“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
Leonardo da Vinci wrote that 500 years ago. And today, it might be the most misunderstood insight into peak performance ever penned.
Most people think it means “keep it simple.”
They’re wrong.
What da Vinci knew—and what I’ve seen proven true with thousands of athletes and performers—is that true simplicity only comes after you’ve mastered complexity.
This is where things get really interesting…
When da Vinci painted, he wasn’t just an artist with a brush. He was a scientist who had dissected human faces to understand expressions. An engineer who studied light. A mathematician who understood proportion.
Yet when he painted, he didn’t think about any of that.
He just played.
This is what I call the Art-Science Paradox of peak performance. And it’s something I see play out every day in the world of elite sports.
I see this in professional sports all the time. Players who stop trying to force themselves into the ‘killer instinct’ mode, and find a new way to play.
Some bring the spirit of a character from a country music song to their game. (No, seriously. I have a client dominating the NHL right now because we found this new character to play through.)
Others tap into the calm focus of a grandmaster.
What’s fascinating is how their performance transforms when they stop copying someone else’s path and start creating their own.
Think about it:
- Einstein played violin to unlock mathematical insights
- Richard Feynman played bongos to think better about quantum physics
- And yes, da Vinci painted to understand the world more deeply
They all knew what most of us have forgotten: Peak performance isn’t about choosing between art and science.
It’s about mastering both.
Then, “forgetting” both.
Then, just playing.
You’ll see this pattern everywhere once you know what to look for:
Science lights the path . . .
You artfully walk that path . . .
And play allows you to discover who you can become.
This is why it’s frustrating to see people stuck in rigid formulas for success. Like:
- Hearing coaches pushing one-size-fits-all mindsets.
- Seeing talented performers trapped in someone else’s version of excellence. Or,
- Listening to an ambitious founder unpack their business model, knowing it’s NOT the right model for them to compete and win with.
All of these prevent flow, or peak performance. Why?
Because they prevent you from discovering the fundamentals of what makes something work and then adding your uniqueness, perspective, or flair.
I’ve shared this message on stages for the past decade:
“Only after walking through the valley of complexity can you reach the mountain top of simplicity.”
The complexity-simplicity I’m speaking of is:
when your fundamental understanding of something AND your way of doing it, starts to make it feel like play.
It’s where the magic happens.
And, this is what da Vinci meant by “ultimate sophistication.” Not the simplicity of ignorance, but the simplicity that comes after mastery of the craft and yourself.
So here’s what I’m curious about: Are you still adding complexity, or have you earned your right to just play?
From experience, I know this: Once you understand the Art-Science Paradox, you’ll never look at peak performance the same way again.
And neither did da Vinci.
Be Bold. Take Action. Leave a Mark
Todd Herman
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