This summer I visited the Louvre in Paris, and I was not just impressed by the wonderful paintings and art but also by the behaviour in front of a particular one and I couldn't help but compare the scene I saw with the scenes I see in the business world.
In front of the Mona Lisa painting hundreds of people tried to get the one picture, close to the painting, with anybody else on it. I wish I could say I wasn't one of them, but yes I was and yes, I got the picture. But having enough time while waiting in the row I was able to to observe the whole scenario, and it was amazing to watch.
People wouldn't spend time at all to observe and really look at the painting. everything that counted was the picture. The picture to show the world afterward that they were close to the Mona Lisa. On their own. Private audience. In your dream. None of those people really spent time observing and enjoying the picture. It was more like being part of an assembly line. Next, picture, next, picture and so on.
I already wrote quite a lot about the fake it till you make it mentally and it still amazes and shocks me every day. Same here at the Louvre: Fake the picture to make the world see you got there. You got the picture, you got the profitable startup you are the one. While if you turn the camera or if you look at the books, reality hits hard.
The second interesting similarity: not enjoying the process itself. Not being present in what is going on, not being proud of the achievements, but trying to get to the goal as soon as possible. No time to waste, but also no time to enjoy.
I left the museum but didn't stop thinking about what I just saw. And it left me with questions. In particular regarding the second topic: where do I rush through the process of growing my business instead of enjoying where I already am? How often do I really take a break and reflect on where I was last year this time, and what I reached till today?
