Subtitle: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered
Listen Here
Interesting People
Naval Ravikant (Website/Twitter/Must Read Free Book)
Jim Collins (Website/ Tim Ferris Show Episode)
Interesting Links
Books Mentioned
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Win Bigly by Scott Adams
Influence by Robert B Cialdini
Extra Notes
These are Notes that didn't make it into the episode, but still hold value in them.
A historical event that happened in the coffee houses was the final attribution of the universal gravitation law to Sir Isaac Newton. At the time, after his work was out, Robert Hooke was disputing and saying that Newton stole his work. The final discussion took place in front of the scientific community in one of these coffee houses.
In the War of Art, Pressfield mentioned how near-death experiences can change people's life and views. But, since none of us wants to risk such an experience, the advice here is to read obituaries every day, to help you push and not waste your time. An obituary is an article that reports the recent death of a person with details about their life. A perfect reminder from the Stoic emperor Marcus Aurelius in the book of his personal writings "Meditations" is "You Could Leave Life Right Now".
You Want Hearts, Not Eyeballs
Now, we have been establishing our framework for what and where to share your work. You'll eventually come across people that are doing your craft, your fellows and peers. Connect with them, Invite them to work together and collaborate, and steal from each other.
As Brian Michael Bendis, the American comic book writer said, "The trick is not caring what everybody thinks of you, and just caring about what the Right people think of you".
Episode Transcript
Episode Introduction
[0:00] Hello and welcome to the TLDR Show, a podcast where I distill the knowledge of books just for you. I am your host, Abdelrahman, and I am very excited to have you with me. For today's episode, we continue our series on creativity. In the last episode, we covered Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon. We talked about the myth of originality, the importance of quality input, and tips for the creative process. Today, we'll continue the journey and see how can we share our work.
Without further a due, let us dive into our third book, Show Your Work, subtitled 10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered by Austin Kleon
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Austin Kleon Introduction
[0:55] Let us start by introducing our author. Austin is a writer who draws. He makes art with words and books with pictures. He's the author of the best-selling books Newspaper Blackout, and our lovely trilogy of Steal Like An Artist. You can find a number of his talks at TEDx, Google, SXSW, and Pixar on YouTube. You can also find him on Twitter at AustinKleon and on his website Austinkleon.com
Show Your Work Introduction
Show Your Work is an operating manual for self-promotion. As Austin says, if Steal Like An Artist was about stealing from others, Show Your Work is about letting them steal from you.
A lot of the ideas in this book are for anyone who works in the creative field. However, even if you don't consider yourself an artist, you'll enjoy and get some useful bits and pieces here. Let us get to it.
In our last book, Steal Like An Artist, we stopped at sharing your work.
Now, when we talk about sharing your work, we're not just talking about sharing the end product. We're talking about the Work In Progress, the mistakes, the lessons learned, and the small bits and pieces that make your work. When you open up about the process, people will get attracted to you, and they can offer their fellowship, feedback, or even patronage.
Today, we'll follow Simon Sinek's advice from his TED talk, on How great leaders inspire action and start with the why. Then, we'll go with the 8 commandments of Show your work.
Why Should We Share Our Work?
[2:32] So, Why do you need to share your work?
Well, in EP#1 in Predictably Irrational, we talked about how our expectations of something can affect our experience of it. If you share a painting, for example, but there was no context or story behind it. People may admire it, but they won't feel a connection to it. But, if you share your inspiration, process, and the story behind it, people will come to value it even more.
I remember I was listening to the song "Monsters" by James Blunt with a friend. In it, there's the following line "I'm not your son, you're not my father", and my friend was like what the heck is this. Without the proper context, these are the worst words to put in a song. But, when I explained how James's father was battling cancer, and the story behind the song, his view changed completely. So, make sure to tell a story, a well-structured one. A book that's that I have seen recommended many times is "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. But, if you don't want to go through a whole book, there's a blog article by Scott Adams titled "The Day You Become a Better Writer". It's less than 300 words and delivers big times.
I-Find a Scenius or Community
[3:48] Now, the first commandment of Show Your work is to find a scenius or a community.
There's this myth about how creativity gravitates to the "lone genius". But in reality, ideas are nurtured, developed, and eventually stolen in communities that share similar interests. This makes creating, social activity and brings a sense of harmony to it. In a way, joining a community gives us a sense of unity. Which was our 7th weapon of influence, in EP#5 in Pre-Suasion. And as we mentioned, this enhances the support within the community.
Let us take a detour and see some interesting examples, of how powerful communities can be.
