Show Your Work by Austin Kleon -- Book Summary

Show Your Work is one of the foundational career-related books I read in 2018-19 that shaped how I look to build my online presence, and as a result, a big part of my career. The core message: share your work openly online rather than working in secrecy, and build proof-of-work through sharing to create a line -- not a dot -- relationship with others.

Key Takeaways

A New Way of Operating

Shift from secrecy to transparency in sharing work. Building lines (consistent relationships) rather than dots (isolated achievements). Show, don't tell -- through tangible proof of work via blogs, portfolios, videos, and podcasts.

You Don't Have to Be a Genius

Embrace a beginner's mindset -- continuous learning is essential. In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. Share work online to learn through feedback and iteration.

Think Process, Not Product

Document work at various stages, not just finished projects. Share behind-the-scenes content and work-in-progress insights. Use sawdust -- scraps of your creative process -- as meaningful content.

Share Something Small Every Day

Consistent daily sharing builds credibility over time. Prioritize evergreen content over time-sensitive news. Learning publicly on platforms like Twitter strengthens your network.

Open Up Your Cabinet of Curiosities

Discover and share genuine interests. Balance consumption and creation -- the reading feeds the writing. Curate quality content before creating original work.

Tell Good Stories

Facts alone lack impact; narratives drive engagement. Use story structure: setup, daily reality, inciting incident, consequences, resolution. Backstory and character obstacles create connection with audiences.

Teach What You Know

Reframe networking as genuine connection-building, not transactional. Clearly communicate your work's value to diverse audiences.

Don't Turn Into Human Spam

Apply offline etiquette to online spaces. Be an active community member, not just a self-promoter. Build worthiness before seeking followers.

Learn to Take a Punch

Develop resilience against criticism. Separate your work from your identity.

Sell Out

Monetization is legitimate and necessary. Build audience before selling products. Collect emails -- utilitarian technology outlasts trends.

Stick Around

Long-term commitment builds trust and collaboration. Embrace setbacks as temporary; maintain focus on what comes next. If you look at your old work and are not embarrassed, you have not grown enough.

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