Steal, Show, and Keep Going: The Creative Starter Pack I Wish I Had Sooner

There are books that entertain you. Some that teach you. But every now and then, you stumble on a trilogy that shifts the way you think, create, and exist in the world. For me, that was Austin Kleon’s creative trilogy:

📕 Steal Like an Artist
📙 Show Your Work!
📘 Keep Going

These aren't your typical motivational reads. They're like that brutally honest but uplifting friend who tells you exactly what you need to hear — no fluff, just real talk, doodles, and sticky-note-level wisdom.

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📕 1. Steal Like an Artist – “Nothing is original”

This book opened the door. It told me straight up: “Steal like an artist.” Not plagiarize. Not copy-paste. But get inspired, borrow smart, remix what’s been done, and make it your own. Creativity isn’t about genius moments; it’s about collecting influences and rearranging them in your unique style.

“You don’t need to be a genius. You just need to be yourself.”

That line? It freed me. I stopped waiting for a lightning bolt of originality and started absorbing what made me feel something — songs, code, talks, apps — and added my own spin.

Real-World Vibe

I started observing the tech creators I admired, not to copy them, but to decode them. What made them good? Why did their work stick? This helped me build my own voice — in my apps, my talks, and even in how I tweet or write.

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📙 2. Show Your Work! – “Share something small every day”

Here’s the second big unlock: stop hiding your process. I always thought, “I’ll share when it’s perfect.” But perfection is a myth. This book pushed me to share even the messy parts, the behind-the-scenes bits — because that’s what connects.

“You don’t have to be a genius; you just need to be a part of the scene.”

Suddenly, I wasn’t just building in silence. I was documenting the journey. Code snippets, thought dumps, even failed experiments — people loved it.

How I Applied It

That’s when I started being more intentional on socials. Not to “perform,” but to show up. Share that tool I found. That tech breakdown. That bug I fixed at 3 AM. It helped others, sparked conversations, and slowly built a little community of curious builders.

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📘 3. Keep Going – “The creative life is not linear”

This one? This one hit. Because let’s be real: the highs and lows of doing creative work — whether it's coding, designing, or writing — can mess with your head. You need habits, not just motivation. Rituals, not just inspiration.

“The world doesn’t need more great ideas. It needs more finishers.”

That one slapped. Because how many “cool ideas” live and die in our Notes app?

What Shifted for Me

I started creating a rhythm. Not a rigid routine, but small acts to stay sane and keep going. Morning journaling. One tiny thing shipped per week. Protecting downtime. And reminding myself: this is a long game.

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TL;DR – What Austin Taught Me (and could teach you too)

1. Steal smart – Curate your influences and remix with your vibe.

2. Show up – Your process is as powerful as your final product.

3. Keep the faith – Creativity is a marathon, not a dopamine sprint.

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Final Thought

I didn’t pick up these books to become more productive. I picked them up to feel less alone in the chaos of building, creating, and showing up. And somehow, they became my compass.

Whether you’re a developer, designer, writer, or just someone figuring things out — Austin Kleon’s trilogy is like three strong cups of coffee for your creative soul. Sip them slowly. Revisit often.

If this post helped spark something in you, consider subscribing — I write about tech, creativity, and the messy-but-magical process of building stuff online.

Stay curious. Stay kind. And most of all — keep going.

Until next time,

lassiecoder

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