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Timanthes was a celebrated Greek artist of the 4th century B.C. As an aspiring young painter, Timanthes worked with a respected tutor to learn his craft. After several years, he produced what he believed was his masterpiece.
Delighted with his accomplishment, the young artist stopped striving to further his art. Instead, he devoted hours each day to gazing at his painting, mentally patting himself on the back for his achievement. Then one morning, when he arrived at the studio, he was horrified to find that someone had slathered paint across the canvas, destroying his work. The tutor eventually confessed that he’d done the deed. “I did it for your own good,” he explained. “The painting was holding you back.” He urged the artist to try again: “See if you can do better.” Timanthes took his teacher’s advice. His next effort, “The Sacrifice of Iphigenia,” became his signature work and is regarded as one of the finest paintings of its time. You should celebrate jobs done well. But don’t get so caught up in yesterday’s achievements that you lose sight of tomorrow’s challenges. |
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