Stop Hiding Your Work: What I Learned from Austin Kleon's Show Your Work
Most of us wait. We wait until the project is done, until the portfolio is polished, until we feel "ready." And then we wonder why nobody knows what we do.
Austin Kleon's Show Your Work changed the way I think about creative visibility. It's not a book about self-promotion — it's a book about generosity, connection, and the quiet discipline of sharing what you're learning. Here are the ideas that stuck with me the most.
You Don't Have to Be an Expert
There's a beautiful concept in the book called scenius — the idea that creativity doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in communities of people who are learning from each other, borrowing ideas, remixing, and building something none of them could have built alone. Nobody in the group needs to be a genius. The magic is in the exchange.
This is liberating. It means you don't have to wait until you've "arrived" to start contributing. Make a commitment to learn in public. Share your journey, not just your destination.
Share the Process, Not Just the Product
We're trained to present finished work. But people connect with process. When you share your sources of inspiration, the messy middle, the challenges you're working through — you become relatable. You become human. And that's far more compelling than a polished case study.
Think of it in three stages. Early on, talk about what's inspiring you and what you're exploring. In the middle, share your methods and progress. At the end, reflect on outcomes and lessons learned. This kind of ongoing narrative is worth more than any résumé, because it shows people what you're working on right now.
The Daily Practice
Here's the simple discipline: once a day, before bed, look through what you've documented and share something from it. It doesn't have to be groundbreaking. It just has to be consistent.
But before you hit publish, ask yourself two questions: So what? and Is this useful to my reader? If the answer to either is "not really," hold it back. Generosity isn't the same as oversharing.
Think in Flow and Stock
Not everything you share carries the same weight, and that's fine. Flow is the daily stream — updates, observations, small insights. It keeps you visible and in rhythm. Stock is the stuff that lasts — the post someone bookmarks, the essay that's still relevant two months later. The beautiful thing is that stock often evolves from flow. Today's quick observation can become next month's best piece.
Own Your Space
Platforms come and go. Remember Myspace? Buy a domain with your name on it and build there. LinkedIn, Instagram, and whatever comes next are rented land. Your own site is home.
Teach Everything You Know
This one is counterintuitive. Won't sharing your secrets help your competition? In practice, no. When you teach openly, people feel like they were part of your journey. They root for you. They trust you. Hoarding knowledge creates distance; sharing it builds community.
Tell Better Stories
Here's something worth sitting with: how people feel about your work depends entirely on the story you tell them about it. And how they feel about it determines its value. A story is a lens — it frames perception. Learn to tell good ones, and your work will speak louder.
Be a Member Before You're a Leader
Want people to listen to you? Start by listening to them. The best way to lead a community is to first be a genuinely great member of one. Be curious. Be generous. Be present.
And if you want followers, the recipe is deceptively simple: be someone worth following. Be interested in things, and you'll become interesting.
Find Your Tribe
The whole act of putting your work out there is really about discovery — finding the people who think the way you do, care about the things you care about, and are building in the same direction. Be thoughtful about where you look. The right room matters more than the biggest room.
Play the Long Game
As your work gets more visible, criticism will come. That's the deal. Toughen up, learn to roll with it, and resist the urge to overthink every negative comment.
Keep showing up. Collect emails. Help others freely. Share valuable things without expecting a return. You'll get what you want if you stick around long enough — just don't quit too early.
And when you finally feel like you've mastered something? When the learning slows down and the spark fades? That's not the end. That's your cue to move on, become a beginner again, and start the whole beautiful cycle over.
Inspired by Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon. If these ideas resonate, I'd highly recommend picking up the book — it's a short, energizing read that might just change how you think about sharing your craft.