[4:32] The first is the coffee houses in London in the 17th century. Garraway Coffee House is one of the most famous examples. In it, the walls were full of books, and the tables are long with chairs on each side to facilitate talking between strangers. The interesting thing about coffees houses like Garraway was that they were a place for discussions. From new books, scientific discoveries, and tools to even dissecting animals and running lectures series. The discussions were continued from the Royal Society of London to the coffee houses and vice versa. This resulted in a huge network of exchanging ideas and an explosion of knowledge. To the degree that a coffee house was named Penny University. You just pay a penny for the coffee and get to watch and listen to some of the greatest minds discussing and sharing their work.
[5:26] The second example is Silicon Valley. I'll be brief here. One of the major reasons for Silicon Valley's success is the networking effect. This was between prestigious universities in the area (e.g Stanford), and big tech companies' employees (e.g. Intel & IBM), which was a driving force for companies and startups to grow.
I'll link in the show notes to a video that of the history of Silicon Valley by the lovely people at Slidebean. I'll also link to an interactive article from the blog Melting Asphalt by Kevin Simler, titled "Going Critical", which shows you the effects of networking.
Let us get back on track.
Now, we understand how important it is to find a community for creative work. After joining your community, Austin asks for us to be an amateur.
If you're saying, this's different from what Pressfield was telling us about turning Pro. Let me try to solve this apparent contradiction.
What you should do is to embody the attitude of the professional from the War of Art, while having a heart of an amateur. In both books, they ask for the same. Continue to learn, love your work, and always be adaptive. Maybe we should come up with a new word. I'll go with pro-mature.
II-Think Process, Not Product
[6:45] Now, the second commandment is to think process, not product.
Take People Behind The Scenes
When we hear any song, for example, there're two things. The finished product in front of us, and the process that created the song. This expands what we can consider being our work. Instead of only sharing the end product, take your followers with you behind the scenes, let them see how the pie is baked. Few things could happen, it'll deeper your connection with your audience, give them an opportunity for feedback on your process and let more people steal from you.
So, I decided to post a quick screenshot of my story of the 1st episode raw recording. I'm doing this right now, definitely not because I want to procrastinate taking the notes. Let me know what would you like to see from my working process, and I'll happily share it.
Anyhow, document and share your process. Keep your thoughts in a journal or audio record them. Take a picture or a video, and scan your handwritten notes. In all of Austin's books at the end, you'll see drafts, handwritten notes of ideas, names for chapters, and newspapers blackouts. It's always a joy for me to look at them.
Also, as you get more proficient, share and teach your secrets whenever you learn and discover something new.
III-Share Something Small Everyday
Send Out A Daily Dispatch
[8:06] Now, our third commandment is to share something small every day. We have expanded what we consider our work, so share the small bits and pieces on a daily basis. You can have it in stories, YouTube shorts, email newsletter, TikTok, Twitter, or wherever your share your work.
So, which parts do you share? Don't absolutely share everything. Share the helpful, entertaining, and the ones you wouldn't mind your mother seeing. If you're doubting yourself, just keep it as a draft for another time.
A tiny tip that I liked from this chapter, is to get a good domain name. If possible, with your name on it. There's a blackout newspaper that reads "Go on, Google Me". Well, wouldn't that be amazing? Imagine if your next employee contacted you because they googled you. This's the same as the 4th type of luck that we discussed in EP#6 in The War of Art.
A good number of people have their names as their domain, including Austin himself, Tim Ferris, Naval, and Paul Graham. In my opinion, the best portfolio is of Derek Sivers. On the home page, there's Me in 10 seconds, Me in 10 minutes, What I am doing Now, and Contact me. Then as you scroll you get to see his projects, his books, his podcast, and articles.
If you don't have one with your name, make sure to have one for your brand. There're many good and easy website builders that it won't even take you 2 hours to create a good-looking portfolio for yourself, like Wix and Squarespace.
IV-Open Your Cabinet of Curiosities
Don't Be A Hoarder
[9:44] Now, our fourth commandment is to open your cabinet of curiosities. In Steal Like An Artist, we mentioned how important it is to be curious, and the importance of quality input for a good output. Now, by being curious, we'll stumble across interesting things here and there. And just like a museum, each of us has a physical or mental collection of interesting things that make you who you are. It could be the music you listen to, the YouTube videos, movies, and TV series that you watch. Maybe you are a master at playing Dota or League of Legends or a sourdough head that only bakes their bread. Whatever you're into, it's what makes you. A nice quote from the book by Ira Glass, a public radio personality from NPR, is "All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have a taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple of years, you make stuff, it's just not that good. It's trying to be good, it has potential, but it's not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer"
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No Guilty Pleasures
I know that now some of you will be thinking, I like this and that, but I'm embarrassed to share them. It's exactly these embarrassing hobbies that make you who you're. Don't edit yourself too much, or you'll suffocate.
