Show Your Work!

I picked this book based on Ali Abdaal’s recommendation. This is a must-read if you are not comfortable with self-promotion. In 200-odd pages, Austin Kleon tries to convince you why you should start showing your work more.

Some of the advice is solid, and I liked the artwork. However, the message was stretched out. All the advice in the book could easily fit within a single blog post or even a Twitter thread — ironic, given the book contains a section on Sturgeon’s law (90% of everything is crap).

6 key takeaways:

1. It’s not enough to be good. To be found, you have to be findable. All you have to do is show your work.
2. Share something small every day. Become a documentarian of what you do and send out a daily dispatch.
3. The story you weave affects people’s assessment of your work. So, learn to tell good stories.
4. Teach what you know
5. Don’t be afraid to charge for your work, but put a price on it that you think is fair. Do good work and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.
6. Take practical sabbaticals—daily, weekly or monthly breaks where you walk away from your work completely.

Details

• Show Your Work!
  10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered
• Austin Kleon
• ISBN:
• ISBN-13: 978-0761178972