Book in 1 Sentence
“It is actually true that life is all about “who you know.” But who you know is largely dependent on who you are and what you do, and the people you know can’t do anything for you if you’re not doing good work. Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love and you’ll attract people who love that kind of stuff. It’s that simple. “
3 TakeAways
- The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others. Share your reading list. Point to helpful reference materials. Create some tutorials and post them online. Use pictures, words, and video. Take people step-by-step through part of your process. As blogger Kathy Sierra says, “Make people better at something they want to be better at.”
- “If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive.” —Kenneth Goldsmith
- “Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.” —Derek Sivers
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Notes & Quotes
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BE AN AMATEUR
“Amateurs have raw enthusiasm; they are willing to try anything and share results. They are not afraid of mistakes or being “perfect”, they freely follow their instincts and whims. They are not scared to look Absurd or silly or ridiculous in public.”
Philosophy in play
“The best way to get started on the path to sharing your work is to think about what you want to learn, and make a commitment to learning it in front of others.”
“The only way to find your voice is to use it. It’s hardwired, built into you. Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow.”
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What to do?
Lookout for the voids and gaps that you can fill with your effort no matter how small they are or might appear silly or insignificant to others. it doesn’t matter if it will earn money in the long run, all that matters is that you are pursuing and sharing what you love and the people who love the same things will find you!
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Become a documentarian of what you do!
“The first step is to scoop up the scraps and the residue of your process and shape them into some interesting bit of media that you can share. You have to turn the invisible into something other people can see. “You have to make stuff,””
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Share something small every day Send out a daily dispatch. “forget about decades, forget about years, and forget about months. Focus on days. The day is the only unit of time that I can really get my head around.”
pick and choose a platform based on what you do and the people you’re trying to reach.
“Make no mistake: This is not your diary. You are not letting it all hang out. You are picking and choosing every single word.” —Dani Shapiro
As publicist Lauren Cerand says, “Post as though everyone who can read it has the power to fire you.” Be open, share imperfect and unfinished work that you want feedback on, but don’t share absolutely everything.
There’s a big, big difference between sharing and over-sharing.
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“Stock and flow” -An economic concept by writer Robin Sloan
Flow – is the feed. It’s the stream of daily and sub-daily updates that remind people you exist.
Stock is the durable stuff. It’s the content you produce that’s as interesting in two months (or two years) as it is today. It’s what people discover via search. It’s what spreads slowly but surely, building fans over time.”
The magic formula is to maintain your flow while working on your stock in the background.
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Credits are always due- give them
Don’t share things you can’t properly credit. Find the right credit, or don’t share.
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Tell Good stories
“‘The cat sat on a mat’ is not a story. ‘The cat sat on the dog’s mat’ is a story.”
—John le Carré
structure of story: tidy, sturdy, and logical.
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credit image: Book ” Show your Work”
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A strong pitch follows a three-act structure: past, present, future.
- Act one: your journey so far.
- Act two: your current situation and efforts.
- Act three: where you’re headed and how they can assist.
Be clear, concise, and respectful of your audience’s time.
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Talk about yourself at parties
“You got to make your case.”
—Kanye West
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Irl= in real life
“You and I will be around a lot longer than Twitter, and nothing substitutes face to face.” —Rob Delaney
” I like asking my artist friends to take me to their favorite art museums and asking my writer friends to take me to their favorite bookstore. If we get sick of talking to one another, we can browse, and if we get sick of browsing, we can grab a coffee in the café.”
“Your real peers—the people who share your obsessions, the people who share a similar mission to your own, the people with whom you share a mutual respect. There will only be a handful or so of them, but they’re so, so important.”
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handling punches
“The trick is not caring what EVERYBODY thinks of you and just caring about what the RIGHT people think of you.” —Brian Michael Bendis
- Don’t engage with trolls; they thrive on negativity. Use the block button and delete hateful comments.
- Think of nasty comments like trash—they should be discarded. Consider turning off comments if necessary.
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Taking Breaks and Refreshing Creativity:
The minute you stop wanting something you get it.”
—Andy Warhol
- Recognize the importance of breaks to rejuvenate creativity.
- Disconnect from technology, engage in physical activity, or spend time in nature to recharge.
- Commute:
- Use travel time productively; write, doodle, or read on trains or buses.
- Commuting acts as a natural boundary between work and home life.
- Exercise:
- Physical activity relaxes the mind and fosters creativity.
- Even if you dislike exercise, owning a dog can ensure regular activity.
- Nature:
- Spend time outdoors to disconnect from electronics and rejuvenate.
- Visiting parks, hiking, or gardening can provide a much-needed break from work.
- Refreshing Perspectives:
- Taking breaks every few years can keep your perspective fresh.
- Embrace change and constantly seek new experiences to fuel creativity.
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