The Masterpiece Within You
The other day, my wife showed me Rembrandt’s painting of The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. It wasn’t just beautiful; it spoke to me deeply. What captivated me wasn’t just the oil and canvas, but the unmistakable soul of the artist pouring through every brushstroke. It reminded me that the true masterpiece isn’t always on the canvas—it’s often within the creator.
I went to Google Image Search and tried to find a digital copy of the painting I could use on my computer to remind me of that experience. I found a lot of imitations, artists who were painting something that looked like Rembrandt’s painting, but each of them, in a different way, lacked the power and genius of the original Rembrandt.
Only Rembrandt can paint a Rembrandt.
Each artist started from the same place: they had pigments, a canvas, and some brushes. They had all worked long hours to hone their craft. But there’s something about making a painting that’s more than just the tools, pigments, and the artist’s skill. To have a chance to make a great painting, you need to hone your craft, you need to put in the work, but along the way, somewhere, magic happens.
Anyone engaged in any creative act, whether painting, music, writing, or anything else, knows what I’m talking about. There’s a point at which the thing you’re working on becomes something new. Or where the inspiration or the vision you have explodes, and you see something different that you didn’t see before. Some new magic suddenly animates the creation.
That magic comes from within you.
When I’m creating, I find that magic is something deeply personal that the work is bringing out of me. It means I’m creating a piece of art that only I can make, now, in this version of me. It’s not just my skill or tools; it’s the unique combination of my experiences, perspective, and entire being flowing into the creation. Artists talk about “channeling the muse,” or being in flow—I don’t know how to describe it, but something special happens—you know what I mean. It’s like your inner masterpiece is finally given form.
Building skill in my craft is essential. It gets me to where I no longer have to think so hard about the tools, rules, and how to make my vision a reality. It’s a necessary prerequisite to experiencing the magic.
Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.
Having internalized the craft, I sit down, open my writing tool, and write. I put myself in a position to ride the wave of creativity and produce something stellar. Something that will have a lasting impact.
It doesn’t happen every time I sit down. It might not happen every tenth time, but eventually, there it is!
I work hard on my craft to prepare myself for the magic when it shows up. By honing my skills, I stop having to think so hard and allow that inner masterpiece to flow freely. When that magic arrives, I honor it by pouring everything I have—my experiences, knowledge, upbringing, and unique ways of thinking—into expressing that piece that only I, in this version of myself, can create.
Then I put it out into the world, and the audience brings their experiences, knowledge, and ways of thinking, and my creation takes on a life of its own. (Which is a whole other kind of magic.)
BTW: This is a post about running a business.
Like in art, businesses that resonate with their customers and create a lasting impact are those where you, the founder, the leader, the creator, allow what’s unique about you to shine through. When you bring your authentic self, values, distinct perspective, and personal magic to the table, your business truly comes alive and paradoxically becomes something bigger than you could create through effort alone.
How have you put your personal mark on your business? Where are you holding back? What magic could emerge if you weren’t?
The spark for this post came while I was listening to Episode 505 of The Creative Pep Talk podcast. The podcast in general is worth your time!
