General information
Author: Austin Kleon
Published in: 2014
Description
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, 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.
Key takeaways
Takeaway #1: Share what you love
If you’re a music artist, it’s tempting to try to think about what people want to hear about and then create content to meet that need. Austin suggests the opposite. Start from what you know and what you care about, and share that. In doing so, you’ll operate from a place of joy and passion that will lead to higher quality, energizing work. And then the people who care about similar things or who find that work valuable will follow.
Takeaway #2: Just start
Whatever you want to do in life, the best time to start is now. Waiting for the perfect opportunity or for confirmation that your idea is good will lead to a paralyzing state of inaction. You don’t need validation for your idea to get started. Just get to work, see how you feel about, and keep going if it feels good.
Takeaway #3: Tell stories about your work
People want to know why you do the work you do. A good piece of work goes a lot further when you tell the story behind how and why you created it. We’re often motivated more by the stories behind what someone is doing versus the raw quality of what they’re producing. Don’t forget to share your story. It will make your work resonate in new and more powerful ways.
Takeaway #4: Teach people about your processes
Don’t treat the method behind your work as a secret sauce. In sharing what has helped you do good work, you empower others to do the same and simultaneously increase interest in what you’re doing. It’s a win, win. Life is not a competition for a fixed pie; it’s a collaborative effort to increase the pie so we all have more to eat.
Takeaway #5: Be a good citizen in your community
Don’t treat the method behind your work as a secret sauce. In sharing what has helped you do good work, you empower others to do the same and simultaneously increase interest in what you’re doing. It’s a win, win. Life is not a competition for a fixed pie; it’s a collaborative effort to increase the pie so we all have more to eat.
Takeaway #6: Your work isn’t your life
It’s easy to become consumed by your work and your mission, particularly as a music creator. But always keep in mind that life is about balance. You can work hard, but don’t forget your relationships, your health, and the other areas of life that bring you joy. It’s not all about your work, no matter how good or noble it is.
Takeaway #7: Give back
When you make it, remember to help elevate those people who helped you along the way. You can do that in any number of ways. Provide feedback on their work. Introduce them to a connection that will be valuable for them. Publicly acknowledge how they helped you. If you get in the habit of giving, you’ll feel better, create more value, and generate opportunities that will only enhance what you’re doing.