Like Dave Grohl, the American Musician, said, "I don't believe in guilty pleasures. If you f***ing like something, like it". Unless it's a chocolate cake, and you're on a diet and your friend is bringing it that night, then it's guilt and no pleasure.
Credit Is Always Due
So, since you're now sharing how where do you get your input, make sure to credit the creators. After all, we're stealing like artists, not thieves. Add context to it when possible, and always link back. This way, you give people who follow you the chance to create their own tree and branch out into knowing new people.
Talk About Yourself At the Parties
Another part of sharing your curiosity with the world is for you to talk about yourself at social gatherings. Make sure that you can explain what you do to a child all the way to a senior citizen and everyone in between. Think of it as one of WIRED YouTube videos, where they have an expert explain a topic at 5 different levels of difficulty. From a child level of understanding all the way to an expert level. So, you should have your own levels of telling your story to match your audience's level. Remember from Win Bigly to Pace and Lead. And as my Professional Communication Skills course tutor used to say, "Keep It Short & Simple", or KISS for the acronym.
And I'll link to WIRED videos' playlist in the show notes.
V-Don't Turn Into a Human Spam
Shut Up and Listen
[12:28] Now, our fifth commandment is "Don't Turn Into a Human Spam". Let me explain. What we have been building so far is how to share and become a contributor. There're two extremes to it, that we need to avoid. The first one is the Hoarder. They're the ones who just keep everything to themselves. They share no secrets, lessons, or resources. It's all theirs and theirs alone. The second extreme is what Austin calls Human Spam. This one isn't willing to listen, watch or care about anyone else work. For them, it's only their work that needs to be shared and enjoyed. They forget that It's a give and take. Remember reciprocation from EP#2.
Another type of people that you need to avoid becoming and meeting are vampires. Not the Dracula type, but a different one. The story for this type of vampire originated from Pablo Picasso. He was infamous for sucking all the energy out of the people he met. So, you'd come and spend time with him. By the end of the day, you'd leave nervous and exhausted, while he'd go back working all night using your energy.
We all know people who just drain your soul when hanging out with them. But, it applies to more than people. Your vampire could be your job, and hobby that you practice, or even someplace. The common point is that after leaving it, you feel drained of energy and will.
So, next time you meet one of these vampires, throw them with a garlic head. Ok, maybe not the garlic, but don't stay with them.
VI-Learn To Take A Punch
Let 'em Take Their Best Shot
[14:06] Now, our sixth commandment is to learn to take a punch. We covered how to take criticism in the previous two books. In Steal Like An Artist, we learned about the Man In the Arena. And today, at last, we come to our boxing lesson.
Just as you'll meet your companions along the way, you'll also meet the self acclaimed critics and the trolls. Don't waste your time or energy on them. Austin's wife used to yell at him by saying, "Quite Picking fights on Twitter and go make something". Remember, what matters at the end of the day, is the work.
The first lesson here is from the War of Art, don't take it personally. The second is to learn to take a punch. Austin uses a boxing analogy here, and I like it so much that I won't even try to change it.
Here's how you take literal & metaphorical punches in 5 simple steps:
Step 1: Relax and Breath: your worst fear won't probably happen, and if it does, it won't be as bad as you think. So, two things here. The first is a quote from Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, "We suffer more in our imagination than in reality". Two, practice meditation or Fear Setting. It's a technique I heard from Tim Ferris. There are 3 steps to it. Define, Prevent, Repair. Let us take an example. You get a piece of paper or on your laptop. At the top, you start with your hypothetical fear. What if I quit my job, or ask that girl out, or fail to find a job in the next two weeks. Below your what if, you draw three columns. One for define, Prevent and repair. In define, you write what could happen if you did your fear? Let us take the example of not finding a job. In define, you could write, No.1 my savings would run out in 4 weeks. No.2 I may fall into depression. You keep writing the results that you fear would happen. Then, you move to column 2, prevent. Here, you'll be asking yourself, what could you do to prevent the things in column 1 from happening or decreasing their possibility? So, for your savings, you could say, I'll find a part-time job. For the depression, if you know a close friend who's helpful in this situation. Maybe contact them and talk with them. Then you move to column 3, repair. Here, you assume that the worst-case scenario happened. What can you do to repair it? For savings, you can ask a family member for a loan. For depression, you can schedule a visit to your psychiatrist. So remember, What if, then define, prevent, and repair. Now, all of these are in the first step of fear settings. I'll link to Tim's video, and you can learn the other two steps.
