Why and How to Share Your Work

If you are thinking of sharing your work, thoughts, or knowledge with the world but are hesitant about whether or not you should do it and how you should do it, maybe this article is for you. Whether expressing yourself on social media, creating videos on YouTube, writing a blog, or presenting your work in any other form to the world, I highly encourage you to do so. Let me explain both 'why' and 'how' throughout this article, as, often in life, the 'why' is more consequential than the 'how.' As Friedrich Nietzsche said,

A Bit of My Personal Journey of Expressing Myself

I like to gain and share knowledge. I always knew I was curious and inquisitive, but the fact that I like to share knowledge was not clear to me until I started teaching during my university days. Five years of teaching brought me immense pleasure and nourishment of my soul. Even when I left teaching for a corporate job, I always tried to engage with bright people to learn from them and share my thoughts with them. Thanks to different apps like Meetup, I can now join numerous book, science, or philosophy clubs and take part in conversations with brilliant minds from all corners of the globe. Engaging in intellectually stimulating conversations, where I challenge others and, in turn, get challenged, has become my favorite way to experience a dopamine boost.

As I started reading more seriously and regularly in recent years, sharing my understanding became more instinctive for me. Also, I wanted to contribute to the world by sharing my ideas in a meaningful way rather than being just a passive consumer of wisdom. I started a Facebook Page and YouTube channel to share my thoughts. Soon, I realized that, although it's easier to reach a wider audience over those mediums, I love writing more when it comes to sharing my thoughts. To put it bluntly, I enjoy reading my writing more than I enjoy watching my video on YouTube. The concept behind my website's content is to document the lessons and insights gained from various facets of life, including personal experiences, travels, reading, as well as from watching videos and listening to podcasts. I want these write-ups to be an invaluable source of knowledge where I can always come back and read and refresh my understanding. It's also a way of giving back to society. Furthermore, the act of writing itself brings me immense pleasure, providing me with extended periods of solitude for reflection and contemplation. Last but not the least, through these writings, I aspire to build a community of like-minded individuals who share a common interest and passion for personal and emotional growth. Perhaps, it will take a lot of time to build a community, but what is more beautiful than keeping the tiny glimmer of hope alive? It reminds me of the quote from the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption.'

By now, you must have realized I haven't given you any strong Why for yourself. Perhaps I have given you some hints by exposing my Why. Maybe you are also thinking in the same way I am thinking, or maybe you have different reasons. Imagine your next employer doesn't need your resume because they have already seen your work. Or who knows, someday your hobby will become a full-time profession and financial support. Just imagine the possibility where you do what you love to do and attract a community of like-minded people in the process.

But expressing yourself or making your thoughts or work public is not easy, as you open the door for both encouragement and criticism, which could be a bit overwhelming at times. I will also discuss how to deal with it. Huge shoutout to Austin Kleon, as his book 'Show Your Work' inspired me a lot. Without any further ado, let's dive into why and how to share your work.

It's Your Duty to Contribute Your Part to the Talent Ecology

We often erroneously think we have to be an out-of-the-world genius with exceptional and original ideas if we want to share our work in public. A healthier way of thinking about it would be: we are part of a talent ecology. We continuously learn from a large group of people who form an interconnected and often interdependent network of ideas. People like you and me learn, take inspiration, and contribute to the ecology. Creativity is actually a collaboration, the result of taking inspiration from other people and sharing your ideas that will inspire other people. Hence, share if you have something to share without thinking if it's going to change the world or not. Keep in mind what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said,

It's very slow, awkward, and could be embarrassing at the beginning, but we all know every champion was once a beginner. Often, amateurs can teach us more than experts. Throughout my university days, I learned many subjects from my classmates that I struggled to understand from my teachers. Probably, they were going through the same difficulties that I was going through back then. It was recent for them; on the other hand, the teachers were experts who met those difficulties long ago and probably forgot them long ago.

Embrace the fact that you're a beginner, and still, you can be of help to others. With technology advancing rapidly, things are changing at an astonishing pace and will continue to do so. We're entering an era where our success depends on how quickly we can learn, unlearn, and relearn. There won't be enough time to become an expert because trending technology keeps getting replaced by new ones, and the cycle continues. So, even if you aim to grow professionally in the coming years, the best approach is to nurture an amateur spirit and be comfortable with the unknown and ambiguity.

Decide what you want to learn and be committed to that learning path, and keep sharing your learning and understanding with others. Be open to feedback. Try what you can learn from their feedback and grow. Never give up the mindset of a committed amateur. Gradually, you will see you will attract people who can learn from you and vice versa. Slowly but surely!

