Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

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Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

Whatever you make, it's your creation. Make it your dream come true.

Pay close attention to what excites you and what drains you.

A business is a reflection of the creator.

Always trust, but verify whenever you delegate a role.

You might be much happier as a million dollar business than as a billion dollar business.

Never forget that you can make your role anything you want. You can hire for everything else.

There is a big difference between being self employed and being a business owner. When you're self employed everything crumbles if you don't show up. You're not a business owner until you can leave for a year and your business is doing even better when you come back.

You don't sign up for a marathon and hire a taxi to drive you to the finish line. The real point is what you want to be, not have.

Learn things yourself. It will take longer, but it is nice to be self sufficient. There is joy in learning and doing.

Even if you want to be big, you don't have to act like a big boring business.

Be incredibly clear in your writing. Leave no room for confusion.

Care about your customers more than yourself. Your company should be willing to go out of business if it's best for your customers.

How do you grade yourself? You should know what matters most to you.

Your first idea is just one of an infinite number of options. Make plans for many different scenarios. There is no one path to success.

There is a huge advantage in having many tiny customers. You can fire any individual client as long as you keep your customers happy in general.

Ideas are just a multiplier of execution. The most brilliant idea is worthless with no execution.

The way to grow your business is to just focus entirely on your current customers. Just thrill them and they will tell everyone else.

Only please customers, not investors. Never forget that absolutely everything you do is for your customers.

“No plan survives first contact with customers.” -Steve Blank

Hell yeah or no. If it's not a hell yes, then decline. Say yes to less.

If it's not a hit, switch. Success comes from consistently improving and inventing. Don't waste years pursing anything other than a hit.

When you're onto something great it won't feel like something great. It will feel like uncommon sense.

When you make a business, you get to make a little universe where you create all the laws.

Sivers was a professional musician before he started his business. It all started because he wanted to sell his own CD on his website. Pretty soon he was selling CDs for lots of musicians and CD Baby was born.

You don't really know what you want until you start doing it.

Never do anything just for the money. Instead, just answer calls for help.

Too many people spend their life pursuing things that don't actually make them happy.

Sivers sold his business, which he spent 10 years growing, for $22 million.