Alliedify

By Austin Kleon

Introduction

In Show Your Work!, Austin Kleon offers a practical guide for creatives, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who want to build an audience without selling out. His core message? You don’t need to be a genius — just be open. By sharing your creative process, learning in public, and staying consistent, you attract the right people to your work.

---

Top 10 Key Lessons

1. You Don’t Need to Be a Genius to Succeed
   Collaboration, transparency, and persistence matter more than brilliance. Share your journey — not just the final product.
2. Think Process, Not Product
   People are curious about how things are made. Document your progress, experiments, and lessons learned along the way.
3. Share Something Small Every Day
   You don’t need a perfect launch. Consistent, small posts — like sketches, notes, or ideas — build connection over time.
4. Tell Good Stories About Your Work
   Facts don’t stick — stories do. Explain your work in a way that’s human, relatable, and emotionally engaging.
5. Teach What You Know
   The best way to build trust is by helping others. Share tutorials, tools, lessons, and insights — even if you’re still learning.
6. Don’t Turn Into Human Spam
   Self-promotion isn’t shouting. Focus on giving value, not just broadcasting your own agenda.
7. Learn to Take a Punch
   Criticism and trolls are inevitable. Stay calm, stay kind, and don’t let them derail your journey.
8. Stick Around Long Enough to Get Noticed
   Success favors the persistent. Show up daily, improve your craft, and your audience will grow organically.
9. Sell Without Selling Out
   It’s okay to make money from your work. Just be honest, transparent, and focused on helping others, not exploiting them.
10. Think Like an Amateur
    Amateurs are curious, open, and willing to share. Stay in love with learning — and don’t pretend to know everything.