Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby and author known for his unique insights, shares his thoughts on writing, creativity, and life. He delves into the journey of documenting wisdom in a posthumous autobiography and emphasizes the importance of mentorship in shaping our identities. Sivers discusses the delicate balance between quality and quantity in writing, calling for simplicity and clarity. He also highlights the power of connection, urging writers to reach out and express gratitude, fostering growth and community in the creative process.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Share Ideas Individually
Share individual ideas online before compiling them into a book.
This allows for feedback and refinement, leading to more confident collections.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Milt Olin's Unwritten Wisdom
Derek Sivers' friend, Milt Olin, a source of wisdom, passed away without recording his thoughts.
This loss emphasized the importance of writing as a form of lasting legacy.
insights INSIGHT
Sharing Your Perspective
Sharing your perspective, even if seemingly unimpressive, shares your unique personality.
This personality is a culmination of your learned experiences, filtered through your adopted traits.
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This book by Derek Sivers is a collection of short, concise chapters offering practical wisdom on decision-making, prioritization, and living a fulfilling life. The central philosophy is that one should only commit to things that elicit a 'hell yeah' response, and say 'no' to everything else. This approach helps in avoiding burnout and ensuring time and energy are dedicated to the most important and exciting activities. The book covers themes such as what’s worth doing, fixing faulty thinking, and making things happen, providing numerous mental models and life lessons to apply in daily life.
The Inner Game of Tennis
Timothy Gallwey
This book, first published in 1974, focuses on the 'Inner Game' played within the mind of the player, against obstacles such as self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses in concentration. Gallwey introduces the concept of two selves: Self 1, the thinking brain that analyzes and judges, and Self 2, the 'feeling and doing' brain that can master skills naturally if not interfered with by Self 1. The book provides strategies for achieving 'relaxed concentration' and overcoming internal mental and emotional obstacles, making it relevant not only to tennis but also to other areas of life such as music, writing, work, and personal relationships.
How to Live
27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion
Derek Sivers
In 'How to Live', Derek Sivers presents a collection of 27 independent chapters, each offering a different philosophy on how to live. These chapters often contradict each other, arguing for various approaches such as being completely independent, committing to one career or person, being fully present, or delaying gratification. The book is designed for reflection as much as instruction, providing actionable directives without quoting philosophers or naming specific ideologies. It invites readers to consider multiple perspectives and find their own way, emphasizing that there is no one right way to live life.
Anything you want
Derek Sivers
In 'Anything You Want,' Derek Sivers shares 40 powerful lessons learned from his experience of accidentally starting and growing CD Baby into a successful business. The book emphasizes the importance of creating a business that is a 'utopia' or perfect world, where the focus is on making dreams come true for both the entrepreneur and the customers. Sivers stresses that business is not just about money but about helping people and making them happy. He also highlights the advantages of starting with no money, the irrelevance of traditional business plans, and the importance of prioritizing customer needs over personal gain. The book includes memorable stories of his mistakes and successes, including his interactions with Steve Jobs and the impact of his decisions on his business.
It’s hard to capture in words the love and creativity that Derek Sivers brings to his work. He describes himself as a “monomaniac, introvert, and slow thinker.” But those words just reveal his humility.
Derek’s work has charmed millions — from his early days as a professional musician and circus performer, to founding CD Baby, writing fan favorites like Anything You Want and taking the stage at TED.
In this conversation, Derek shares how he finds his best ideas, why he plans to publish a “posthumous autobiography,” and why life is not a problem to be solved but a paradox to be experienced.
How I Write 
