“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
This is the advice we often hear when struggling to get noticed as creators. While mandatory, this must be coupled with relentless self-promotion. Or, as Austin Kleon stresses in Show Your Work, sharing and posting must be baked into your process.
They make you discoverable—not by wasting time ‘networking’ but by leveraging the network—a true alternative to self-promotion for those of us who hate it.
Since that includes me, I’ll share a few ‘cross-referential’ reflections on concepts in Show Your Work I found particularly impactful.
Scenius
Unlike self-promotion, which can feel like pushy marketing, sharing forges meaningful connections. However, doing it effectively requires first shedding an unproductive notion:
‘The lone genius myth.’
Legendary musician Brian Eno emphasizes that creativity is not ‘inherently anti-social.’ We thrive when we find a scenius. That is a culture and demographic forming an ‘ecology of talent.’ And as Kleon explains:
“(…) many of the people who we think of as young geniuses were actually part of a whole scene of people who were supporting each other, looking at each other’s work, copying from each other, stealing ideas, and contributing ideas.”
“Scenius doesn’t take away from the achievements of those great individuals; it just acknowledges that good work isn’t created in a vacuum and that creativity is always, in some sense, a collaboration, the result of a mind connected to other minds.” — Show Your Work p.11
Culturally, people like the Invisible Skratch Piklz and the Beat Junkies emerged from the Bay Area’s turntablism mobile era. While that was underground, the works of people like Qbert became a cross-cultural phenomenon.
Similarly, artists like Cope2, Seen, Ramelzee, Basquiat, Futura, and Fame received global recognition by leveraging the momentum of birthing Graffiti and Hip-Hop culture.
Esoterically, such collectives can be understood as egregores or group minds. According to Mark Stavish, an egregore is:
“(…) an autonomous psychic entity composed of and influencing the thoughts of a group of people…” — Mark Stavish. Egregores
The good news is that:
- You don’t have to be a genius. Just contribute to the ‘scenius’ you want to be part of. Become a microcosmic reflection of that macrocosm.
- Today, this is easier than ever, as the internet is a collection of ‘sceniuses’ beyond geographical boundaries.
On the internet, you can contribute to any community. However, challenges remain as some platforms prioritize content based on location. Let me know your thoughts.
Be a Fan First
Whether you look at it culturally, esoterically, or both, one thing is essential — Being a fan of the culture you aspire to. Without that, nothing works, as the collective, the scenius, won’t recognize you as one of them. Nor would they relate to your work.
Conversely, experimenting can foster self-discovery and identifying where you (actually) belong. Sometimes, that happens accidentally, like me and fitness and, more recently, Esotericism.
Although I engage in both daily, I find it almost impossible to consume (most) of the content. On the contrary, I can binge-watch people like Christian Mate Grab, Matt Attia, Creative Ryan, Dan Koe, and Life of Riza. Let me know if that resonates.
“If you want fans, you have to be a fan first. If you want to be accepted by a community, you have to first be a good citizen of that community. If you’re only pointing to your own stuff online, you are doing it wrong. You have to be a connector.” — Show Your Work p.127
Use Your Voice
Sharing what you love is the key to finding your voice. Besides contributing to scenius, this enables you to exist. As Show Your Work offers:
“(…) in this day and age, if your work isn’t online, it doesn’t exist. We all have the opportunity to use our voices and to have our say, but so many of us are wasting it. If you want people to know about what you do and the things you care about, you have to share.”
— Show Your Work p.23
Be An Amateur
Often underrated, embracing an amateur mindset provides several key benefits:
- It brings enthusiasm;
- It releases the pressure to always deliver as a professional;
- It fosters experimentation, engaging our childlike curiosity;
In the words of the Zen monk Shinryu Suzuki:
“In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are a few…” —Shinryu Suzuki
According to the author C.S Lewis:
“The fellow-pupil can help more than the master because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago he has forgotten.” — C.S Lewis
This idea is why many create their best work when they do so for their past selves. The seventh or eighth grader teaches the fourth or third.
Lifelong Learning
There’s no option but to become a lifelong learner, using failure as feedback, as also emphasized by Psycho-Cybernetics. Transcending location, at least on paper, implies our work competes globally.
“The world is changing at such a rapid rate that is turning us all into amateurs. Even for professionals, the best way to flourish is to retain an amateur’s spirit and embrace uncertainty and the unknown(…).”
“Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you.” — Show Your Work p.18-19
Coders keep learning new technologies. Creators push their craft’s envelope, one piece at a time. It’s not about perfection but about moving the needle, even so slightly.
Like Sisyphus, the journey lies in the progress made with each attempt—learning, evolving, and moving forward. Consider sharing your thoughts.
Embrace Vulnerability
“When you put your work into the world, you have to be ready for the good, the bad, and the ugly. The more people come across your work, the more criticism you’ll face(…).”
