Derek Sivers is one of my favorite human thinkers. I recently purchased his entire collection — and they changed the way I think about business and life.
(Note: I’m adding all of Sivers’ books under one umbrella as I read them.)
Your Music and People / Anything You Want
I consider these two books as one that provides a “choose-your-own adventure” style to building and running a business. Sivers takes a holistic, value-driven, personal look at business through both books.
I devoured them both in a day, so the concepts are intermingling in my brain. Yes…I read them in one day. Sivers’ writing is succinct and direct. Every sentence packs a punch.
The main thread between both books is about keeping track of your network and providing as much value as possible.
Sivers is also a proponent of small businesses and tried to keep his empire small before he walked away from it. By thinking small and personal, he tried to create a “utopia.” Your business is your opportunity to make things the way you want to see them in the world.
Who you know will open doors for you, but only if you focus on the other person. Make a Personal CRM and keep it up to date. If you have a network that you engage, you’ll never have to do traditional advertising.
Marketing and business are another form of art. Don’t let creativity stop with your creation. That only gets you to the starting line of business. Once you’re at the starting line, get ready to be MORE creative with your delivery and presentation.
Hell Yeah or No
More than deciding what to do (or what’s worth doing), Hell Yeah or No takes a look at how you can analyze your beliefs, take charge of your thinking, and live a better life.
At one point, he ponders how closely his personal philosophy resembles Stoicism, but it really reflects notes of Existentialism over Stoicism. He probably doesn’t fall into an “ism” at all, though. It’s just Derek’s way of living. And you should have your own way of living, too.