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- I read Show Your Work! (Austin Kleon) and I liked it.
I read Show Your Work! (Austin Kleon) and I liked it.
Here is what I liked most...
Yusuf Joseph
May 11, 2024
As Austin Kleon said in his Book:
"When I Share, I Learn" and I said "To learn is to create" both emphasize the idea that learning involves an active process of engagement and participation.
To learn is to create: It means that learning isn't just about absorbing information it's about actively building understanding and insights. When we learn, we're like creators, forming new ideas and connections from the knowledge we acquire.
The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others. Share your reading list. Point to helpful reference materials. Create some tutorials and post them online. Use pictures, words, and video. Take people step-by-step through part of your process.
As blogger Kathy Sierra says, “make people better at something they want to be better at”
You don’t have to be a genius:
Good work isn't created in a vacuum.
Creativity is always, in some sense, a collaboration.
Be an Amateur – Sometimes, amateurs have more to teach us than experts. An amateur understands the beginners mind. The expert doesn’t.
Find something you want to learn. And learn it in front of others. Share your process. Share your successes, and more importantly, your failures. Help others who want to be on the same path.
Think process, not product:
Audiences long to be creative and part of the creative process.
Document what you do. Share your process.
Turn the invisible into something other people can see.
Start a work journal. Keep a scrapbook. Shoot video of you working. Take photographs of your work at different stages
Teach what you know:
Teaching people doesn’t take away from what you do, it adds to it. When you teach someone how to do your work, you’re actually generating more interest in your work. People will feel closer to it because you’re teaching them what you know.
This cycle of sharing and learning not only amplifies the impact of your work but also creates a vibrant community where creativity thrives. It's a beautiful exchange where knowledge and inspiration flow freely, enriching both the giver and the receiver. So, acknowledge the magic of sharing your work, for in doing so, you not only spread your passion but also invite others to join you on a journey of discovery and growth.
Learn to take a punch:
When you put stuff out there, you’re going to get a bit of criticism. This is natural. Learn to take it. Don’t let the fear of haters stop you from putting yourself out there. They’re a tiny minority, and they have no real power over you.
Don’t spend your life avoiding vulnerability. If you do, you and your work will never truly connect with people.
Embrace the courage to share your authentic self and your creations with the world. Criticism may come, but it's merely a fleeting shadow compared to the light of genuine connection and impact that your vulnerability can create. So, let your creativity shine, unapologetically, knowing that your true audience will embrace you for who you are and what you have to offer.
Tell good stories:
People want to read (and hear) good stories. You have to become more effective at sharing or narrating yourself and your work if you can tell a good story.
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