Show Your Journey: Share Often, Share Digitally!

It's a wise decision to leverage the digital platform to showcase your work. Though it may seem simplistic, it holds true in the 21st century: if your work isn't available digitally, it's almost as if it doesn't exist. Share helpful content consistently and frequently. Remember the power of compounding, committing to it for the long term without losing focus. Take your followers on a journey to showcase your work, enabling them to grow alongside you. Develop a systematic approach for how often you share, ensuring it adds value to others. In essence, shaping your online presence is more of an art than a science, giving you the flexibility to align it with your preferences. As Jeff Bezos once said,

If you haven't created your own content yet, share with your audience the sources of your inspiration. Introduce yourself by offering glimpses into your preferences—whether it's music, videos, art, or thoughts. Share the people who inspire you, your favorite influencers, your vacation spots, and the types of books you enjoy. This not only gives your audience insight into your personality but also helps build a connection based on shared interests and tastes.

If your audience resonates with your tastes, they are likely to stay engaged. However, it's crucial to understand the fine line between sharing and over-sharing. As mentioned earlier, defining your own limits is essential; it's more of an art than a science.

If you're committed to your vision, I strongly recommend building your own website. It may sound technical, but it's easier than it sounds. Having a digital space under your name opens up a world of opportunities. When I purchased my own domain, www.somratabdullah.com, I was a newcomer, much like you, if not more so. I personally designed the structure of this website with a few Google searches and some time investment. It was a rewarding experience. This website helped me reinvent myself. I write down my thoughts and learnings here. It gives me a place where I can come back and see how I used to think. It's like a chronological version of myself. I can see the quality difference between my initial and current articles, and this sense of growth brings me sheer joy and fulfillment.

You have numerous ideas, interests, and thoughts swirling in your mind—so many things you like and want to share. If you don't document them, they slip away. Our brains aren't ideal for long-term storage of ideas. Opening your mental "safe" one day may reveal only ashes. Therefore, think of your platform as your second brain. Seize the opportunity to prevent your thoughts from fading into oblivion. Write them down once, and they'll be preserved for eternity!

Therefore, don't hesitate. Secure your own space on the internet. Having your domain also gives you control over how you interact with your audience. So, obtain your domain, plan for the long term, stay committed, relish your personal growth, and let the seemingly impossible become a reality. Speaking of the impossible, let me leave you with a quote from Wernher von Braun,

Raise the Bar, and Shoot for Fulfillment

Instead of chasing a massive following, focus on how you can develop yourself in the process. Be relentless about learning and teaching (sharing) new things. Pay attention to what other people are doing; learn from them and appreciate them. It's not only about boasting about yourself online. If you want to be interesting, be interested first.

Try to form a genuine connection with your audience. Tell compelling stories. Remember, you are dealing with human beings. Personal stories can make complex issues more relatable, and the value of things changes when people know the story around them. Practice telling your own stories. They will get better the more you tell them. Be honest and sincere. You want hearts (community), not just eyeballs (views/followers).

However, be prepared that you will receive both constructive criticism and hatred. Just by reading their comments, you can tell if that person cares about your work or is just a spiteful critic. If someone is criticizing your work, learn to take it positively. These feedbacks are like gifts. Don't avoid them if you really want to learn, connect, and grow. As Adam Grant said in his book 'Think Again':

Avoid becoming overly attached to your ideas, treating them as if they are your identities. Be open to changing your mind if presented with better data or proof. Shielding yourself from criticism to avoid embarrassment is self-destructive and inhibits personal growth. I come from a background where family members critiqued and pushed my boundaries. I've had friends who were straightforward and didn't sugarcoat their opinions. Working in fast-paced technology giants like Amazon exposed me to regular feedback. I've learned to perceive feedback as gifts, making a conscious effort to improve based on the insights I receive.

However, don't forget, there will be people who are hateful and will attack you personally. Engaging with them won't bring any benefit; they will attack you no matter what you do. You need to have a strong mental firewall to filter them out and maintain your sanity.

If you really want to build a community, you don't want to attract people who don't share the same interest. Don't lower your bar to gain a massive following. Once you have a sizeable subscriber base who shares the same interest, treat them as friends, not faceless followers contributing to your income. Take their feedback and respect their time. You respect them the most when you raise your bar, and make sure you keep sharing something of value to uphold their trust and commitment.

Focus on the journey, not on the destination, and make the journey fulfilling.