In this episode of Unlock Your Potential, Derek Sivers joins us to share his remarkable journey from being a musician and circus performer to founding CD Baby, a company he built from scratch and sold for $22M.
Derek offers profound insights into finding your path to mastery, the entrepreneurial spirit within all of us, and the power of saying "Hell yeah or no." He also discusses the truths we grow up with, his minimalist lifestyle, and the lessons he learned during a rough year that shaped his philosophy on life and success.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative seeking mastery, or someone navigating life’s big questions, this conversation is packed with wisdom and actionable advice to help you unlock your potential.
Check Out More of Derek’s Content Here 👇
💻 https://sive.rs/
📖 Useful Not True - https://sive.rs/u
📲 Contact 👉 https://sive.rs/contact
📺 YT 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@dereksivers
🖥️ FB 👉 https://www.facebook.com/sivers/
⌨️ X (Twitter) 👉 https://x.com/sivers
📲 IG 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dereksivers/
Timestamps:
- (00:00:00) Introduction to Derek
- (00:01:06) The perfect world to raise a kid criteria
- (00:03:29) Music background
- (00:07:48) Finding a path to mastery
- (00:11:12) Music & entrepreneurship
- (00:14:29) Starting CD Baby
- (00:16:51) Finding the niche
- (00:23:31) Is there an entrepreneur inside all of us?
- (00:26:20) Being a circus performer
- (00:28:29) Saying YES!
- (00:30:25) Hell yeah or no
- (00:31:44) A rough year
- (00:37:53) Lessons learned
- (00:47:16) The “truths” we grow with
- (00:51:07) Being a minimalist
- (00:56:27) Selling the company for $22M
- (00:59:05) Living in New Zealand
- (1:00:51) Where to find Derek
