Show Your Work: Is it Worth the Read?

‘Show Your Work’ by Austin Kleon turned 10 years old last week and I thought why not share what I liked about the book?

Many of us have likely been suggested this book at some point, and if you haven’t, I suggest you read it, and here’s why.

Most of us dread sharing our work online because of fear of judgement, not knowing what to share, getting stuck in analysis paralysis, or feeling like imposters. ‘Show Your Work’ by Austin Kleon is an insightful guide on embracing the process of sharing our work.

This book talks about the importance of sharing and encourages creators to do so regardless of expertise. The author talks about how by sharing what we learn, we can connect with like-minded folks along the way.

However, despite these valuable insights, I must admit I dislike one aspect which happens to be the bitter truth: in today’s digital age, if your work isn’t online, it might as well not exist. Having a digital presence is our gateway to the world, allowing us to showcase our talents, connect with others, and seize opportunities that may have been out of our reach. And you don’t necessarily need to share it on social media; you can have your blog as well.

While you are on this journey, don’t fall into the trap of how many followers you have or how many likes your post has received. Instead, worry about the quality of people following you and your work. Don’t think far ahead about what you are getting out of this. Just start sharing and figure it out as you go. The key is to start, by sharing something small every day.

You can also share the behind-the-scenes of your work or business, you create authenticity and transparency, connecting more with your audience. You build a loyal audience who may become your first customers when you launch something.

While sharing a story, talk directly to your audience, keeping it simple. Learn the art of storytelling.

If you wanna share something but feel unsure, ask yourself this, “Is this useful or interesting? Is it adding any value?” That pretty much answers everything.

While sharing online you come across a few negative comments just make sure not to engage with them. Go ahead and delete it, it is not helping anyone.

And finally, make sure to get recharged. Take breaks often so you don’t get burnt out.

And finally, “Don’t let sharing your work take precedence over doing your actual work”.