“Fear is often just in the imagination taking a wrong turn. Bad criticism is not the end of the world. As far as I know, no one has ever died from a bad review. Take a deep breath and accept whatever comes.” — Show Your Work p. 149-151
The more you succeed, the more haters you’ll face. This shouldn’t deter you. Kleon suggests rolling with the punches and building a thick skin. Don’t care about the opinions of people you don’t care about, but only about those you (actually) do.
Courage
This is why I believe courage—not self-confidence—keeps us going as creators. One of the best pieces of advice I heard on this is from Gary Vee, using NFL and NBA players as examples. It was something along the lines of:
“Imagine you’re on the field. Inevitably, you’ll get both boos and cheers. Neither should distract you from bringing your A-game as a player…” — Paraphrased from Gary Vee
Death
Mentioning courage, the Stoics recognized death as an incredible guide. A similar perspective is found in Carlos Castaneda’s teachings. And Kleon and Steve Jobs agree with both.
Remembering it’s all coming to an end is extremely liberating, as it enables us to:
- Put things into perspective;
- See our priorities clearly.
No matter how overwhelming, doubt, shame, and no confidence perish when death is considered.
Near-death experiences changed the lives of creators like George Lucas. While they are not mandatory, you can read obituaries of (other) remarkable individuals as a morning ritual. This makes you want to live maximally fully.
Another way to embrace Memento Mori is by carrying a subtle reminder. For me, it was getting a watch after turning 35 and mourning my cat’s death. For a gym buddy, a tattoo on his back. For Tim Ferriss, a little skull hidden in his first book. Let me know about you.
Daily Dispatch
Sharing a little something daily creates a huge difference. It makes every day count, keeping you connected with your audience. I use reflections or quotes from my upcoming videos.
Whether it helps the algorithm, it’s meaningful to me. Sometimes people comment that these posts have a direct application in their current situation.
Many creators get inspired by Seth Godin’s daily blog posts. A figure who inspires me is Cagliostro, the inventor of the Egyptian Rite in Freemasonry.
“As one coming from the South and the brilliant light of noon, with full knowledge of nature and active communion with God, I now go toward the North into the fog, and abandoning at every step a piece of myself, giving way, diminishing at each stop, leaving a little more light for you, a little more clarity and warmth, a little more vitality, until the end of my journey when the Rose blossoms in its fullness on the cross. I am Cagliostro…”
Teach What You Know
“The best way to learn something is to (actually) teach it.”
— Jim Kwik
The Feynman technique goes beyond standard aeternalizing methods. Invented by Dr. Richard Feynman, it involves explaining concepts as if teaching someone else, which is your audience several grades behind.
Show Your Work advocates to teach personal breakthroughs and insights from your progress. No, this doesn’t give your so-called ‘secrets away.’ It:
- Preserves your work and proficiency;
- Lets you build authority;
- Embeds your mastery into who you are while eternalizing it in the objective.
So, it’s profoundly spiritual, transcending the limitations of the self. Consider Think Media’s Sean Cannell feeling ready to die, as his children have a catalog of his wisdom, thanks to content creation.
Based on experience:
- The more groundbreaking an idea or method, the more it deserves to be shared.
- The more relevant it is to the person you currently are, also the more it must be shared.
“Teaching people doesn’t subtract value from what you do, it actually adds to it. When you teach someone how to do your work, you are, in effect, generating more interest in your work. People feel closer to your work because letting them in on what you know…” — Show Your Work p.119
Birth Death Rebirth
“When you feel like you’ve learned whatever there is to learn from what you’re doing, it’s time to change course and find something new to learn so that you can move forward. You can’t be content with mastery; You have to push yourself to become a student again.” — Says Kleon on page 197
In the words of Alain de Botton:
“Anyone who isn’t embarrassed of who they were last year probably isn’t learning enough.” — Alain de Botton
As Ryan Holiday and some mystery schools would agree:
‘Climbing one mountain exposes another higher peak.’ — The Daily Stoic
Besides tapping into your full potential, this allows you to deliver unique work. It lets you form what Robert Green calls Da Vinci’s perspective.
Robert Anton Wilson and Naval Ravikant would agree that:
“Specialization is for insects.” — Naval
Naval elaborates that:
“If you go to a circus and see a bear, that’s kind of interesting. But not that much. If you see a unicycle, that’s interesting. But if you see a bear on a unicycle, that’s really interesting(…)” — Naval
“All humans are broad, but we get summarized in pithy ways(…). At some deep level, we know that’s not true. Every human is capable of experiencing every experience and every thought. Everyone should be able to do everything. You’ve got one life.” — Naval
By constantly re-inventing yourself, you become your own unique variation of the unicycle-riding bear… the Vitruvian man.
The creator economy favors polymaths and T-shaped individuals. Becoming one is not just practical but also deeply spiritual and human. It aligns with the principle of IAO—birth, death, rebirth—which, according to one prophet, isn’t meant to be experienced just once but repeatedly in a lifetime.
Think of this as living multiple lives in one, each tied to a distinct purpose (or meaning), as Logotherapy teaches. But that’s just my opinion. Let me know if you agree. Subscribe. Check my channel. And thank you for your time!
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