What you can accomplish when your mentor is Rembrandt Van Rijn.

One of the most extraordinary paintings in the world is the Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, a masterpiece of Dutch painter Rembrandt Van Rijn. I´ve met people who have crossed two continents and a vast ocean to arrive in New York City to see this incredible work of art exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

One of the reasons that makes this work of art so remarkable is the story behind the painting: a wealthy Sicilian, devotee of Rembrandt, commissioned the piece with the only provision that Rembrandt would paint for him a philosopher. It was a time of financial hardship for Rembrandt and his Sicilian supporter paid for the painting eight times more than what he could have paid an Italian artist for the same type of painting.

Rembrandt chose the great philosopher Aristotle as the subject of his painting. Aristotle rests his hand on a bust of the great poet Homer and is seen in the painting wearing a chain with a medallion bearing the image of Alexander, a disciple of Aristotle. Three great men painted by a great master. The twist to the story is that Rembrandt paints an imaginary Aristotle, a subject that is painted directly from his imagination, bearing no resemblance to the classical figure. The result is a painting that has survived history, a true masterpiece.

But here comes the point of this story. Years earlier, Rembrandt began a phase of self discovery that resulted in a profound metamorphosis. He deliberately left the circle of the reigning taste and becoming indifferent towards what was in fashion, he rejected the idea of pleasing everybody else. Rembrandt followed his own vision not caring if he would be liked or not. He was unpopular with many but his unique talent and the love for his work immortalized him.
Few people know that Rembrandt never left the Netherlands, his homeland. Such a universal figure lived his entire life in a tiny nation not even travelling to Paris or Rome as almost every artist did. Christopher White in his biography of Rembrandt beautifully writes in the last lines of the book that though the work of Rembrandt was created in one time and one place, it is universal and eternal.

When I stand in front of the painting of Aristotle with a bust of Homer, I stand before a group of mentors. Aristotle, Homer and Alexander, are three great men that have the ability to teach you anything from human psychology to poetry and politics. Then Rembrandt, the great Master who is completely alive in his work. If you listen to him carefully you will walk away knowing that you are capable of achieving anything in your life.

Some people will tell you that they cannot succeed because they have never left the small town where they were born. Others will tell you that they cannot succeed because they are very different and not well understood. Others will tell you that they don’t have the money to be able to dedicate to what they love the most. While others will tell you that they are too old, too lonely, too undignified to transcend life and live forever.

When you have a mentor like Rembrandt Van Rijn you learn that all it takes is to follow the vision of your heart. Your heart knows exactly what you need; it is filled with the power to transcend any boundaries, any fashions and any limitations. This is the secret of immortality.