Embracing The Da Vinci Blessing

We are all creative geniuses

Recently, I found myself drawn to The Da Vinci Curse: Life Design for People with Too Many Interests and Talents, a book we touched on during the Build an Epic Retreat Challenge. Its title immediately struck a chord with me, reflecting both my own journey and the path of the Multidimensional Leaders I mentor. Like many of us, I’ve often felt the tension between wanting to pursue multiple passions and wondering if I would ever have the time or clarity to fully realize them. Sound familiar?

The author describes the challenges of those he calls "Da Vinci people"—multi-talented individuals with a deep-seated drive to master various skills, yet often struggling with the pressure to choose a singular path. This resonates with so many of us who feel pulled in different directions, moving from one field to another, unsure if we're getting closer to our true vocation or drifting further away. According to the author, the key to overcoming this "curse" lies in finding an activity complex enough to weave together our many talents—much like how he discovered fulfillment by designing musical instruments, merging his love for engineering and acoustics.

But here’s where I see an opportunity to rethink this entirely.

While I appreciate his solution, I feel there's a more expansive way to view this challenge—one that aligns with the mission of the Multidimensional Leaders. What if the very thing we perceive as a "curse" is actually a blessing in disguise? What if we’re not meant to settle for just one avenue, but rather embrace the full spectrum of our talents, passions, and ideas? I like to think of this as the "Da Vinci Blessing," a reframe that celebrates our complexity rather than viewing it as something to overcome.

Retreats as Catalysts for Creative Integration

Take retreat design, for example. I believe that crafting a well-designed retreat offers the perfect vehicle for multi-talented individuals to channel their diverse skills in a meaningful way. A retreat isn’t just a singular offering—it’s a dynamic experience that requires us to bring together many threads: teaching, storytelling, personal growth, logistics, aesthetics, and community-building. In essence, it’s a playground for multidimensional thinkers to merge their genius, joy, and purpose.

Imagine the possibilities when you design a retreat that draws on your talents in speaking, coaching, creativity, and leadership. It becomes a space where you can share knowledge, spark transformation, and bring others on a journey—while also expressing yourself in ways that feel truly aligned with your spirit and calling. This is why one of the first offers of the Multidimensional Leaders is the opportunity to collaborate on retreat creation. Through this process, we’re helping others step into their full brilliance, realizing that the intersection of their passions can be the most powerful and rewarding path forward.

Breaking Free from the “Specialist” Myth

At the heart of this is the need to challenge a long-held societal belief: "jack of all trades, master of none." For too long, we’ve been conditioned to think that mastery only comes through specialization—that focusing on a single skill is the only way to achieve true success. But I disagree with this premise, and I see it as part of our work to change the narrative.

While specialists undoubtedly offer deep expertise, they often come with a narrower view of the world. In contrast, those with multiple interests and talents bring a broader perspective, and in doing so, they’re able to bridge gaps, spark innovation, and inspire creative solutions. These "Da Vinci people" are the visionaries who connect seemingly unrelated fields, opening doors to new ideas and opportunities.

The world needs both specialists and multidimensional thinkers. We must recognize the value that each brings, and as leaders in our communities, we have a responsibility to educate others on this truth. Let’s encourage those with diverse passions to trust in their ability to integrate them into something truly impactful, rather than feeling pressured to conform to a narrower path.

A Call to Action: Step Into Your Multidimensional Leadership

I invite you to reflect on how the "Da Vinci Blessing" manifests in your own life. How can you reframe the way you see your many interests—not as distractions, but as a source of strength? What might it look like to create something, like a retreat, that allows you to honor all parts of your genius?

At Multidimensional Leaders, we believe that the future belongs to those who can see across disciplines, connect the dots between seemingly unrelated fields, and create something unique from the synergy of their many talents. Our community is built on the premise that you don’t have to fit into a singular mold to be successful—instead, you can embrace all parts of yourself, bring your diverse passions to the forefront, and turn them into your greatest strengths. We also believe that Multidimensional Leaders have specific intelligences that help them succeed: read more here. 

This is why we focus on collaboration, co-creation, and community-driven initiatives. By working together, we can amplify each other’s strengths and create experiences that are far greater than what any one of us could achieve alone. Retreat design is one way, where we can start bringing this to life—for those who, like Da Vinci, feel drawn to express themselves in many ways, and who want to use their talents to create a ripple effect in the world.