Before She Painted a Masterpiece... She Did This.

Have you ever been overwhelmed, especially at something you are very good at?

The other day I saw an art exhibit that taught a powerful lesson on how to accomplish insurmountable tasks.

We were visiting my wife’s native country of Denmark and stopped by the windswept beach town of Skagen (Pronounced Skay-yen) to see a museum exhibit on Danish impressionist art. As we walked into a side gallery there was a large and beautiful scene painted by Anna Ancher in 1903. Called “A Field Sermon”, it depicted a minister preaching to a group of townspeople in a grass covered sand dune.

Just a preacher and a bunch of people who looked bored, I thought. Even though it was well painted, I didn’t appreciate the power of it at first.

However, as we continued through the room I noticed a series of smaller paintings and sketches that seemed oddly familiar.

Hold on… wasn’t that person in the painting?

Wait, isn’t that face in the painting as well?

That’s the minister… in a different pose!

What we were seeing were all the studies the artist had completed BEFORE she had attempted the larger painting. As we looked at each piece of art, it was sobering to see each face in the audience had been sketched several times to find *just* the right angle.

Not just that, but the minister had been drawn in different poses (even different ages!) to find the perfect position, and the groups of people had been placed in alternating spots to test the balance of composition.

In all, there were over 30 different studies…sketches…paintings…all in preparation to create the SINGLE masterpiece.

And its likely many other sketches and studies aren’t displayed.

That means before she ever began painting her masterpiece, Anna Ancher practiced every detail in advance… several times… and knew exactly what she wanted to do.

What does this have to do with influence and success?

Many people would look at the final painting and think it sprang into existence the moment Anna Ancher touched the canvas. They probably imagine that she effortlessly painted it in one go, and then went on to magically craft another masterpiece on a whim.

“She sure was talented” they think.

But what the exhibit reveals is a far more critical lesson that we all can benefit from:

Truly great masters… master a process… long before they master a skill.

Was the artist gifted? No doubt.

Did she have a keen eye and appreciation for light and color? Absolutely.

But giftedness alone doesn’t produce lasting influence or success.

Rather she had mastered a process that…. combined with her gifts… produced a piece of art worthy of reflection over 120 years later.

The difference between raw talent and lasting influence?

While the talented may create by chance, the influential create by choice.

All because they’ve mastered the process it takes to create a masterpiece.

Which is great news for all of us!

Feel insecure about a project? Break it down, and study how other people have tackled it.

Unsure about how to accomplish something big? Who else has done it before? And what was their process?

Think you aren’t “skilled” enough for the task at hand? Give yourself some grace, take it step by step, and learn from others.

The best part is, when we shift our focus to “what’s the process?” instead of “Do I even have what it takes?” the conversation changes to one of possibilities rather than limitations.

So what obstacle is in front of you right now?

How can you step back, break it down, and make it more digestible?

More importantly, who has done it before? What was their process? How can you learn from their example?

Just like Anna Ancher’s studies quietly lined the gallery walls, your process doesn’t have to be flashy…

Start sketching.

Make the rough draft. Study the angles. Practice the strokes.

Embrace the process.

Soon, when others look at what you’ve built, they’ll see a masterpiece.

And maybe 120 years from now, people will come from around the world to admire your work too.

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com