Show Your Work - Part 2

 This is a continuation of the review of the book,  "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon.

1.   Do The Vampire Test

“Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.” —Derek Sivers

It’s a simple way to know who you should let in and out of your life. If, after hanging out with someone you feel worn out and depleted, that person is a vampire. If, after hanging out with someone you still feel full of energy, that person is not a vampire.

2.  Learn to Take A Punch

When you put out your work, you must be ready for the feedback especially the bad ones. The harsh criticism that almost makes you give up but pushes you further than the positive one. Learning how to discern the good criticism from the bad is a skill that takes time to get and learning how to deal with it aka taking a punch is very important. You shouldn't let get to you as it is not personal

The best way to learn how to take a punch is to get hit a lot. This means putting out a lot of work and letting people take their best shot at it.

3.  Stick Around and keep moving

Always keep moving. When you finish one project, start the next. This is a working life and it is even better when your work is aligned with your purpose as you are contributing to something greater than yourself.

The going will get difficult and results will take time to show and you even feel like giving up at times. It is at those times you have to embrace the suck and keep going because you know why you're doing it.

4.   Go Away so you can come back stronger

Take a break here and there so that you can back better and stronger. During the break, it's great to travel and experience new things which lead to even better ideas. So when you do come back to work, you have a lot to do till the next break. So don't wait till retirement to retire, take some of the retirement years and use them often.

5.   Begin Again

“Whenever Picasso learned how to do something, he abandoned it.” - Milton Glaser

When you feel you have learned something well enough, it is high time to change course and do something else so that you can move forward. Picking up a new interest or hobby will be great to steer you forward. Maybe even learn a new language.

When you get rid of old material, you push yourself further and come up with something better. When you throw out old work, what you’re really doing is making room for new work.