Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
Sharing your work can be daunting. Maybe it’s a photo you took, an article you wrote, or a school project you worked on for a semester. Sharing it with others, whether online or in person, can be scary. Why? Because it requires vulnerability. Once your work is open for the public to see and engage with, it’s open for discussion, feedback, and maybe even judgement.
But in this day and age of technology and “the web,” you can’t expect people to find you if your work is not findable. If someone were to type your name online, what search results will pop up? Are the works you are proud of highlighted? Or are there some of your projects that you want to show off that are still hidden?
Arthur Kleon, author of Show Your Work, says that sharing your creative work can become a way to learn, find your audience, and improve your work.
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5
Kleon shows 10 ways you can “share your creativity and get discovered:”
1. You don’t have to be a genius
You don’t have to be a genius to succeed. In fact, Kleon says that great ideas are birthed by a community of great thinkers and artists.
Kleon calls this a “scenius” : “a whole scene of people supporting each other, looking at each other’s work, copying from each other, stealing ideas, and contributing ideas.”
When you’re a part of a scenius, anyone can contribute. Often times we feel like we need to be an expert to share our work, but Kleon says we don’t have to be. Even if you’re a beginner or an amateur, you still play a role. A beginner will understand and relate with other beginners more than an expert can. And sometimes that’s all someone wants — someone who can understand them.
💡 Find something you want to learn and learn it in front of others. Document your process: share your successes and failures. Help others who want to do the same things you are doing.
2. Think process, not product
In the digital era, it’s much easier to share sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes look into what people are doing. Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are filled with creatives (photographers, artists, writers, etc.) sharing the process that goes on behind their finished products. People want to know the person behind the product.
So get used to documenting everything you do. Regardless of whether or not you choose to share it is up to you. But keeping a record of your process can be rewarding, even if only for your personal reflection!
💡 Ways to document:
Journal your thoughts and/or progress
Use a voice recorder
Take photos or screenshots
3. Share something small every day
Sharing does not have to be a big undertaking; you don’t even have to share life-changing epiphanies. You can share something small. And remember, small does not mean it isn’t meaningful.
Ask yourself, “If I share this, can it help at least one person?” If you think yes, then don’t be afraid to share it!
You can share a photo, a quote, a thought, an inspiration, or a sneak peek of what you’re working on. Find your platform and stick with it (social media [Instagram, TikTok, YouTube], website, blog, etc.) Overnight success is a myth. You have to persist and continue working hard. Just take it day by day. And don’t wait around. You can and should start now.
4. Open up your cabinet of curiosities
Find something you truly enjoy doing and don’t let others make you feel bad about it. Celebrate the activities you like to do, don’t feel guilty about them. Don’t feel the pressure to self-edit yourself too much—be authentic and share what you genuinely enjoy.
And you don’t have to share only your own work. You can share other people’s work—remember the scenius?—just remember to give them credit!
5. Tell good stories
People love telling and listening to stories. Stories are actually what many cultures and traditions are built upon, way back when written tools haven’t been invented yet. So tell good stories. You can tell others about yourself and your work in a more engaging and exciting way by sharing a good story.
💡 Every blog comment, tweet, photo, text, conversation you have are all pieces of a giant multimedia narrative you’re always constructing.
Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself if someone asks! Don’t downplay yourself if someone is genuinely interested in your accomplishments. Think of it as an opportunity to connect with someone who appreciates your work!
6. Teach what you know
If you’ve learned something or found something useful and interesting, share it with others! Teach others.
If you read something good, share your reading list and what you thought of the book. If you learned a new skill, post a tutorial or a step-by-step.
When you teach others how to do what you’re doing, it actually generates more interest in you and your work. People will be able to relate more with you and your work because you’re letting them in on what you know and who you are.
7. Don’t turn into human spam
Sharing your work should be a two-way street. It is incomplete without feedback. Engage with people who enjoy your work. Collaborate with them, chat with them, ask them questions.
You want to capture people’s genuine hearts and interests, not just their “likes.” Make friends and meet up with them in person.
💡 Many artists often reach out to their followers for potential collaborations. Influencers may tell their followers where and when they’re traveling so they could meet up. It’s how they build and engage with their community.
8. Learn to take a punch
When your work is visible to the public eye, it will be open for criticism. You’re going to receive it. It’s normal. But don’t let it stop you from doing what you love. Don’t let the fear of being criticized stop you from putting yourself out there.
9. Sell out
Be ambitious and keep yourself busy. Try new things and take opportunities. If something comes along that will enable you to do more of what you love, then go for it! But don’t sacrifice your passion if you get an opportunity to make more money but do less of what you love...
As a creator, it’s important to be making money. It’s how you fund your work. There’s nothing inherently wrong with money. And it’s okay to charge for your work. Realize your value and the value of your work, and identify the audience who are willing to pay to support what you do.
10. Stick around
No matter how hard it gets, don’t quit. Whatever it is, keep doing your work and keep sharing it.
Keep your momentum by using the end of one project to inspire your next one. Just focus on what’s in front of you. Identify what you could have done better from a previous project or what you didn’t have time for, then do it.
If you get unmotivated, change things up. If you feel like you’ve learned all you can from this particular route, then try something new. You’re not starting over, you’re just taking a turn. You still have everything you’ve learned and accomplished with you — you can take them with you on this new path. Just keep learning and moving forward.
Notable Quotes
“Amateurs know that contributing something is better than contributing nothing.”
“Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you.”
“Human beings want to know where things came from, how they were made, and who made them. The stories you tell about the work you do have a huge effect on how people feel and what they understand about your work, and how people feel and what they understand about your work effects how they value it.”
“Carving out a space for yourself online, somewhere where you can express yourself and share your work, is still one of the best possible investments you can make with your time.”
“Keep your balance. You have to remember that your work is something you do, not who you are.”
“When you have success, it’s important to use any dough, clout, or platform you’ve acquired to help along the work of the people who’ve helped you get to where you are. Extol your teachers, your mentors, your heroes, your influences, your peers, and your fans. Give them a chance to share their own work. Throw opportunities their way.”
“You just have to be as generous as you can, but selfish enough to get your work done.”
“When you feel like you’ve learned whatever there is to learn from what you’re doing, it’s time to change course and find something new to learn so that you can move forward.”
Key Takeaways
You can’t expect people to find you if your work is not findable.
In the digital age, if your work isn’t online, it doesn’t exist.
You don’t have to be a genius to start. You can start now, just as you are.
People want and like getting to know the person behind the product. It’s okay to tell others about yourself.
Be authentic and don’t be afraid of judgement.
Overnight successes are a myth. Behind every success story is a history of hard work and perseverance.
