The Whole Point of Progress...A Lesson from 'Da Vinci's Demons'

I am currently re-watching a TV show 'Da Vinci's Demons'. The show is a fictional historical account of the early years of Leonardo da Vinci while he was just a young, troublesome artist and engineer. Da Vinci approached the ruler of Florence at that time, Lorenzo di Medici, and asked for the position of Military Engineer. Lorenzo agreed and appointed da Vinci. Da Vinci's job was to create military weapons for Florence as Rome was planning to attack them in war. Da Vinci proposed a three-stepped canon which would fire in quick succession. If you are well versed in history you would know that da Vinci's dream was almost an impossibility. I mean, we are talking about the 13th century when there was little technological advancement. However, despite the cynicism of everyone around him, save for his close friends, da Vinci embarked on the journey. He was finally able to produce the canon. However, at the first testing, the canon exploded, almost killing him and the royal entourage that came with Lorenzo. This made Lorenzo angry, giving da Vinci a 3-day deadline to put it right if not, he would be hanged.

According to his cynics, da Vinci was overreaching. But I like the response Leonardo gave them. He said "why can't anyone understand that the whole point of progress is overreaching". And this is what I am trying to point out here. How do people expect to make progress and move forward if they are not willing to overreach? To overreach means to fail by aiming too high or too far. This is the whole point of progress. To move forward by dreaming big and learning from your failures in the process. Don't ever let anyone tell you that your dreams are impossible to achieve. That is a big lie! No dream is impossible. If da Vinci could invent military weapons in the 13th century, then you that are living in the age of advancement will only have yourself to blame if you believe you can't do what your dreams say you can. Overreach and reach for stars, aim high and far. For that is the only way progress can be made. And by the way, da Vinci was able to beat the deadline is a rather dramatic fashion. Watch the show. It's really nice.