Fred Wilson had a great post on tolerance and prosperity. The more close minded our politicians become the more we suffer economically. Raising a giant fence around the US, denying same sex marriages, and other hogwash laws have the perverse effect of stunting economic growth. If you’re a talented foreigner looking to start a business in the US, you probably won’t settle down in Arizona, where the laws reflect a culture of close minded bigotry.
Open Mind, Open Heart
Turning an idea into a reality is a high like no other…Bach’s prelude # 1 will help get you there…
The story of Giotto’s big “O” is one of my all time favorites. I first heard it, while studying abroad in Florence so that certainly added to its appeal. As far as the connection to venture capital…we will leave that for another day.
After sleeping for a thousand years, art woke up in Tuscany at the end of the thirteenth century. Giotto was the first great genius.
Pope Boniface VIII wanted to commission some paintings for St. Peter’s and so he sent a courtier around to find the best painter in Italy. The courtier asked all the artists to give him a sample of their work to send to the Pope. He came to Giotto’s workshop, explained his mission, and asked him for a drawing which would give the Pope some idea of his competence and style. “Sure,” said Giotto; and he laid down a sheet of paper, reached for a brush dipped in red paint, closed his arm to his side to make a sort of compass of it, and in one even sweep scribed a perfect circle. “There you are,” he told the courtier, handing it to him with a smile.
“That’s your drawing?” asked the courtier, who didn’t know whether Giotto was pulling his leg. “Is that all you’re going to send His Holiness?”
“That’s more than enough,” said Giotto. “Send it with your other drawings and see whether it’s understood or not.”
The Pope’s messenger took the drawing and went away trying to hold his temper. Did that little painter think he was a fool?
When he got back to Rome he showed the Pope the big O and told him how Giotto had scribed it—freehand, without a compass. The pope and his advisors DID understand the achievement of that O and gave Giotto the commission.
Epic story!
Story was taken from: http://100swallows.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/giottos-o/
“What I lack in experience I make up for in wildly unrealistic self-confidence.”
The Art of Venture Capital 