Book Review: Show Your Work!
Book Information
Title: Show Your Work!
Author(s): Austin Kleon
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Business
Published On: March 6, 2014
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
Pages: 215 pages
In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known.
Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, and productive.
In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day, and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.
This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are my own!
The Book In 3 Sentences
- Document/publish your process through learning and trying new things.
- Being an amateur is an advantage; you are more relatable and open-minded in what you do.
- Sharing your work/interest will attract an audience who has similar interest and genuinely care about what you do.
How The Book Changed Me
This book gave me confidence in posting online. At first, I was very nervous about what I posted and what people would think. After reading this, I instead changed my focus to documenting my process and ensuring what I post can be useful to one person out there! In addition, this book gave me a soli guideline as to how I should go about online: what to post, what to document, who to look for as an audience, etc. This was beyond helpful, especially just starting blogging, as I gained a sense of hope that what I was doing is impactful and in time will attract like-minded people - which is my goal!
How I Came Across The Book/Who Should Read It
I came across this book through one of my favorite YouTubers, Ali Abdaal. I love his page and often find many of his videos very helpful in all sorts of different aspects of life.
I believe anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship or business should read this book. I believe many of the principles apply to all sorts of different businesses and individuals. Anyone who reads this will be exposed to a pathway of thinking that will alter the way they see the internet and how they can use it to their benefit.
My 3 Favorite Quotes
"The best way to get started on the path to sharing your work is to think about what you want to learn, and commit to learning it in front of others."
"Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love and you’ll attract people who love that kind of stuff. It’s that simple."
"Look for something new to learn, and when you find it, dedicate yourself to learning it out in the open. Document your progress and share as you go so that others can learn along with you. Show your work, and when the right people show up, pay close attention to them, because they’ll have a lot to show you."
Summary/Thoughts
Find something you love or want to learn and go for it! Document everything you do, publish it online and keep refining your craft. Not everything you post will be a success, and one success does not mean another. Continue to learn from your mistakes, and just keep on going. You will attract an audience that cares about the work that you are doing, and that is truly amazing. A community of people who have similar interests, all together! As you grow, learn to focus on your storytelling. People love to be told everything about what you are doing and how you are doing it, but give them this information in an efficient manner. Continuously evaluate what you are doing and publishing, making sure that what you are contributing will be helpful to others. A great tip is to get involved in the community or space you are in! It is an easy way to build connections and support others in a similar journey. Most importantly, when you feel like you have learned something to the point of mastery, learn something new! There is power in being an amateur in what you do, and you can never be satisfied with mastery, you must force yourself to become the student again and fall in love with the journey of learning and building upon yourself.
Ready to attract an audience who genuinely cares about your work? Dive into the strategies outlined in the book and begin implementing them in your online endeavors. Connect with like-minded individuals, share your passion, and cultivate a supportive community around your interests!
Overall, this is a great and relatively short read! Anyone with an interest in building their own business or just gaining some confidence to post online should read it. It provides a ton of great guidance and information! If you would like more book reviews in the future or find this helpful, please let me know!
