The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

For any book discussion

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
"Anything You Want" by Derek Sivers

I have this book on Audible and it's excellent. 90 minutes long, and packed with wisdom.

One of Derek's quotes that springs to mind this week is about entrepreneurial persistence.


“Success comes from persistently improving and inventing,
not from persistently promoting what’s not working.”


Yes, Edison persisted with 1,000 failures until he created the light-bulb. But each of those 1,000 attempts were different. He was constantly improving and inventing, not trying 1,00 times to get the same faulty light-bulb to work.

Failure is just feedback.

Failure shows us the way by showing us what’s *not* the way.



I'll write up some more of my notes from this book later.


If anyone else has read or listened to Derek's book:
  • What did you think of the book?
  • What was your single biggest takeaway?
  • What did you do differently going forward?


Here's some links to the book (I highly recommend the audio version - it's narrated by Derek himself, and I think that's important):


Where Derek writes about his book:

The Book on Amazon:

The Audio on Audible:
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

PureA

Winners never quit
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
348%
Dec 24, 2013
810
2,819
29
Bali
LOVED this book. And, I really like Derek Sivers.

Something about him and how he operates just resonates with the way I like to do business.

He just started helping people... and then some more... and then some more... and then as if by magic he had a 8 figure business on his hands. (Totally in line with your message Andy).

I also love the fact that he rejected outside money (to scale faster) because he realised his priorities by thinking from his customers perspective. The guy was literally trying to 'stay small' by limiting employees and rejecting outside investment - but the market demanded he grew.

A perfect example between pushing in business and pulling!

Business done right imo.

A totally wholesome, loveable guy.

p.s. His reading list/notes are gold: BOOKS | Derek Sivers

p.p.s. Anyone who wants to explore Derek be sure to check out his podcasts with Tim Ferriss - total gold.

(Yes, I am a raving fan)

Can't wait to see some more detailed thoughts from you Andy.
 

evlttwin

It's A Long Way To The Top....
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
212%
Feb 13, 2013
162
344
Southern California

Raoul Duke

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
324%
Feb 26, 2016
2,209
7,149
Has anyone here watched No Country for Old Men?

I mention the movie because... I can catch something new every time.

That is the same with Derek Sivers. Every time I listen to him. I come away with something new. @MJ DeMarco is like that for me as well.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

PureA

Winners never quit
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
348%
Dec 24, 2013
810
2,819
29
Bali
@Andy Black - You best not be depriving us of your notes... ;) (been looking forward to seeing them)

Read about 50% of this book last night and the way he writes and mindset totally reminds me of your message Andy.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Olimac21

Silver Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
175%
Dec 3, 2015
545
954
31
Belo Horizonte, Brasil
"Anything you want" is an excellent one, big ideas explained in a simple way.

A key idea I liked about the book was the "Hell Yeah" mindset: if something does not ring as a "hell yeah" activity simply do not do it.

After listening to the book I just focused more on small ways to help others and go step by step.
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
@Andy Black - You best not be depriving us of your notes... ;) (been looking forward to seeing them)

Read about 50% of this book last night and the way he writes and mindset totally reminds me of your message Andy.
On it. I've just ordered the book so I can read with a pencil.

"Anything you want" is an excellent one, big ideas explained in a simple way.

A key idea I liked about the book was the "Hell Yeah" mindset: if something does not ring as a "hell yeah" activity simply do not do it.

After listening to the book I just focused more on small ways to help others and go step by step.


Similar to "Hell Yeah, or No" is the other one I like of (from memory): "If it's not a hit, switch."

His analogy was of a musician releasing lots of songs. Most flop. Every now and then one is a hit.

Which brings me back to the quote from before: “Success comes from persistently improving and inventing, not from persistently promoting what’s not working.”

Why keep trying to push a boulder up a hill and *make* people buy your product? Isn't it easier to keep switching (improving/innovating/inventing) till what you've created is a hit? Till people buy it from you like a hot cake?
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
He reads and responds to all emails.

If you like his stuff, connect with him: Contact | Derek Sivers

He's about as chill as it gets.


My goodness... what a great video. I’m going to change how I praise my kids going forward. “Well done! You worked really hard!” versus “Well done! You’re so good at this!”
 

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

Latest Posts

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top