Was Leonardo da Vinci a Loser?

When we think of the giants in the fields of art and creative work (or any field, for that matter), it’s easy to assume they were successful all their lives. But one of the common threads in the tapestry of success is failure. That might seem contradictory, but in nearly every story of success there is also a story of failure. Leonardo da Vinci, Abraham Lincoln, Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison . . . they could have all been considered “losers” at some point.

The geniuses at Delve Video Essays have put together a fascinating video essay (in two parts) called “The Long Game,” exploring the critical role that failure plays in the creative process. On their video page, they write:

All of history’s greatest figures achieved success in almost exactly the same way. But rather than celebrating this part of the creative process we ignore it.

This missing chapter in the story of success reveals the secret to doing meaningful work. But in the modern world, full of distraction, do we have what it takes to do great things?

Be sure to check out the videos below. (If you can’t see them, click here. You can also watch them on Delve.tv.)

The Long Game Part 1: Why Leonardo DaVinci was no genius from Delve on Vimeo.

The Long Game Part 2: the missing chapter from Delve on Vimeo.

What role has failure played in your success?