Show Your Work!

Show Your Work! talks about the importance of being discoverable, showcasing your work like a professional, and networking properly in order to succeed with your creative work.

Conventional theory teaches us that geniuses are oftentimes antisocial creatures. That they spend their lives trapped in their own minds and as a result, masterpieces emerge. However, this approach to creativity is wrong. Because it fails to address the role of curators, friends and families, sources of inspiration, and many other contributors. Therefore, a great first step towards becoming a creative genius is to network, share, and be open to new perspectives.

The process of creating added value in the world is a complex one, but one thing is for sure: no great mind developed a masterpiece solely on its own. Only by reading previous work, researching, sharing ideas, and listening to others, can we build a comprehensive bigger picture and come up with even greater concepts. Once you start contouring your masterpiece, you’ll have to document it.

Showcase your process, the journey behind it, and develop an audience around it. Because frankly, the world is full of hidden geniuses, so why become one of them? Don’t be afraid to show the world your work, even if it’s unfinished. Therefore, go online! Create a community on a forum, a social platform, or even Youtube videos. Documenting can help you receive highly valuable feedback as well, so there’s a lot to gain from it!

The author swears by the value of an online presence. He states that if it wasn’t for his website, many of his books, art shows, and even friendships, wouldn’t exist. Truth be told, the online environment plays a huge role in our lives. Whether we like to admit it or not. It’s where we connect most with each other and share ideas, concepts, life events, struggles, and whatnot! Showcasing your work doesn’t mean just popping up at events, meeting new people, talking proudly and enthusiastically about your portfolio of skills and accomplishments, but also being present where everybody is: online! The internet provides a series of opportunities for professionals in all fields, and it’s the only place where you can meet everyone at once. While social media is a great way to connect with your audience, the author thinks they’re not going to be here forever, just like in the case of MySpace. Unlike social media platforms, websites are safer. Once you buy a domain and make sure to renew it before the expiration date, you get a personal space online to showcase your work the way you want to, such as through a blog. In fact, this is how the author started out as well. He shared his ideas…