My online writing journey began without knowing where I wanted to be. I was writing articles because I needed something to do during the 2020 lockdowns.
I enjoyed writing and sharing my work with people on social media. Although I cringe reading my old articles now (because they were horrible), I kept going — publishing and sharing my work online. That led me to a place I never knew existed — where opportunities came like never before.
People started approaching me on LinkedIn and Facebook with ghostwriting gigs. Some wanted me to write for their blog, and others wanted to collaborate. Some even wanted to learn from me. I got invited to speak on podcasts, host an online writing event, and share my journey with others.
My experience taught me that opportunities are always there for you; you just have to show up and become worthy to grab them. What do I mean by that? Most people overthink their work. Although they are really good at what they do, they keep themselves from sharing their work. They don’t show their creations to the world.
That’s a big mistake.
It’s obvious; people can’t give you a job or such opportunities unless they know about you and your work. And the only way for that to happen is when you show them.
Gone are the days when you must apply for a job, prepare your résumé, and present it to companies. We live in a digital age where your personal brand is your resume. People know you as that writer, YouTuber, influencer, painter, speaker, or musician. They know you because you have shared your work online.
Imagine if your next boss didn’t have to read your résumé because he already reads your blog. Imagine being a student and getting your first gig based on a school project you posted online. Imagine losing your job but having a social network of people familiar with your work and ready to help you find a new one. Imagine turning a side project or a hobby into your profession because you had a following that could support you.
Or imagine something simpler and just as satisfying: spending the majority of your time, energy, and attention practicing a craft, learning a trade, or running a business, while also allowing for the possibility that your work might attract a group of people who share your interests.
All you have to do is show your work.
— Austin Kleon, Show Your Work.
Finding an opportunity is easy in the Internet age. You just have to do the work you love and share it online with the right people. It’s a guarantee that people who have similar interests will find you. You’ll either get the opportunities to work with like-minded individuals/companies or, as Austin says, you’ll attract an audience that will help and support you for your work.
You find opportunities by producing a bunch of work and putting it out for people to see. However, it might not come quickly. You have to work hard and create much work that resonates with people. Most of the things you put out won’t get noticed. Some will give you attention. The remaining will change the trajectory of your career.
The 80–20 rule says that 80 percent of the outcome comes from 20 percent of effort. Therefore, if you can focus on producing a large volume of work, you have a higher chance of getting a good outcome.
Since most of your work will go unnoticed, it’s better not to overthink the creative process and just publish it. Post that article, picture, artwork, video, or piece of music. If people like it, great. If they don’t, never mind; move on to the next. Do it again tomorrow. That’s how the creative process should work.
Showing up and doing the work is crucial. Half of the work is complete when you show up.
You never know where the opportunity will come from. You won’t know which piece of your work you posted online will give you the most incredible life opportunity.
The right opportunity to find you might take weeks, months, or even years. And when it does, your life and work will never be the same. The only thing you can do now is show up, do the job, and share. Repeat this process consistently. Put one step in front of the other. Then, opportunities will have no other option but to find you.
Social media is an excellent tool for showing your work. It’s free and accessible to everyone. Show your work instead of posting pictures of your morning latte or how cute your cat is. Leverage the platforms to benefit you in your work and career.
Show up, be consistent, and produce a high-volume work. That’s how opportunities seek you. That’s how you create your own luck and turn your life around.
