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Even the smartest man on Earth had to write a resume.
Here are 6 tips on how Leonardo da Vinci wrote his resume to get the most powerful job in the world.
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Here are 6 tips on how Leonardo da Vinci wrote his resume to get the most powerful job in the world.
==THREAD==
30-year old da Vinci wanted a powerful gig.
He wrote his resume and sent it off to the Duke of Milan.
It wasn’t complicated – just 14 short paragraphs.
He got the job and worked with the Duke for 20 years, completing some of his greatest work.
Let’s unpack how he did this.
He wrote his resume and sent it off to the Duke of Milan.
It wasn’t complicated – just 14 short paragraphs.
He got the job and worked with the Duke for 20 years, completing some of his greatest work.
Let’s unpack how he did this.
1 HE WROTE ABOUT THE CLIENT
“I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else, to explain myself to your Excellency”
This isn’t a generic cold email blast.
This is a letter that only applied to the Duke.
Have you ever paid a client a compliment that only applies to them?
“I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else, to explain myself to your Excellency”
This isn’t a generic cold email blast.
This is a letter that only applied to the Duke.
Have you ever paid a client a compliment that only applies to them?
2 HE PROMOTED HIS SKILLSET
Turn weak phrases into powerful assertions of ability.
“In the past I've done X”
“I will do X for you”
“I studied X”
“I know X blindfolded”
“I did X”
“I can carry out X better than anyone”
It isn’t bragging if you can back it up.
Turn weak phrases into powerful assertions of ability.
“In the past I've done X”“I will do X for you”“I studied X”“I know X blindfolded”“I did X”“I can carry out X better than anyone”It isn’t bragging if you can back it up.
3 HE WROTE TO THE AUDIENCE
Milan was at war. da Vinci liked art.
So he compromised – he sold his war skills and did art in his spare time.
Of 11 skillsets, he mentioned peace-time skills in only 1.
Are you telling people what you want to do, or helping them win their wars?
Milan was at war. da Vinci liked art.
So he compromised – he sold his war skills and did art in his spare time.
Of 11 skillsets, he mentioned peace-time skills in only 1.
Are you telling people what you want to do, or helping them win their wars?
4 HE WAS INDIFFERENT TO THE OUTCOME
da Vinci stayed indifferent to the outcome of his resume.
He was a true stoic in this regard.
“If you don’t believe I can do these tasks, I can show you.”
“Let me know if you are interested in working with me.”
Does this face look worried?
da Vinci stayed indifferent to the outcome of his resume.
He was a true stoic in this regard.
“If you don’t believe I can do these tasks, I can show you.”
“Let me know if you are interested in working with me.”
Does this face look worried?
5 HE KNEW HIS WORK
da Vinci wasn’t pitching a client then Googling how to build a chariot after landing the gig.
He knew every detail about everything he pitched.
He offered up a live demo in public to prove it.
Can you perform the skills you offer on-demand?
da Vinci wasn’t pitching a client then Googling how to build a chariot after landing the gig.
He knew every detail about everything he pitched.
He offered up a live demo in public to prove it.
Can you perform the skills you offer on-demand?
6 HE GAVE A GIFT
Reciprocity is a powerful force.
da Vinci gave a freebie with his resume – a bronze horse sculpture.
“Again, the bronze horse may be taken in hand, which is to be to the immortal glory and eternal honor of the prince”
Do you give even before your job begins?
Reciprocity is a powerful force.
da Vinci gave a freebie with his resume – a bronze horse sculpture.
“Again, the bronze horse may be taken in hand, which is to be to the immortal glory and eternal honor of the prince”
Do you give even before your job begins?
“Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation ... even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind.” Leonardo da Vinci
Knowing these tips doesn’t matter if you don’t take action.
Start where you are with everything you know and go make an impact on the world.
Knowing these tips doesn’t matter if you don’t take action.
Start where you are with everything you know and go make an impact on the world.
