Sunday, August 15, 2021

10 Key points from Show your Work by Austin Kleon.



  1.  You don't have to be a genius -- Be an amateur. Amateurs are not afraid to make mistakes or look ridiculous in public because they love their work and they don't hesitate to do work that others think of as silly or stupid.
  2. Think process, not product -- Whether you share it or not, documenting and recording your process as you go along has its own rewards. 
  3. Share something small everyday -- If you're unsure about whether to share something, let it sit for 24 hours. The next day take it out and look at it with fresh eyes. Ask yourself 'Is this helpful?' 'Is this interesting?'. 
  4. Open up your cabinet of curiosities -- Being open and honest about what you like is the best way to connect with people who likes these things too.
  5. Tell good stories -- When shown an object or given a food/ shown a face, people's assessment of it - how much they like it, how valuable it is- is deeply affected by what you tell them about it.
  6. Teach what you know -- Many chefs and restaurateurs have become rich and famous by sharing their recipes and their techniques.
  7. Don't turn into human spam -- The vampire test - If, after hanging out with someone you feel worn out and depleted, that person is a vampire. You can apply it on people, job, hobbies, places etc.,
  8. Learn to take a punch -- Keep moving. Every piece of criticism is an opportunity for new work. You can't control what sort of criticism you receive but you can control how to react to it.
  9. Sell out -- Try new things. If an opportunity comes along that will allow you to do more of the kind of work you want to do, say yes!!
  10. Stick around -- When you get rid of old material, you push yourself further and come up with something better. Show your work and when the right people show up, pay close attention to them because they'll have a lot to show you. 

Monday, August 2, 2021

Master Your Money

            You might be thinking, What exactly do you mean by 'master your money?' Simple! It means the realization that you are in control of every aspects of your finances. Well, here are some of the ways to master your money.

 1. Start making a budget

        The first step in creating a budget is to find out how much money you make each month. For making a budget, I suggest 50/20/30 rule popularized by Senator Elizabeth Warren in her book All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.

  • 50% - Needs
            Needs are those bills that you must pay and the things are needed for your survival. (Rent/ Mortgage, Groceries, Insurance etc.,)

  • 30% - Wants
            Wants are all the things for which you spend money that are not absolutely essential. (Dine out, Movies, Shopping etc.,)

  • 20% - Savings
            Try allocating 20% of your net income for savings and investments. This also includes emergency funds and debt repayment.

        A budget works only if you are honest about both your income and expenses.

2. Resist Temptation

  • Take cash instead of cards.
  • Always stick to the list. 
  • Practice 1:1 - For every item you get unplanned, you must give up another item.
  • Unsubscribe marketing emails.
  • Shop Online - It helps you track expenses easily.

3. Make a deal on your debt

  • Make a list of everything you owe.
  • Set a time frame within which you should repay your debt.
  • Promise yourself for no new debts until repaying the old.
  • Avoid making excuses.

4. Choose where to save

  • Seek financial experts' advice before saving or investing your money.
  • Decide where to put your money. It should be easy to reach but difficult enough for you to touch it. 

5. Make rules

  • Spend less than you make.
  • Be aware of where your money goes.
  • Pay bills on time.        

        I hope this information helps. We can't do all the above at once, but we can try making changes in the way we spend. Good Luck!


10 Key points from Show your Work by Austin Kleon.

  You don't have to be a genius -- Be an amateur. Amateurs are not afraid to make mistakes or look ridiculous in public because they l...