his students and his side projects in which he would work on.

DaVinci knew exactly where to go! He went to the “Warloards” of his era and propositioned them. His idea was simple ‘Go where the money is!’ Now you may ask… how does an artist get a gig with power hungry and ruthless “warlord.”

One of his employers killed his own brother, committed incest with his sister and would regularly poison his dinner guests. A meal to savour to say the least! This man was the most hated, feared and envied man of his time and known for his blod thirsty mentality.

And beside him, working for him was one of histories greatest men. Imagine one of Adolf Hitlers artists being regarded, as one of the greatest that ever lived. This same man was that deluded, that he would hire historians to search his bloodline, to prove he was from the bloodline of the Gods.

Leonardo was smart… he knew what the “Warlords” valued and he gave it to them! Leonardo would not pitch them on his ability as a painter! No… He would pitch them on his ability to create War Weapons and then artwork which would appeal to their Vainity.

He was able to satisfy some very powerful motives! He was able to satisfy the desire for Power, Wealth, Social Status and through his art… their vainity.

He also created for his employer one of the most powerful tools he could ever offer a war lord. It was absolutely revolutionary for his day. This tool came in the form of a detailed and exact “MAP”. This gave his employer vision and power… and for Leonardo… it gave him money!

He would play stage manager and conductor to some of the greatest parties of his era. He became renowned throughout the wealthy and powerful as the master orchestrator of parties.

He moved to Venice… a city of new money at the time and also a city in crisis.

Leonardo used this opportunity to sell his invention (the idea of an underwater army complete with armour). Yes… the first recording of the idea of scuba diving equipment.

He used his ideas and art to generate income, as well as to protect his own interests! This idea was far fetched, but studies today on his exact designs have been tried, tested and successful.

What was brilliant about this is that without his ability to promote his services, he would not have garnered the reputation he did. The interesting thing is that Leonardo was completely against war, but yet he designed some of the most brilliant war weapons. He actually designed the first tank. Something which was not first used until the first world war.

Now this was not designed to be a motor powered tank, but a man powered tank! His design is ingenious! It wasn’t until World War 1, that a tank would be designed and used in a war.

This work allowed him to fund his studies into nature and the human body! More then that, it allowed him to create art pieces which are now recorded in history. Whilst working for the Vatican during the day, Leonardo would be performing autopsy’s of the evening. One of his discoveries was that the aging process was linked to excessive nutrition of the blood. We know this today as cholesterol.

The ability to prmote your service is a powerful skill. The ability to market your services and products determines how your clients remember you. Sometimes… you need to sacrifice for the sake of your long term vision, exactly as Leonardo did. Leonardo always tried to make sure that everything he did, generated a uniqueness.

Even though he painted objects, scenes or portraits which had been done many times before… Leonardos unique touch would not be rushed, and would have him known by millions of people after his mortal death.

So as business owners, how can we make what we do unique? How can we have our clients remember us? How can be satisfy the desires of our cleints through our business and through our website?

Leonardo mastered this nearly 500 years ago!

What are some of your ideas about how you build loyalty with your clients?