We glorify the grind. We love the image of the exhausted founder squeezing the last drop of effort out of a 16-hour day.
In painting, that is just bad technique.
You cannot paint with a dry brush. It leaves streaks. It ruins the finish. It damages the bristles. Yet we try to run businesses and families on empty tanks, surprised when the results look terrible.
The Dalai Lama phrased it so well:
“Taking care of others requires taking care of yourself.”
Refilling the brush feels like a pause. It is actually the most critical part of the work.
Dip the brush.