Dear friends,
Today, I want to share a book that has been truly inspiring to me - “Show your work!” by Austin Kleon. This book encourages me to share my creative work, find my audiences, and improve my work.
In this book, Austin provides practical advice on documenting my process, teaching others, and becoming a better storyteller to help me share my work with a like-minded community. I am going to share how this book changes my perspective.
One of the most powerful ideas in the book is to share what you love. As a designer, I spend much time thinking about what to share online. Sometimes, I worry that my posts aren’t meaningful enough that people want to read them. So, in the end, I don’t post anything at all. What I learn from this book is to start with what you know and care about and then share it. You will feel joy and passion in doing so. As a result, you will attract people who like your work, and eventually, people will follow you.
Another idea in the book that resonated with me is “Just start”! Whatever you want to do in life, the best time to start is NOW. I struggle with perfectionism and feel that I must produce flawless work. Consequently, I may delay starting a task until I have the necessary skills or knowledge to complete it perfectly. In this book, Austin explains that you don’t need to be a genius to do what you want. Just do it, see how you feel and keep going if you feel good. This way, you reflect and iterate your work by sharing it with others.
What I love about this book is that it’s not just about sharing your work but also a reminder that I should keep work and life balanced. This is especially hard for creators or artists to accept, as I used to take feedback personally. Austin explains that it is not all about your excellent or noble work. Many things in life bring you joy, such as your relationship, hobbies, health, family, etc.
In conclusion, “Show your work” is a powerful and inspiring book that motivates me to be open, generous, brave, and productive when sharing my work. Furthermore, it has helped me to become more comfortable when sharing my thoughts and ideas with the public. I highly recommend this book to anyone who involves in the creative process.
Tiff x