Now, back to our boxing lesson. The second step to take a punch is to strengthen your neck. You do this by getting critiqued a lot. Put more work out there, let them take their best shot, and keep going
The third step is to roll with the punches. Since criticism is coming, either way, have fun with it. Do they hate your corny jokes? Add more of them. In the end, it's all for you.
Step 4, protect your vulnerable areas. In boxing, those would be the chin, liver, kidney, etc. For you, if your work is too sensitive, or you aren't ready to share it yet, you can always keep it as a draft. And also remember, vulnerable areas are few and select, so don't use this as an excuse and say that none of your work is ready to be share.
The last is to keep your balance. Don't burn bridges with the people close to you. Maintain a balance between both your work and your life.
With these 5 steps, you have a good foundation to take down the critics and the trolls.
VII-Sell Out
Even The Renaissance Had to Be Funded
[18:10] Now, our seventh commandment is to sell out. We finished our boxing lesson, and your work is out there, it'd be nice to make a living out of it. After all, if you love it, making money out of it would be amazing.
The Hedgehog Concept by Jim Collins
Let us take a quick detour and introduce you to a new concept called the Hedgehog. It's by Jim Collins in his amazing book "Good to Great". We mentioned Jim Collins in EP#6 when we talked about another principle of his, the flywheel principle.
The hedgehog is a concept that works for companies, but can also be used for individuals. It is a Venn diagram, with three circles that intersect in the middle. The first circle is about What you Deeply passionate about? We have been answering this throughout Steal like an Artist. The second circle is what can you be the best in the world at? We answered this one in EP#4 in Scott Adam's Talent Stack. The last circle, is what drives your Economic Engine? Or how can you make money out of it? What you want is to have something that you love, build a talent stack around it, and find a way to monetize it. The intersection of these 3 circles is what moves companies and individuals from Good to Great.
So for artists to make some money, there're a ton of ways. Sponsorship, a small "Buy me a coffee" tag on your website, some form of patronage or merchandise. As Austin says, think of it as passing around the hat after a performance. But, do only after you feel you're putting something worthy out there.
There's a catch, though. The moment money is involved, you'd start to see how much people really value your work. Not you, your work. Remember, never take it personally.
A perfect example is a story from the book about Austin's friend, John T.Unger.
He'd be doing a poetry reading, and a guy came afterward and said to him, "Your poem changed my life, man". John would say,"Oh, thanks. Want to buy a book? It's five dollars". The guy would look at the book and say "Naah, that's ok". To which John would respond, "Geez, how much is your life worth?"
So, when it comes to making money, here's Austin's Golden Rule "If an opportunity comes along that will allow you to do more of the kind of work you want to do, say Yes. If an opportunity comes along that would mean more money, but less of the kind of work you want to do, say No". And, when things work out, pay it forward. Help those around you and other creators.
VIII-Stick Around
Don't Quite Your Show
[20:52] The last commandment in the book is to stick around. To never quit your work. To use the momentum that you gain from ending any project to start a new one, or as Austin calls it, chain-smoking.
This's how I apply this chain-smoking. Whenever I reach the last few pages of a book, I'd stop. In my next reading session, I'll come back, finish it and start a new one directly.
You also need to remember, rest is as important as your work. You don't need to wait for retirement, or annual leave, to have a break. Take smaller ones daily or weekly. You can do it while commuting, exercising, or walking in nature. Just disconnect from the world around you, and recharge for a bit.
Conclusion
[21:36] o wrap things up, we started with why it's important to share the work behind the work. Adding context to it increases its value in the eyes of the receiver. We also expanded on what we call work to include the end product, the inspirations, failures, lessons learned, and even the scraps from brainstorming. Besides this, we mentioned how important it's to find a community, that you can connect, share and steal from them.
Also, our mini boxing lesson taught us how to take a punch from critics and trolls, and how important it's for you to never stop, and always keep going.
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Now, Go and share your work. Maybe with a close friend, or with me. Just let it out to the world. Send me your thoughts and work over Twitter and Instagram at TldrShow.
For our next, we come to the finale of both the trilogy and the series. And as we did with the last point from Steal Like An Artist, we will expand on the last point here of never quitting when we discuss Keep Going next week.
As always, make sure to check the website at tldr-show.com for the show notes, links to social media, episode transcript, and the extra good stuff. Till next time, be critical, be curious.
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