Chapter 6: Teach What You Know
The title of this chapter says it all. The author emphasizes that the moment you learn something new, you should turn around and teach it to someone else.
One of my favourite lines from page 117 captures this perfectly:
“The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others. Share your reading list, point to helpful reference materials, create tutorials, or post step-by-step guides using pictures, words, or videos.”
The beauty of teaching is that it helps us master what we are learning. When you explain a concept, repeat a process, or break something down for others, you reinforce your own understanding.
This chapter also connects back to Chapter 4, which talks about sharing your inspirations, the people, ideas, and sources that shape our work. When we teach, we often draw from those same inspirations, whether consciously or not.
Chapter 7: Don’t Turn Into Human Spam
Chapter 7 focuses on engagement, authenticity, and the type of audience you want to attract. The author encourages us to shift our attention away from chasing followers and toward engaging meaningfully with the work of others. Instead of obsessing over who follows you, think about:
- Who inspires you?
- Whose work do you genuinely enjoy?
- What kind of people do you want to attract through your work?
This chapter asks us to think about how we want our audience to experience us. What should people remember after engaging with your work? What value do you want to leave behind?
One of the most memorable lines is from page 132:
“Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love, and you will attract people who love that kind of stuff. Don’t be creepy. Don’t be a jerk. Don’t waste people’s time. Don’t ask too much. And don’t ever ask people to ‘follow you back.’”
Chapter 8: Learn to Take a Punch
This chapter is about criticism, the inevitable price of putting your work into the world. The author reminds us that people may misunderstand, critique, or even dislike what we share. But none of that should stop us from showing up.
As I share more of my process online, I am learning to welcome feedback without letting fear silence me.
Chapter 9: Sell Out
This chapter is not about selling out in the negative sense. It is about learning to share your work consistently, build relationships, and create opportunities, all while staying grounded in your values.
One quote from page 168 stood out to me:
“Life is all about who you know, but who you know depends on who you are and what you do. And the people who know you can’t help you if you’re not doing your work.”
Chapter 10: Stick Around
One thing Show Your Work reminds us is this: the people who get what they are after are often the ones who stay long enough. As Austin Kleon writes on page 183, “It’s very important not to quit prematurely.”
The book also encourages us to take practical sabbaticals, small breaks built into our days, weeks, or months. You do not need a long trip away. Sometimes stepping back briefly is enough to reset your creativity.
Favourite quote:
“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 you can move forward. You can’t be content with mastery; you have to push yourself to become a student again.” — p. 197
CHIDINMA UMAHI NWANKWO 
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