Nowadays, to become famous, it is not necessary to run naked on the field during a football match. You just need to correctly declare yourself and your work on the Internet, gradually gathering an army of fans and admirers. Writer and artist Austin Kleon in his book ” Show your work! Show your work! ” talks about 10 ways to make yourself noticed.
1. Find the “collective genius”
Among the many destructive myths about creativity, the most dangerous is the myth of the “lonely genius.” He has superhuman powers and is directly connected to the muse. When inspiration comes to him, it strikes him like lightning. He spends the rest of his time locked in his studio, where he turns the idea into a masterpiece. Don’t believe it.
There is only “collective genius”, and good works are always the result of several minds coming together. Now it is easy to connect to the “collective genius” – create on the Internet. There are no guards or fences at the entrance – you do not have to be a celebrity and you will not be asked to show a cool resume . On the Internet, everyone can share something.
2. You can only find yourself if you search
We are always told: find your voice. When I was younger, I didn’t really understand what that meant. I thought about voice a lot, wondered if I had a voice. But now I understand: you can only find yourself if you look for it. The voice is inside us. Speak what you love, and your voice will follow.
Everyone has the opportunity to speak up , to show themselves, but many do not use it. If you want people to know about you and what is important to you, you must share it.
3. Report daily
Science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon once said, “90% of everything is crap.” The same can be said about our work. The problem is that we don’t always know how to tell the good from the bad. So it’s important to show your work to other people and see how they react.
Once a day, when you’ve finished working, go back to what you’ve captured and find a small fragment that you can share.
4. Don’t hide your finds
Where do you find inspiration? What do you fill your head with? What do you read? What websites do you visit? What music do you listen to? Whose work do you adore? Whose ideas do you borrow? Do you have idols? Whose work do you follow online? Who are your role models in your field?
Your inspirations are worth sharing because they help people understand who you are and what you do—sometimes even better than your actual work.
5. Be silent and listen
If you want to have fans, you must first be a fan. If you want to be accepted by society, you must be a worthy member of that society. Talking only about yourself on the Internet is a mistake. You must be a link.
Writer Blake Butler calls it “being an open node.” If you want to receive, you must give. If you want to be known, you must know. Be quiet and listen. Be attentive. Be empathetic. Don’t become a walking advertisement. Be an open node.
6. Meet in person
Meeting people online is great, but becoming friends in real life is even better. If you have been friends with people online for a long time and live in the same city, invite them for a cup of coffee. You can even treat them to lunch. When you go on a trip, tell your online friends that you will be passing through their city. Meet up!
7. Learn to take a punch
When you show your work to the world, you have to be prepared for “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” The more people see your work, the more criticism you will receive. Stay balanced. Remember that your work is something you do, not something you are. Stay close to your family, friends, and those who love you for who you are, not just your work.
8. Keep yourself busy
Be ambitious. Don’t sit idle. Think bigger. Grow your audience. Don’t limit yourself because you have to “be yourself” or “not sell yourself.”
Try new things. If an opportunity comes along that will allow you to spend more time doing what you love, say yes. If an opportunity comes along that promises more money but less of the work you want to do, say no
9. Get Startedagainagain
If you feel you have mastered the skills you need to do your job, it’s worth changing course and finding something new to learn to move on. Don’t be satisfied with your current level of skill; force yourself to become a learner over and over again . Writer Alain de Botton said, “If you’re not ashamed of who you were last year, you didn’t study hard enough.”
10. Leave to return
Working non-stop is great, but there may come a time when your energy is exhausted and you need to replenish the energy that was spent. The best way to recharge is to take a vacation.
Some advice can be harmful. Take what you can use, and forget the rest. There are no rules.