Show Your Work! | Book Summary
The Book in 3 Sentences
Whatever it is you do, audiences for your work already exist, but first, you and your work need to be discoverable on the internet. Sharing your work online is not as scary as it seems because as long as it provides some value, you can share anything. By consistently showing up every day, you will improve your work, help others, and expand your network, so keep going.
Impact on Me
This book, along with Ali Abdaal's videos How To Build A Website in 2021 and How Writing Online Made me a Millionaire, are the reasons why this website exists. Collectively, they helped me overcome my insecurities about sharing imperfect work and gather the courage to step out of my comfort zone.
I had previously been content simply obtaining a secure, well-paying job. But as I looked back at my achievements in life, I realized they didn't make me happy. While I had what many other people sought, I realized I was only here because I let their desires influence what I thought my goals should be as well. It wasn't until I started creating training videos for work that I found true satisfaction (more on that here). I had finally tasted something sweet, and I didn't want it to end. I can't let it end.
Now, for once, I look forward to coming home. Whether it's to work on my next blog post or learn something new - I finally feel like I have a purpose.
Who Should Read This Book?
If I'm being honest, I think everyone should read this book. However, I recognize that's not a particularly helpful statement, so I'll say that you should read this book if:
- You're an aspiring artist/entrepreneur trying to find an audience
- You're a professional looking to expand your work portfolio and get noticed by recruiters
- You're a person looking for a way to make a more significant impact in the world
- You're a person who enjoys personal improvement and need a method for accountability
- You're an adult looking to make online friends with similar interests
Book Summary
Show Your Work! outlines methods to get yourself noticed in a way that strays from traditional self-promotion and networking. The author, Austin Kleon, advocates for publicly showing your work by utilizing the modern technology that connects our entire world: the internet.
He shares 10 ways to show your work and get discovered:
- You don't have to be a genius.
- Most great ideas don't stem from a single genius, but rather from a group of creatives contributing and sharing ideas, AKA a "scenius"
- Be willing to be an amateur and commit to learning in front of others
- For people to know what you're about, you need to share your work and thoughts online
- Read obituaries every morning to motivate yourself to accomplish more in your life
2. Think process, not product.
- Audiences are not only interested in the product but also the process, as it makes them feel more connected with the creator and their work
- Document and record your process to track your progress. These snippets will eventually turn into materials you can share
3. Share something small every day.
- Share a daily update online of whatever it is you're working on no matter where it is in the process - beginning or end
- Revisit these daily updates, gather them up when a pattern forms, and use them to create something bigger
- 90% of your work is going to be crap, which is why it's essential to share it to see people's reactions
- With anything you are potentially going to share, run it through The "So What?" Test. Ask yourself if it's helpful or entertaining before sharing
- Create your own website to fill with your work, ideas, and stuff you care about
4. Open up your cabinet of curiosities.
- Share where/what you get your influences from because they tell people who you are and what you do
- Be open and honest about what you like so you can connect with people who also like those things
- If you share the work of others, always credit the original creator
5. Tell good stories.
- Stories you tell about your work impact how people feel and understand it, which affects how they value it
- If you're in the middle of a journey and don't know how it ends, it's ok to tell open-ended stories
- Know how to tell good stories about your work and always keep your audience in mind
6. Teach what you know.
- "The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others."
- Publicly teaching others what you know helps people feel closer to your work and allows more experienced people in the field to reach out and educate you as well
7. Don't turn into human spam.
- "If you want to be noticed, you have to notice. Shut up and listen once in a while."
- Worry more about getting good at what you do and the quality of people who follow you, rather than worrying about the number of followers
- Apply The Vampire Test to everything in your life - if it sucks the energy out of you, cut it out of your life
- As you share your work, you'll start to find peers who love what you love - nurture your relationships with these people
- When appropriate, meet these online friends in real life!
8. Learn to take a punch.
- You are bound to face criticism by publicly displaying your work
- A couple of tips on how to take punches:
- Realize that negative criticism isn't the end of the world
- Put more work out there for criticism - the more you're hit, the more immune you'll become
- Recognize that you can control how you react to criticism, and it may be an opportunity for improvement
- If the work is too sensitive to be exposed to criticism, don't share it, but don't completely avoid vulnerability, or else you'll never connect with people
- "You have to remember that your work is something you do, not who you are."
- Remove nasty and unhelpful comments, and do not engage with trolls
9. Sell out.
- When you feel confident that your work is truly worth something, don't be afraid to charge for it
- Always collect email addresses from people who are interested in your work and want to stay in touch - they'll be your biggest supporters
- "Try new things. If an opportunity comes along that will allow you to do more of the kind of work you want to do, say Yes."
- When you become successful, pay it forward when possible
10. Stick around.
- "The people who get what they're after are very often the ones who just stick around long enough. It's very important not to quit prematurely."
- Regardless of the success or failure of a previous endeavor, keep working and jump into the next project
- Find time to turn off your brains and take a break to get inspired again
- When you become a master at something, become a student again and start to learn something new
