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Monday, January 13, 2025

Basketball - Connessione

Draw on information from anywhere. One of Leonardo da Vinci's inspirations was connessione, which relates to 'connectedness' and likely analogy.  

Start with a ChatGPT take:

The phrase "Make friends with the dead" resonates deeply with the Renaissance spirit of drawing wisdom from those who came before us. Leonardo da Vinci exemplifies this approach, particularly through his concept of connessione, the recognition of the interconnectedness of all things. This principle profoundly shaped his thinking and can inspire us to adopt a more integrative and interdisciplinary mindset.

Connessione and Thinking Skills

  1. Pattern Recognition and Systems Thinking
    Leonardo's ability to see relationships across disciplines—art, science, anatomy, engineering, and nature—was central to his genius. For example, his studies of water flow informed both his art (e.g., the depiction of the Virgin's drapery in "The Virgin of the Rocks") and his engineering designs for waterways. Connessione trains us to move beyond isolated facts and see the broader systems at play, enhancing creativity and problem-solving.

  2. Synthesis Across Domains
    Leonardo blended diverse fields to create groundbreaking work. For instance, his anatomical studies weren't just for medical purposes but informed the lifelike quality of his paintings. By synthesizing knowledge, he anticipated modern interdisciplinary approaches. Connessione encourages us to bring seemingly unrelated ideas together, resulting in novel solutions.

  3. Curiosity-Driven Learning
    Leonardo's curiosity was insatiable, fueled by his belief in interconnectedness. He asked questions like, "Why does the sky appear blue?" or "How do birds fly?" and sought answers through observation and experimentation. Adopting connessione pushes us to explore how different phenomena relate, driving lifelong learning and intellectual growth.

  4. Holistic Problem-Solving
    Recognizing connections allows for holistic solutions. Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man is not just a study in proportion but a synthesis of art, mathematics, and human anatomy. In modern contexts, connessione helps us approach problems by considering all factors—scientific, emotional, ethical, and practical.

  5. Empathy and Perspective
    By seeing connections, Leonardo also grasped the shared humanity of people and the unity of life. Connessione fosters empathy, as it requires understanding different perspectives and contexts. This skill is vital for collaboration and leadership today.

Learning from Leonardo

Making friends with the intellectual giants of history like da Vinci means not just admiring their achievements but adopting their principles. By practicing connessione, we develop a mindset that bridges gaps between disciplines, values interconnectedness, and embraces curiosity. This approach leads to richer thinking and deeper insights, much as it did for da Vinci.

How does this relate to basketball? Consider a 'holistic' approach. 

  • Interconnectedness includes people - your coaches, teammates, and  community. The word community triggers thoughts of "servant leadership" for a more dynamic and connected city. 
  • Exceptional players use physics to improve play. How? Get physics on your side. Backspin softens your shot. The backboard increases your margin of error. There is an optimal arc for shooting. Putting spin on the ball helps with finishing a variety of shots at the rim. Yes, get physics on your side. 
  • Consider a baseball analogy, the phrase "hit 'em where they ain't." Find the open player. 
  • It wasn't easy for Leonardo - an illegitimate child, not highly educated, left-handed, and gay. Judge the quality of someone's work and play, not their background. 
  • Connessione also recognizes other da Vinci principles like curiosity and experience. Curiosity helps us study opponent strengths and weaknesses as well as self-scouting. Experience lies at the core of practice. 
  • Urban Meyer's 10-80-10 principle recognized that within an organization there will be about ten percent of people at the top and the bottom and most in the middle. Meyer required top ten percenters to "drag" a teammate to workout. The goal was to lift them into the top ten percent. 

Take a few moments to think about how connessione might impact your basketball experience...like being a great teammate?

Lagniappe. A great shot fake is "a shot not taken." 

Lagniappe 2. Our habits make us.  

Lagniappe 3. We get no choice in whether adversity darkens our doorstep. We choose how to respond.  

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